New things are coming!
After quite a bit of planning, testing, and replanning, we will be launching a new version of the website within the net couple months. We
After quite a bit of planning, testing, and replanning, we will be launching a new version of the website within the net couple months. We
I’ve been blessed to work with a stable lineup of genre editors since I took over as editor-in-chief of Rock & Sling in 2010. We’ve
by Katherine Karr-Cornejo The phases of my life have offered many opportunities and challenges, and when I think of my years in graduate school, I
As we move toward the reality of Donald Trump’s pending presidency, artists are responding. Rock & Sling wants to produce a cross-section of that work,
by Jenn Rudsit A book fair full of indie presses, literary journals, MFA programs, and tables covered in piles upon piles of books: paradise. Mingling
By Joshua Tuttle My second AWP was even better than my first. Last year I was extremely nervous to explain what “a journal of witness”
by Lauren Klepinger As the end of spring break loomed nearer, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would survive the next week. I’d spent
The artist for issue 10.2 is Heather Gwinn. In a contemporary version of an old story, we stumbled across her work accidentally. One of our
From issue 10.2, on shelves next week, is Katie Manning. For the past three years, my primary writing project has been a collection of poems
Instead of simple biographical material, at the end of every issue, we ask our contributor’s to reflect on the connections they see between their faith
our final nominee, from issue 10.2 Lecture on Creation So here we gather and no one’s dead although we all will be and soon, and
our fourth nominee, from issue 10.2 On Apophasis and a Bee A buttered roll and a dinner bee are not in this line.
our fifth nominee, from issue 10.2
our third nominee, from issue 10.2 The Sack People The sack people are at it again, singing on the corner about his pleasing light, oh
our second nominee, from issue 10.1 Seven Lessons from the Book of Sharks Before mountains rose from the ocean so clouds had somewhere to arrive,
our first nominee, from issue 10.1: In Eastern Medicine milk is an extension of blood which we suckle with the tiny gulping mouth of heart.
A Review of The Pedestrians by Rachel Zucker 143 Pages, $18 ISBN: 978-1-933517-89-6 Wave Books, 2014 A woman sings “Hey Jude” with a voice
Kaitlin Schmidt “Hi! Have you heard of Rock & Sling?” This is the inane question I started with as I stood at our booth, a
Stop and see us at table P24 in the bookfair. Freebie broadsides, poetry singles, buttons, back issues, and more. Plus t-shirts and issue 9.1, featuring
We have most of the content settled for issue 8.1. The issue will be something of a theme issue, featuring work from some of the
by Jeremiah Webster If Madame Sosostris shuffled her “wicked pack of cards” today, would there be the hanged man, the “lady of situations,” the great
With delivery scheduled for Monday, here’s another look into the coming issue. Artist’s statement by Emelie Ånskog How I breathe I was in London and
7.2 is almost ready to ship, so here are some glimpses into the issue. Subscribers will have it in hand by the end of the
If you signed up for our mailing list, or just picked up complimentary copies of our most recent issues at the Festival of Faith and
We are in the bookfair at Calvin College’s excellent event, hanging out with lots of other great Christian publishers and journals. If you’re in Grand
We’ll be hosting a poetry salon with Laurie Lamon and Nance Van Winckel at the Community Building in downtown Spokane at the end of April.
Blaine Eldredge IV. AWP has vindicated my use of superlatives. And it has made the abstract world of language concrete. It was, in short, fantastic.
Cherise Hensley III. The Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, or AWP, is a game-changer for any student even remotely interested in publishing. I
Karina Basso II. AWP was a whirlwind of literature, pins, postcards, and coffee. I was so overwhelmed by the hundreds of tables of MFA programs,
Matt Comi I. It place things into a new frame. I think that was of particular importance. I had a whole set of presuppositions about
Jeremiah Webster “We’re so pretty, oh so pretty, vacant.” – The Sex Pistols We had driven past midnight and needed sleep. The last four exits
featuring work from: Tara Ballard Michele Burkey Jackson Culpepper Kristin George Michael Gray Matthew E. Henry Adam Hughes Jeremy B. Jones Laurie Klein Alyse Knorr
Kathryn Smith Ours is a God who lives in every sort of dwelling, with every sort of person, whether we live in a house or
Kathryn Smith There are plenty of places in our West Central neighborhood for Isaiah’s prophecy to take hold. Who are the captives? What devastations –
Kathryn Smith What does it mean, in the year 2011, in an urban setting, to prepare the way of the Lord? What if a neighbor’s
Kathryn Smith What struck me about today’s gospel—in addition to the ominous imagery—is that notion that the Lord’s coming will surely happen at night. So
Laurie Lamon *Editor’s note: Our second Pushcart Prize nomination goes to Cathy Bobb, who had two poems in issue 6.1 (~thom). Cathy Bobb is a
This is the first of our Pushcart nominations for 2011. Sometimes, as an editor, the drudgery of reading submissions can make one want to put
Rock & Sling is pleased to announce its nominations for the 2011 Pushcart Prize “To the Reverend Arnold Kenseth” by Ray Amorosi (issue 6.1) “Day
by Jeremiah Webster My two year old son has a Radio Flyer scooter: classic red with streamers that blow in the breeze with near-patriotic flair.
by Liv Larson Andrews for Patty, with love and groaning Wendell Berry argues that only when we begin to do the necessary things for each
I am—and I will tell you right now that this is a terrible way to be and I’m sorry and I will promise to try
by Jacquelyn Wheeler In a sermon series about spiritual revival, John Mark Comer preached a sermon called, “Born After Midnight,” in which he asserted that
by Pax Gutierrez-Neal Hebrew apocrypha contains the legend of Lilith, the first wife of Adam. She, like Adam, was created from dust and clay. In
It seems we’ve been sluggardly here on the R&S blog, but I assure you such is not the case. The new issue is coming together,
Jessie van Eerden’s essay “Raised Up, Wet-Headed” appears in the most recent issue (Vol. 6 Issue 1) of Rock and Sling. In the late 90s,
by Lauren Rush But now I must return to the proper showering procedures. Upon exiting said edifice, you must perform the act of towel drying.
by Lauren Rush There is much confusion amongst my brothers and sisters as to the cleansing of the Ringlet. Since I cannot repeat it in
by Lauren Rush Peace be with you, my brothers and sisters of the Ringlet. Whenever I think of you, I am filled with joy and
by Claire LePage, Lauren Rush, & Caitlin Wheeler Number of Blasphemous Jokes We Made: 5 Number of Octopi Sighted: 6 Number of International Foods Eaten:
We ask our contributing authors to consider the role of faith in their work, or in the pieces in our issue. It adds some depth
Artwork Gala Bent Poems Shannon Amidon \ Psalm Ray Amorosi \ Two Poems Janet Barry \ Two Poems Cathy Bobb \ Two Poems Beth Cooley
The new issue is at the printer, and should be in our hands soon, and then in our subscribers hands, and on news stands around
by Mary McGinnis Are you the transparent look of First Woman waking? Are you First Man’s thick and awkward tongue? Are you water of mistakes?
By Kyle Broeckel Timothy and Mary live beneath the overpass five minutes from my house. A little-used bike path runs alongside Escondido’s drainage canal, then
By Steve Doughty People waiting for the plane to arrive weren’t that crowded, so there was no need for the two of them to press
by Claire LePage I watched Kill Bill while waiting for my grandpa to die last week. I wanted to watch A River Runs Through It,
by Sarah Wells Jesus is dancing like no one is watching his partner. He smiles and twirls a girl in a satiny top and high
by Britt Tisdale Staton Self-discovery is a good thing, right? I learned something about myself as I tried to review Gina Ochsner’s The Russian Dreambook
We are still looking for poetry, fiction, and essays, you writers out there. We have ten days of reading left for the winter issue, so
by Jeremy Huggins When I was a child, I went fishing with two friends and their fathers. My father came along. I said that I
by Nicole Sheets This essay is part of a work in progress about my relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary and her iconography, superpowers, and
by Linda Annas Ferguson He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. Genesis 2:21 As we lie side by
by Tania Runyan We knew Preacher Man had it all wrong, the 6’4″ senior who pinned kids to their lockers with the Four Spiritual Laws,
By Heather Wallace, assistant editor Layers of meaning are a thing of beauty and a joy forever. This literary sense is a particular pleasure for
By Vic Bobb, fiction editor The past half century has seen a remarkable number of talented Serbians contribute to the world’s store of interesting and
Grandma Says: Gentle with the piecrust. It’s urinate, not pee. A nip of brandy is okay. Interrogate God. ~by Laurie Cutter Though she is presently
Rock & Sling is back, and getting ready for our first issue, due out in December. We are accepting submissions, and selling subscriptions, both of