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Many of you may know me as a photographer, but I am also a writer!
I've been an avid reader since I was gifted my first cloth book in preschool. As soon as I learned that I could write my OWN stories, I began penning poems, essays, short stories, and eventually books.
I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, in the middle of the Ozarks. I spent lots of time playing on our 13 acres in the pastures with the horses or down by the creek, making up stories. I was always the kid with the longest book reports and the most books read each school year.
My passion for learning how things work led me to years of school and a career in science and technology, with degrees in Chemistry, Developmental Biology, and Computer science. But I always had the desire to put down on paper all the imaginings in my head.
After moving to Texas in 2012, I began helping a friend review and edit his science fiction novel, and that inspired me to start writing my own work for publication.
I have self-published all my award-winning books. My first book, Dreams of the Turtle King, was a collection of beach poems written initially while walking the Florida beaches near our home in Deerfield Beach. I've written several collections of poetry since then, including one that features the Haiku poems I mailed to my mother on postcards for a month to celebrate her 80th birthday.
I also have a dark urban fantasy novel, Glamorous, and three associated short stories. Another paranormal short story, "My Girl Sarah," was included in the Journey into Art short story collection, a collaboration with the Houston Writers Guild.
My greatest achievement was my self-help book, Thriving, which I wrote to share my healing journey from childhood abuse. I wrote Thriving because it was the book I wished I had when I started my healing journey. It provides all the practices that helped me move beyond the trauma, including the poetry journal I kept during my healing work. It won 15 book awards and was recognized by Kirkus Review and Publisher's Weekly.
I look forward to each new writing challenge, whether it's a theme, a prompt-based excursion, or something inspired by my life experiences.
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Check out all of Denise's books here.
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Who will WiVLA highlight next?
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Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other.
Contact the Literary Art Chair or the Visual Art Chair, if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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Margo Stutts Toombs
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Margo's How to Tend a Wall & Ode to My Wound were screened at the Calcasieu Parish Short Film Festival!
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And check out Margo's video she made for Donna Perkins's new show, Gone Awry, on Glasstire.
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Donna exhibited her art in New York at the Clio Art Fair in Chelsea in May.
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She currently exhibition her art in four simultaneous group exhibitions throughout the Sawyer Yards artist complex:
- "Thoughtful Indulgence" at Sabine Street Studios, through June 28th
- "Creative Fusion" at Winter Street Studios, through August 9th
- Collaborating with 4 different artists, using my photography
- "Do You See What I Hear?" at Spring Street Studios, through June 14th
- "Mirror : Mirror" at Spring Street Studios, through June 14th
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Katherine had a piece, The Bluebird of Happiness after the Rain at Hardy & Nance in the Plantasia exhibit May 17th.
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Sandi has had two of her poems accepted for publication:
The Ekphrstic Review selected her poem Stranded in Pigment in response to Harue Koga's painting, The Birdcage. You can read it here, just scroll down to the 5th selection, but take a good look at the painting first!
Her poem, The Year You Were a Doll, appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of Panoply, the Literary Zine.
Video clip available here.
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Sandi's poetry book available here
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Kathi's debut chapbook, consider the light, is available for pre-order now through July 25th through Finishing Line Press.
Estimated delivery September 2025.
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Kathi's book launch party May 24th was a blast! She shared readings from her new book and graciously gave other authors the opportunity at reading with an open mic session.
Check out the event recording.
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Denise's abstract photograph, Hardware, has been juried into the Color Field exhibit at Ardest Gallery in The Woodlands.
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Denise's photographs, Girl Time and Manni 03, have been published in Prosectrics The Literary Magazine's Mirage issue.
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Congratulations to Celeste Budwit-Hunter (poem), Margo Stutts Toombs (Flash Memoir), Denise Bossarte (photography), and Brooke Summers-Perry (Blackout Poetry) for their inclusion in the upcoming issue available June 15th.
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Congrats to Liz Plaster, Jo Zider, Brooke Summers-Perry, Melody Locke, and Jere Pfister, now on exhibit in the Visions show at The Jung Center of Houston, Texas.
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Celeste's flash nonfiction piece, The Call, has been published in Sudden Flash.
She will give a talk on meditation at The Women's Institute of Houston on November 9th.
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An episode from Mildred's uniquely crafted and deeply personal podcast, My Cotton Patch Moment, has made it to the shortlist and was nominated for an International Women’s Podcast Award.
Out of 700 entries from 35 countries across 10 categories, my episode, Things I’m Glad I Asked My Mother, stood out in the Moment of Pure Emotion category.
The Judges will announce the winner of each category at the BBC Radio Theater in London, England, on June 17, 2025. Regardless of the outcome, this is a huge deal. In podcast speak, it is equivalent to being nominated for an Emmy or Grammy.
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Theme: to be announced.
We invite you to send us your poems, flash fiction, flash essay, photography, and art. We look for contemplative, argumentative, globally aware, despair-resistant, and apathy-abolishing works.
Reading Period: 6/9/2025 - 8/12/2025
Fee: $5 per submission
You may submit up to 3 pieces in any one genre (poetry, flash prose, or image)
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Synkroniciti is a quarterly online arts journal. They accept work in a variety of media across the visual, literary and performing arts spectrum. Issue twenty-five, Dreams, will debut this fall.
We are interested not only in the mind's nocturnal theater, but daydreams, hopes, aspirations, and fantasies. We love the surreal--whether it's everyday life presented in a divergent or quirky way, dreams invading reality, or dreams that help us imagine better worlds. Let your imagination run wild with this one.
Submissions for their Dreams issue are now open. Contests will be held in poetry ($75), flash fiction ($75) and for the cover ($100).
Theme: "Dreams"
Deadline: 7/15/2025
Fee: $3 per submission
Submissions should be emailed to magazine@synkroniciti.com
Want to know now what they look for in a submission? Check out this interview with editor Katherine McDaniel by Jim Harrington over at Six Questions For Katherine McDaniel, Founder/Editor, Synkroniciti Magazine
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WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON
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Read the Prospectus here.
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This exhibition is open to exploring a broad array of concepts in the realm of cultural experience. Artists can submit work that speak to such perspectives as pop culture themes, dynamic historical events, the experience of adjusting to a new location or community, dramatic figures & landscapes juxtaposed against contrary backgrounds, weird sculptures, exciting city-scapes with ironic elements, diverse conversations, shocking color fields, also welcomed are bizarre self portraits, portrayals of friends, family, idols, celebrities, pets, etc.
Theme: Culture Shock
Deadline: 6/6/2025
Fee: $15/accepted piece. There is no fee to submit images for consideration.
Location: The Hardy & Nance Studios, 902 Hardy St, Houston, TX 77020.
Show Dates: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 5-10pm
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Theme: OPEN
Reading Period: May 1, 2025 to July 31st, 2025
Entry Fee:
- $12/submission for just the entry
- $25/submission for entry with critique
Length: X
Published : Winners are published on WOW! Women On Writing.
Prizes:
- 1st place: $500
- 2nd place $300
- Third place $200
- 7 runners up get $25 Amazon gift card.
- 10 honorable mentions get name, state and title published on WOW!
1st - 3rd places also get an interview on the WOW! blog.
All winners get one item from the CreateWriteNow's Store.
We are limiting the number of entries to a maximum of 300 essays. Please enter early to ensure inclusion.
Terms and Conditions
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Theme: OPEN
Reading Period: June 1, 2025 to August 1st, 2025
Entry Fee: $10 payable by check to Poetry Society of Texas for each submitted manuscript. Multiple entries are allowed with separate fees.
Length: The submitted manuscript should contain between 45 and 60 pages of poetry, one poem per page, not including other written matter.
Who May Enter: The competition is open only to active dues-paid members, life members, sustaining and supporting members, student members and officers writing in English.
Send to: Richard Kushmaul – 9612 Sandlewood Drive, Denton, Texas 76207. 704-608-9702 (c) richardkdpa@gmail.com.
Prizes: The winning entrant will receive a cash prize of $100 and fifty copies of an Amazon KDP published, market-ready, 6 by 9 inch soft-cover book (including editing, cover design, pricing, and ISBN registration). The winner will assume the cost of additional copies.
The judge and winner will be announced at the annual PST awards banquet in November.
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Theme: Unbroken
Reading Period: 2025
Entry Fee: Free
Length: Submit 1-3 poems per person. Maximum 60 lines per poem.
Who May Enter: Open to poets of all backgrounds, experience levels, and geographic locations.
Enter via form on PublicPoetry website
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Open for submissions June 1 to 30, 2025.
You can submit craft articles, interviews, and reviews anytime.
Theme: Open
Reading Period: June 1 to 30, 2025
Entry Fee: $5 CAD (approximately $3.65 USD)
Length: Prose poems of any length. We do not consider any other forms of poetry!
We prefer 5 to 10 prose poems at a time. We publish a selection from each writer we showcase. Give us a selection to choose from. Our one non-negotiable in our definition of the prose poem is that it does not use line breaks. Paragraph, stanza, or section breaks are fine of course. (Haibun contain haiku but they are prose poems and we consider them!)
Previously published work is accepted.
Enter payment via link. Send poetry to themackinawjournal@gmail.com.
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Theme: Redemption Stories
In July we’re thinking about radical forgiveness. For ourselves and for others. How have you found redemption in this world? Come back from the edge after nearly losing it all? How have you made up with someone you thought you could never forgive? Or maybe you are still seeking redemption. Maybe you can’t let the person who hurt you back into your life. Maybe your redemption has actually come in the form of letting go.
Due Date: June 1st
Entry Fee: $3
Length: ~3,000 words
Enter on Submittable
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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards
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The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
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Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff and listed in the Literary Magazines database. Here you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information—everything you need to determine which publications match your vision for your writing and your writing life.
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According to their website, "Duotrope is an established, award-winning resource for writers and artists. We help you save time finding publishers or literary agents, so you can focus on creating. Our publication and agent listings are up to date and full of information you won't find elsewhere. We also offer submission trackers, custom searches, deadline calendars, statistical reports, and extensive interviews."
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According to their website, "For writers, getting your work published and recognized is a step toward realizing your goals as an author. However, finding the right contests or publications can be a challenging and time consuming. Authors now have the opportunity to find and submit their writing to magazines, publishers, and contests through a website called Submittable."
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According to their website, "CaFÉ strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply. CaFÉ has an open call for everyone, from competitions to public art calls, to art contests and more. Artists can create an artist portfolio for free and apply to various call listings. CaFÉ also hosts its own call for entry."
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According to their website, "For the Artist, Maker and (Forever) Inspired. Artists Network is with you every step of your art journey. Artists Network produces anywhere from three to five major events for visual art enthusiasts each year. We plan and produce different art-making getaways and retreats, art competitions, pop-up learn-ins, Paint Alongs, art talks and tours, and more in locations worldwide."
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WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON
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Location: WAS-H at 1601 West Alabama at Mandell, Houston, TX 77006
Register here.
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Check out these classes and more at WAS-H!
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Mini Workshop Pastels
Tetyana Aleksenko
President, Pastel Society of Southeast Texas
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WHEN: Sat, June 14, 2025 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM, directly after June General Meeting
WHERE: Woodlands Art League Studio. 701 Sawdust Rd., Spring, TX 77380.
COST: $75 for WAL Members, $100 for non-members.
Please register here.
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WHEN: June 28, 2025 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
WHERE: Loraine's Celtic Creations Glass Studio: 427 Jeremy Court, Spring, Texas 77386.
COST: $245.00
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WHEN: Classes start throughout June
WHERE: Houston Center for Photography 1441 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006.
COST: Varies per class
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Create unique jewelry and learn techniques for incorporating this medium into mixed media art. You'll make two wearable pendants from pre-made paint skins and create two custom paint skin sheets for future projects, PLUS you will leearn techniques for incorporating this medium into mixed media art.
Learn proper techniques for making, storing, and incorporating paint skins into various projects including canvas art, cards, and jewelry. Perfect for beginners - no experience needed. Take home your finished pendants plus paint skins for future creativity.
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WHEN: Saturday, June 7 · 1 - 3pm CDT
WHERE: Ardest Gallery, 25200 Grogans Park Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380.
COST: $65 | All supplies included
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What's Summer Studios?
Normally, we take a break during the Summer Months, but for June and July only, we're trying something new. Come join us for a combined class with two options:
Your choice on which path to follow. Either way, Robin will be there to instruct, critique, and encourage you.
1. Atelier Studies:
This path sets you on a curriculum of foundational drawing and painting skills to provide clear progression and development for any artist interested in academic realism. Beginner to advanced students are welcome! We'll craft a plan for you individually.
2. Personal Choice:
In this path, you choose what you want to work on. Start a new project, or bring your in-progress work to class for assistance. Not sure where to start? We can help with that too. Whether you're just starting out, or seeking to refine your skills, Robin will provide instruction, mentorship, and individualized assistance to help you move forward.
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WHEN: Summer 1: June 2 - 24th and Summer 2: July 8th - 29th
Time: 9:30am - 12:30 pm.
WHERE: Sugar Land Art Center, 104 Industrial Blvd ste q, Sugar Land, TX 77478.
COST: $250/semester (4 weeks) or $75/individual session
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WRITESPACE is Houston's writing center. Founded in April of 2014, we are a grassroots literary arts organization founded by writers, for writers. At WRITESPACE, we support writers of all genres, including writers of literary fiction, poetry, science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and other genres.
We offer weekly writing workshops, manuscript consultations, write-ins, open mics, socials, and more. In the spring of each year, we host a national literary festival, Writefest.
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- Endings are the Hardest Fight
- Happy Hour: Making Yourself and Your Creative Practice a Priority (Online Zoom)
- Amherst Way with Jessica Cole (Online Zoom)
- How a Writer Travels (Online Zoom)
- Digging Deeper: Poetry and Therapy
- Finding Draft Problems (and Fixing Them) (Online Zoom)
- Experimental Fiction, Imagery Pairing, & Multimedia Poetry (Online Zoom)
- Using Primary Resources for Memoir & Non-fiction
- Reverse Outlining & Revision for Novels
- Art in the AM: Rosewood Enchantikal Cottage
- Writing from the Power of the Senses: Floral
- From Second Draft to Query for Novelists
- Getting Your Book in Bookstores
- Getting Published in Genre Fiction (Online Zoom)
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Grackle and Grackle hosts creative writing classes taught by talented writers who love to teach. We work with all ages of writers.
We host weekend workshops for retreats geared toward specific kinds of writing, therapy, or outcomes; and weekly workshops in institutional or hospital settings.
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The Houston Writers Guild is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization working to create a community of writers of all skill levels. Together we strive to improve our writing craft and help each other build successful careers through education, collaborative marketing efforts, and camaraderie.
The Guild offers a myriad of programs for both published and unpublished writers. It creates opportunities to build careers through networking, as well as, opportunities for author book sales throughout the Greater Houston area and neighboring communities. The Guild is also a place for hobbyist authors to enjoy writing in a relaxed and fun environment.
Critique Group
Writer's Room - several offerings
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Inprint envisions Houston, Texas as a city where the literary arts are a defining resource. Thousands of Houstonians, recognizing the value and impact of the written word, join in Inprint programs to write, read, and support the literary arts. The community is enriched by some of the nation’s top emerging writers, who study at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program and teach at Inprint and various local community centers, schools, and universities.
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The WRITER'S LEAGUE of TEXAS (WLT) is the largest literary arts organization in Texas, a statewide nonprofit offering programs and services to writers at all stages of their writing careers, from just getting started to publication and beyond.
Founded in 1981, the organization’s mission is to provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; to help writers improve their craft and understand the business of publishing; to promote the interests of writers from diverse cultural, economic, sexual identity and orientation, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; and to elevate the art and enterprise of writing, including supporting and growing the Texas literary community at large.
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- “Following Desire: Shaping Stories with Want” with R. O. Kwon June 4 2025 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM CDT
- June Third Thursday: “Following the Thread: Well-Researched Writing” June 19 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM CDT (FREE)
- 2025 Agents Symposium: “Between Signing & Submission: The Agent-Author Relationship” with Melissa Flashman June 28 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CDT
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WOW! is a global magazine, designed to support women's creativity, energy, blood, sweat and tears, throughout all stages of the writing process. We envision Wow! being a favorite watering hole for professionals, the up-and-coming, and the recipients of our labors--the avid readers.
Our concept is unique, as it fills in the missing gap between writing websites and women's magazines. We are dedicated to raising the overall standards within the writing community, and devote an active profile within writing industry associations, organizations and websites.
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San Antonio's Writing Arts Center
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Delving into the Levant: Inspiration from International Poets with Veronica Golos
Dates: Wednesday(s), June 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm CDT, via Zoom
Cost: Nonmember: $200; Member: $170; Student/Educ/Mil: $140
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The International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) is dedicated to building a worldwide community where storytelling connects, inspires, and uplifts voices across cultures. We celebrate the richness of diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives, recognizing that every writer contributes to the shared human experience.
All IWWG workshops are listed in ET (Eastern Time).
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TWO SYLVIAS PRESS is an independent press located in the Seattle area. We publish poetry, memoir, essays, books on the craft of writing, and creativity tools, such as The Poet Tarot, The Daily Poet, Everything is Writable, PR for Poets, Demystifying the Manuscript, and the bestselling resource for poets, The Weekly Muse.
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* Collaboration Catalogs Available! *
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We have another excellent collaboration on the books!
Each member who participated in the ENTANGLED Collaboration received a copy of the catalog containing all the artwork and literary pieces. Melody still has a limited supply of copies in her studio that you can purchase for $10.
In addition, you can also purchase additional copies of the REFLECTION catalog from the 2022 Collaboration for $5.
Stop by Studio 320 at Silver Street Studios to purchase additional copies of either catalog. Silver Street Studios is located in the Main Yard of Sawyer Yards. Call ahead at 713-851-0134 to ensure that she’ll be in the studio when you arrive.
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Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting events, such as field trips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities.
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Save the Date(s)
July 15th Member Meeting "Submitting Work to Literary Publications: A Panel Sharing by WiVLA Literary Members." Check the WiVLA Calendar for details and updates.
WILVA "Rise" Exhibit: July 18th - August 31st, 2025, at Sabine.
August 2nd Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with Rise Artwork facilitated by Katherine McDaniel.
August 10th Haiku & Haiga Poetry Writing Workshop with Denise Bossarte
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WiVLA Needs Your Expertise
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Do you have special skills, talents or knowledge to share with other WiVLA members? Now is a good time to volunteer ~
- Serve on a committee
- Speak at a monthly meeting
- Lead a workshop.
- Be creative
Don't be shy. We have a lot to learn from each other.
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We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. The deadline for inclusion in the next month's newsletter is the 20th. Thank you.
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Only 2 Spots Left!
Join Denise Bossarte at The Ardest Gallery reception that includes her abstract photograph juried into the Color Field exhibit by Erika Whitney.
