Cynthia W. Gentry’s debut novel, Her Life in Ruins, is the inaugural title of Abrams Books’ first commercial adult fiction imprint, akaStory, launching in January 2027. The book is a friends-to-lovers rom-com set in Silicon Valley and the Yucatán Peninsula, about a PhD candidate and her grad-school love interest.

James Hanna published “A Quarter to Five," a humorous story in Adelaide Literary Magazine, an independent international monthly publication based in New York and Lisbon. Adelaide features exceptional literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and promotes the writers it publishes by helping them reach a broader literary audience.

Darlene Frank will present “Spark Your Creativity,” a 5-week coaching program beginning February 15 that inspires deep writing, healing writing, and bold creativity. It’s a guided journey into deep imagination—both playful and liberating. This highly praised program won’t be offered again! Register online while it’s still available.

Marianne Brems’ new poem, “Fake Beer,” was published in Mercurial Silver on January 16, 2026. Mercurial Silver is a community-built literary journal of Hearth, Ruin, & Whimsy—publishing short poems, fiction, and creative writing by writers everywhere.

The editors of the Fault Zone anthology series proudly announce their 2026 Pushcart Prize nominations. Congratulations to:

• Poetry: Patricia Doyne, Jeanne Powell, and Harlan Suits

• Prose: Nirmy Kang, Elise Frances Miller, and Nina Milu

Fault Zone: Faultless? is available in hardcover, trade paperback, and digital editions from most online booksellers and distributors.

Darlene Frank will present “Memoir Momentum: Avoid 3 Common Obstacles That Keep Writers Stuck” on Thursday, January 22, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Zoom. This free workshop will help writers move past obstacles, find clarity in their stories, and build momentum to finish memoirs. Register at “Memoir Momentum.”

Colleen Olle’s picture book, Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost!, is “sweet and charming” and “full of heart and gentle humor,” according to a review by Theresa Maria Villarreal, whose new YouTube channel, Literary Ladle, is dedicated to highlighting children’s literature and supports kid-lit authors.

The 2025 Global Book Awards honored James Hanna’s novel, Call Me Pomeroy, with a Gold medal in the Humor & Satire category. Additionally, James received a Finalist award in the Fiction: Humor category for Lights Out Lizzie from the 2025 Independent Author Network (IAN).

Ginny Kubitz Moyer's historical fiction novel, The World at Home, set in 1944 San Francisco, was published on December 9 by She Writes Press. Publishers Weekly called it "An evocative picture of life during wartime," and Kirkus Reviews described it as "Capturing the unique beauty and diversity of San Francisco."

Ida Lewenstein hosted a book party at a local Tampa Bay bookstore, where she displayed her 11 books of rhyming poetry. At another event, she and her son, Dan, read her poems aloud to children at a local elementary school and donated her books to the school's library.

Marianne Brems’s poetry collection, Within the Trifles, was published by Kelsay Books, an independent literary press. The collection is inspired by a Charles Dickens quote: "Trifles are the sum of life.” Trifles are the kernels within the trivial events of everyday life that are often overlooked yet carry profound meaning.

David Harris’s story, “Too Silent a Morning,” was published in Halfway Down the Stairs, a quarterly literary magazine. While working on a grant to restore wetlands, Charlotte is torn between her attraction to a colleague and her love for her husband, who is struggling with deep discontent in middle age.

James Hanna publishes an excerpt from his forthcoming novella, Beaching the Mermaid, in Adelaide Magazine. His story, “The Vegas Differential,” is reprinted in Bewildering Stories, about two nerdy boys beset by calamitous visions, and “Bending the Bow” appears in A Thin Slice of Anxiety, featuring vigilante Bowmen confronting unruly DOGE boys.

Darlene Frank was named 2025 Imagery Person of the Year by Imagery International, a multidisciplinary association of professionals who use guided imagery in their work. Her presentation at their annual conference became the foundation for “Spark Your Creativity,” her writing program that helps participants explore imagination through deep imagery storytelling.

Darlene Frank will present “Memoir Momentum: Avoid 3 Common Obstacles” on Thursday, November 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Writers Helping Writers, hosted by the San Mateo Public Library. This presentation will help writers move past obstacles, gain clarity, and build momentum toward completing their memoir.

Geri Spieler was interviewed by Brian Lamb, host of Booknotes and founder of C-SPAN, about her book, Housewife Assassin. Geri shared her story about the woman who tried to kill President Ford. Booknotes features a mix of new interviews with authors and historians, along with classic segments from the archives.

Kate Adams and Reena Kapoor’s collaborative collection, You Spoke Prose, I Heard Poetry, blends one-hundred-word stories, one-hundred-syllable poems, and vivid photo-art. Each chapter features an image, a micro-story, and a sonnet or ballad. Designed for leisurely reading, the book invites reflection—one or two chapters at a time.

Geri Spieler’s biography, Housewife Assassin, made headlines when the would-be assassin of President Ford, Sara Jane Moore, died. Geri was interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press. She is scheduled to appear on a BBC interview and a C-SPAN podcast with Brian Lamb.

Nirmy Kang was selected to read an excerpt from her short story, “A Life in Five Baths,” at the annual South Asian Art & Literature Festival (SALA), held September 13-14 in Menlo Park. The event showcases South Asian culture, featuring curated South Asian speakers and panel discussions on literature, art, culinary topics, and social issues.

James Hanna's ribald tale, “How I Done Good in School,” appears as a reprint in A Thin Slice of Anxiety, a journal that favors unfettered perspectives that are more engaging and adventurous than mainstream publications.