Sarah Starr Murphy

Victoria Chen - The Forge Literary Magazine Victoria Chen author interview

I interviewed Victoria Chen who gave the best answer to the question, What did you buy yesterday?

#LitMag
@theforge.bsky.social
#LitInterview #Writers #SmashLits

How The Belladonnas Are Celebrating Halloween As Adults You’re never too old to get a little spooky!

Wrote a little joke here for all of us with middle schoolers in our lives. All of these made me smile - take a minute if you need a Halloween boost!

Victorian Girl Gang — Ghost Parachute That ghost girl is back, boxing me awake with her old leather gloves. I smell them just before the punch comes. I inhale their sweet earthiness and think, oh no, but never manage to wake fast enough t...

Rereading some favorite ghost stories in preparation for the big day Friday - including this charmer by @saracrowley.bsky.social ! Delightful.

Prejudice and Love Poems - The Forge Literary Magazine Prejudice and Love Poems, creative nonfiction by Harli James

Our nonfiction story of the week is Prejudice and Love Poems by Harli James.

So excited to have had the chance to do this with the fab @bradymicheller.bsky.social!! She’s a brilliant, funny, and empathic interviewer and we had such a great chat! Looking forward to listening to all the others asap!!

EEEEK!!! I couldn't wait to share these amazing people's stories with you! Up on all the apps. New episode every other week, but 3 now to get you hooked. 😆https://michellereneebrady.podbean.com/
Let's rediscover each other one book at a time! @sarahstarrmurphy.bsky.social

Faker - The Forge Literary Magazine Faker, a creative nonfiction by Brittany Micka-Foos

Our nonfiction story of the week is Faker by Brittany Micka-Foos.

Such a great book - read it all in one sitting!!

Photo of And So Did I by Malachi Whitaker, a teal book resting on a sunlit wooden table. The cover is plain except for one stripe across the top that is from a photo of Whitaker’s eyes. The whole thing has an intense vibe.

I became a Whitaker fan thanks to Valerie Waterhouse - fitting to enjoy this with her brilliant afterward!

“Malachi’s 1939 memoir is more tightly controlled…. ‘What is the use of life?’ when uncertainty is all around, she asks, supplying the book’s unifying theme.”

@malachiwhitaker.bsky.social

On Backsliding - The Forge Literary Magazine On Backsliding, a short fiction by Victoria Chen

I published such a smart and sassy story by Victoria Chen. You should read it.

"Everyone was saying they were a people pleaser due to childhood neglect. Everyone was an asshole. I was waiting to be inspired."

On Backsliding - The Forge Literary Magazine On Backsliding, a short fiction by Victoria Chen

Our story of the week is On Backsliding by Victoria Chen.

Such a delight and honor to read these stories - congratulations and can’t wait to see them go live!!

Hearty congratulations to the winners of this year's Forge Flash Competition, Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice and @acreegrahammacam.bsky.social ! 🎉🔥

Their pieces will be published in November.

The full results are here: forgelitmag.com/2025/10/04/2...

“I’m exhausted and grumpy and can’t exactly explain at work, sorry, there’s this ghost girl who likes to punch me so I’m not getting enough hours.”

New from my brilliant buddy Sara Crowley!! Give yourself a first-day-of-October treat!

YAY NEW SARA WORK!!!! I love this one!! Perfect for October.

Victorian Girl Gang — Ghost Parachute That ghost girl is back, boxing me awake with her old leather gloves. I smell them just before the punch comes. I inhale their sweet earthiness and think, oh no, but never manage to wake fast enough t...

I'm so chuffed to have a little flash of mine in Ghost Parachute.
Also, damn, look at the amazing line up! 🤩

#FlashFiction #👻

Photo of Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei, propped up against two whitish-orange pumpkins. The books cover is in deep jewel tones of magenta and blue, with a sailboat visible in the center.

The incomparable Yume Kitasei has done it again!! A brilliant novel about sisters willing to sail to the ends of the earth to find each other, through a world transformed by climate disaster. Immersive and funny as well as being simply beautifully written. Don’t miss it!!! @yumewrites.bsky.social

We have LIFT OFF!!!

Bradford author Malachi Whitaker's 1939 light dark n witty 1939 memoir is relaunched by @bhousepress.bsky.social for the first time since the 1980s.

@bradford2025.co.uk
@bradfordtanda.bsky.social
@ilkleylitfest.bsky.social

With a big thanks to @neglectedbooks.com

Little Prayer - The Forge Literary Magazine Little Prayer, a short fiction by Emerson Archer

Our story of the week is Little Prayer by Emerson Archer.

Graphic advertising LitCrawl that reads: The Forge at Litcrawl San Francisco! Saturday, October 25, 6:30-7:30, The Sycamore, 2140 Mission Street, Join us!

If you're in San Francisco, come see us at Litcrawl! It's going to be a great time!

On this beautiful equinox, this beautiful story by Mae Juniper Stokes. A bit of bad-ass fable for your morning!

“On the walk there, through the syrupy blue of winter at dusk, a coyote had crossed her path. Yellow, dog-sized, but with the self-assured immediacy of something undomesticated.”

Dog Ears - The Forge Literary Magazine Dog Ears, a flash fiction by Mae Juniper Stokes

Our story of the week is Dog Ears by Mae Juniper Stokes.

Our next virtual launch from the Recovered Books series at @bhousepress.bsky.social will be for Malachi Whitaker's unique memoir, And So Did I, on Tuesday, 14 October, at 7PM BST. Our special guests will be Catherine Taylor and Valerie Waterhouse.

Register on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk...

Photo of How to be Unmothered by Camille U. Adams. Book has an orange cover with a design that looks like a dress torn into four pieces, each made of a black and white photo - an eye, a smiling mouth, a palm tree, and maybe a building? The book rests on a wooden table.

l've been waiting for this memoir since I first read Camille's work and finally it's here and I have the time to read it properly! It's a stunner - achingly gorgeous writing that drops you straight into her world. Poetic language that doesn't pull its punches. Go find yourself a copy!!

Book Launch of And So Did I by Malachi Whitaker Join us for the launch of And So Did I by Malachi Whitaker, a memoir decades ahead of its time, from Boiler House Press

SAVE THE DATE

Join Boiler House Press for the FREE online launch of Malachi Whitaker's light, dark & witty 1939 memoir, And So Did I.

14/10/25. 7pm BST. 8pm CEST. 2pm EDT.

Tickets here:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

@bhousepress.bsky.social

The Source of Love - The Forge Literary Magazine The Source of Love, a short fiction by Brecht De Poortere

Our story of the week is The Source of Love by Brecht De Poortere.

Our flash contest is now open and I’m already enjoying reading some great work!! Full details on our site, free spots available for writers who need them. Send us something fantastic!!

Fragility - The Forge Literary Magazine Fragility, a short fiction by Milena Nigam

Our story of the day is Fragility by Milena Nigam.

Full details on our website! We’re very proud to be able to offer some free spots - first come, first serve, so get your work ready! Very much looking forward to reading!!

An advertisement for The Forge's Flash Competition. At the top is a photo of an anvil, hammer, and hot piece of iron with the logo "The Forge Literary Magazine." Below, on a yellow background, text reads: The Forge 2025 Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Competition, September 1-14. Winners Awarded $1000. $5 Submissions. (no-fee options available)