everyday art culture & Magic
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A Fundraiser For Surviving & ThrivingBy The Editors  We hope you're into our new web design (but also don't care if you're not because we're grown-ass women who don't need your approval.) If you dig what we do and want to help us keep doing it, please check out our 2019 fundraiser to cover our bare minimum web costs for the year. The fundraiser is on Facebook, but anyone can donate. Learn more here and thanks in advance for your generosity! Please share the heck out of the link.
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People & Places as "Vessels for Trauma" I've known Joanna C. Valente (they/them pronouns) online as a poet for the better part of a decade now. You might recognize their name from previous poetry features, as well as the poetry films "Done" and "What Light Makes a Star?" first shown at FiveMyles Gallery in Brooklyn. More recently, I began noticing their visual work pop up online. There have been photos, as well as illustrations. Their #SURVIVOR series, which has appeared (or is forthcoming) in bits and pieces at Luna Luna Magazine, Mookychick, Yes Poetry, Brokelyn, and The Charles River Journal, particularly caught my eye. #SURVIVOR focuses on what it means and looks like to be a survivor of sexual and domestic trauma, but also approaches the idea of survival more expansively.
Just as interested in #SURVIVOR's content as its form, I asked Joanna a few questions about the series: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Slay Grad School EnvyBy M. Alouette  Green-eyed monsters are rampant in M.F.A. programs. An M.F.A. is a terminal degree, qualifying artists and writers for the professoriate (at least on paper.) This means most M.F.A. programs require a high level of achievement to not only get admitted but actually complete—classes, thesis, and all. Competition then seems inevitable. M.F.A. candidates want teaching jobs, grants, publishing opportunities, exhibition opportunities. You name it and everyone in the program wants those gold stars and lines on their resume. At least that's the perception, right? Because you don't have to want what everyone else wants. Maybe you can just want what you want.
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A Month of Extra Girl PowerBy The Editors  March is National Women's Month—and we'd love to read your stories! Send us your poems about women's experiences, your short stories with strong female protagonists, your essays about feminism and womanhood, and your articles about women's issues. We're also interested in photography, video, audio, and other multimedia submissions by and for women. Check out our submission guidelines here.
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This Fairy Is Smart, Strong & Anti-CapitalistBy Luna Lark  When I quip that I'm a fairy or a mermaid, people—especially men—should not take me any less seriously. I am just as intelligent, capable, and strong as I was before I made that playful comment. I am entitled to my own fun and imagination. It does nothing to harm others and emboldens me with a sense of control as a woman in an unequal world. Fairies and mermaids have magical powers; I live in a society that doesn't believe I should have a say over my own body. Why wouldn't I want to inhabit some alternative reality? The possibilities on this planet look so dark and dismal. Morphing into a fairy or mermaid sounds great. Sadly, I still have to deal with the garbage of Trump's America.
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Book Revelry at Arizona State UniversityBy The Editors  We're excited for Hoot 'n' Waddle, an independent press based in Phoenix, Arizona, and the publisher of our founder's forthcoming collection of short stories and poems, Desert Fox by the Sea. On Friday and Saturday, they tabled at the beautifully named Desert Nights, Rising Stars Literary Fair at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Above is a photo they posted to their Facebook page yesterday. Their table had their current books, as well as merch and info about their podcasts.
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Imaginative Photography Made OutstandingBy Ghia Vitale  © Your Rouge Photography The first picture I saw by Your Rouge Photography was a black plus-size mermaid in the snow. The model in the photo above is the lovely Chè Monique. I appreciate all of the beauty contained in this surprising image. Mermaids are usually portrayed as slender, white, and in the water (you know, of the unfrozen variety). Your Rouge Photography, based in Washington, D.C., puts the spotlight on marginalized communities and creates empowering representation of these identities. In a world where good representation is scarce, the photographer Rouge—who prefers to remain anonymous—is making magic happen.
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Like our updated look?By The Editors  It's a new year and also nearly five years since Quail Bell Magazine's last re-design! We thought it was time to give our plumage a sleek make-over and now it's complete. You'll notice a new navigation menu, page organization, and a cleaner lay-out, too. Check out our new homepage, as well as our archive of stories from 2018 and prior. Let us know what you think in the comments below or send us a letter to the editor. We hope the new look makes reading Quail Bell a more magical experience than ever. As always, thanks for visiting!
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DIY Witchcraft & Magical Living
Sensitively-written and nuanced, Light Magic for Dark Times (Fair Winds Press) by Lisa Marie Basile is a self-care manual for living through these “dark times” and finding one’s own light and haven of peace. As someone who has always been fascinated with magic, the occult and the supernatural, I found reading Lisa’s book illuminated how certain daily intentional acts can turn the mundane into magic, and make every day count in a meaningful way.
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A YouTuber Very Much Alive Theresa Is Dead Official Logo When I first found Theresa Is Dead on YouTube, it was another morning getting ready for work. Or maybe it was another evening waiting for my clay mask to dry down in hopes that it would vanquish my acne (it didn't, but at least it's 10 minutes of peace). Either way, I'm always looking for someone to talk me through my little rituals every morning and evening.
Theresa's sarcasm and love for horror and goth culture drew me in from the start. I was never the "edgy" kid, but I couldn't help being drawn to creepy and dark movies and music. Her own stories of the bizarre happenings of her everyday life are a reminder that interesting stories can happy anywhere and that we can create our own story with the artistry of makeup. I'm honored I got to talk to her about her own creative process and the importance of storytelling in our lives and can't wait for others to discover her quick wit and honesty as well. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
When You Have To Check FacebookBy M. Alouette  Over-using social media wrecks our mental health. Before we read any headlines about new studies, deep down, we all probably knew that already. At least intuitively. Social media can make you feel like a loser that nobody thinks about or invites to anything because they're too busy living their tan, fit, debt-free lives of fun and romance. You're the only one with flab or mountains of credit cards bills. Many people can (and do) go on social media purges because the "perfect" alternate reality is too much to take sometimes. But what if social media is your job and you don't have that luxury? Are you destined to a life of constantly comparing yourself to that girl you sat next to for a semester in Spanish class ten years ago?
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The Brands Are Not Okay (I Promise)By Christopher Sloce  Whither yesteryear’s brands? The totally radical Chuck E. Cheese, the pied piper rodent who led so many '90s kids onto a children’s crusade to a land full of amusement and games? Does Erin Esurance keep her hair now at its natural brunette? Did the Morton Salt Girl, in her perpetual rain, die of pneumonia, penniless and alone? What happens to a brand icon deferred? Do they have a retirement community? Are they like our elders, saying amongst themselves, “These new brands don’t get it. What’s all this they do? In our day we had to entice you with TV or radio. Now brands can pretend to have conversations with you. Put me in Los Angeles and the consumer in Peoria and we’ll show you magic.”
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My Art Owes You Nothing My art is not for your pleasure or approval.
My art doesn't need your time, energy, or gaze. My art exists independently of you, your personal taste, and your personal values. My art will continue to exist regardless of what you think about it, vocalize about it, or write about it. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Advice for Chronic Farting on the MetroBy Margot Riddle  Editor's Note: You may remember Margot from our archives as the occasional, silly advice columnist. Well, she's back, baby! If you want to submit your own dumb question for her to answer, go to her blog and fill out the "Dear Margot" contact form for a chance to be featured on the site. Don't be shy; Margot may be snarky, but she's filled with love...and chocolate. Read on for a taste at what you can expect regularly from Margot. Dear Margot,
I can't stop farting on the subway and it's very embarrassing. All I want to do is ride on the Metro without making everyone's eyes water and the conductor threaten to evacuate the train. This all started when Todd from Finance started offering me his last Beef and Cheese Taquito from 7-Eleven and I'm so bad at saying no. I feel like rejecting the Taquito, even if my stomach clearly does, is rude of me to do. I've tried Beano and other anti-gas medication, but nothing works. At some point, someone will figure out it isn't someone's farty service dog and then I'll be an outcast on the only line that takes me directly to and from work. Help! - Blue on the Blue Line The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Be Kind to Editors
I get that publishing sometimes seems like a mystery. Publishers and editors seem to hold all of the power, especially when you're a beginning writer. What many writers may not realize is how little power magazine editors in this day and age often have. Most of them are unpaid or underpaid. Even in commercial publishing, the salaries for entry-level and mid-level editors are astonishingly low compared to jobs in other industries requiring similar education and experience. Editor jobs often appear much more glamorous from the outside than they actually are, too. The reality is that editors tend to be overworked and get far less recognition than "rock star" columnists and reporters. Too many writers (or wanna-be writers) feel absolutely entitled to editors' time. Take it from me!
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Mad Ofrenda Vibes
By The Editors
After our fiction editor Ren Martinez reviewed Monique Quintana's Cenote City (CLASH Books) and we later interviewed the author, we're thrilled to see a beautiful and moody trailer for the book. Check it out:
And if you want a copy of Cenote City for yourself, get it here:
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Fill Up Your Cart At Our Amazon StorefrontBy The Editors  Quail Bell is an independent arts, culture, and literary magazine—and we need your support to stay that way! Today we found out that we were approved for the Amazon Influencers program. That means that we now have an online storefront where we can curate products we think you'll love. Though we by no means think Amazon is perfect, we accept the reality of the marketplace and plan to use this opportunity to fund our art habit and continue telling stories we value. To echo Tupac, play the game, but don't let it play you. Our founding editor is from Arlington, Virginia and currently lives in New York City, so you can imagine how she feels about all of the Amazon HQ news. (At least the Queens office is no longer happening!) With all that being said, help us keep doing our thing and browse our Amazon shop today. We appreciate every purchase!
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An Animalistic Dream Story
By The Editors
We've gotten into the long march of winter where the cold, wind, and ice won't seem to end. There's no holiday cheer to save us, only more frosty misery. At least we have books to console us. For your next huddle-up-and-hibernate title, we recommend Moon Beans by Helen Sánchez Stoddard (yes, our founder's sib!). Moon Beans is a dreamy, black-and-white, coming-of-age comic now available on Blurb. It's only 48 pages long, but it's a meditative read, so expect to linger. For a taste, take a gander at these sample panels and check out what the creator has to say about the surrealistic style and content:
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To Hope is to LoveBy Ren Martinez  Editor's Note: If you love this review and want to read and learn more about the anthology, read our interview with Emma Eden Ramos previously published on February 9, 2019. “We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer
These words by Lin-Manuel Miranda set the stage for Love_is_Love: An Anthology for LGBTQIA+ Teens. Edited by Emma Eden Ramos, it’s a collection of poetry, art, and fiction that celebrates queerness in all its forms. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Shopping & Dining: Our Favorite Black-Owned Small Businesses in Richmond, Virginia & New York City2/20/2019 A Celebration of Modern Black ExcellenceBy The Editors  While Black History Month is only one month of the year, that's no reason not to continue celebrating past, present, and future innovators in the community. We round up some of our favorite black-owned small businesses our editors personally love and celebrate from our very own cities and towns—Richmond, Virginia where executive editor Gretchen Gales lives and New York City where founding editor Christine Sloan Stoddard lives. Our choices include food, cosmetics, art galleries, bookstores, and more.
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Author Meg Medina on Ritual, Identity & Bold Girls
By The Editors
Image from Cover Art of Medina's Book.
Our editors and contributors can directly link their obsession with storytelling to books they read during childhood. Our fascination with unique stories and commitment to diverse literature is why we're incredibly stoked to have chatted with Richmond Virginia's own Meg Medina, this year's Newbery Medal winner.
The Newbery Medal awards the best and most distinguished American children's literature, and we can't think of a more worthy recipient. Medina's book Merci Suárez Changes Gears is a journey into the life of a sixth grader who goes through significant life changes as she transitions from elementary to middle school. What makes this Bildungsroman so compelling is the honest, humorous, and detailed account of growing up in an intergenerational family with a multicultural background. Of course, we had some questions about her stunning work and her creative process. Dive in for an award-winning mindset that paved the way to Medina's most recent honor: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Dolled Up Punk in Columbus, Ohio
By The Editors
After our founding editor Christine Sloan Stoddard had photos accepted into the ultra-colorful and beautifully playful feminist magazine, The Dollhouse, our curiosity was piqued. What was this shiny, new publication and how did it come to be? Honestly, Christine didn't even really know; she just saw the Submittable call, checked out the website, and loved it. Clearly we had no choice but to email the Dollhouse editors an interview! Luckily, CJ Fink answered all of our nosy questions. Read on, Fledglings!
Who is on The Dollhouse's team? Could you talk about how you met in Columbus, Ohio? The magazine consists of six women: CJ Fink, Abby Wagner, Kelsey Yappel, Laurel Hilliard, Sara Liptow, and Dena Pierog. We are all best friends, and we met going to house shows around Columbus. I live with Sara and Laurel in The Dollhouse, [a space] that also hosts shows! How would you describe the creative and activist scenes in Columbus? Columbus is great because it is large and sprawling. You can find just about anything you are looking for here. The scene we operate in mostly is the feminist punk scene, and for the few years we have all been involved, it has treated us well and given us an incredible platform to work with. The communities in Columbus are all very supportive, but tends to be fleeting because of the constant overturn of [art and music] houses, which is due to the Columbus Police Department shutting them down and students from Ohio State graduating and moving out. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Give it up for books!
By The Editors
Unnameable Books in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Once the holidays pass, weekends in the winter tend to be a little tamer. It's cold and plenty of people would rather hibernate than venture out into the ice, wind, and snow. That's true even in New York City, which quiets down in February, though it never falls to an absolute silence. Still, if an event promises to be epic enough, New Yorkers can be convinced to leave their apartments for more than a beer. Luckily for the Boog City 12.5 Arts Festival, that was the case this past weekend. Our founding editor Christine Sloan Stoddard was invited to read with CLASH Books, who will be publishing her poetry and photography collection, Heaven Is a Photograph, later this year. (They also published Tragedy Queens, Cenote City, and Trash Panda, which we recently featured in reviews and author interviews.)
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A Home for "Weird Babies"
By The Editors
Craving some literature and art that is unconventional? Have some sillier or weirder pieces that can't find a home? Then FIVE:2:ONE, a literary experience founded by Nathan Alan Schwartz, may have a home for your "weird baby". Both founding editor Christine Sloan Stoddard as well as executive editor Gretchen Gales have both had work in the experimental literary magazine.
So to celebrate Issue 21, their latest release, we wanted to find out more behind the magazine that breaks the rules with great success. Who knows? The next "weird baby" they adopt could be from your own collection. Read on to discover more about Schwartz's vision for the publication: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
You & Your Manuscript Deserve Love
By M. Alouette
Social media can make it seem like everyone is happier and more successful than you. That includes writers and their books. According to Facebook and Instagram, everyone in your feed is getting book deals except for you. Of course, that's probably not true. And even if it were, it does not matter. Those people are not you. Their books are not your books. Only you can tell your stories and express your ideas in exactly the way that you are meant to do. There is enough space for your voice.
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