Katie R. Yen
@katiedowrite.bsky.social
28 followers 16 following 44 posts
Good vibes welcome. I’m an Author, Poet, Mother, Thinker, Woman of Faith. Writing in Fathom, Third Coast, America, Apparition, Snarl, Edible Communities. http://katieyen.com #writingcommunity
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katiedowrite.bsky.social
Imagine you run into your ex at a wedding and find that they've changed drastically, while you've been in the same rut for years. Thus is the premise of my short story, only there's a fantastic, sci-fi twist. I'll let you discover that on your own. Read the full at kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2025/...
“The Violin/ist or The Madrigal” by Katie R. Yen
kaleidotrope.net
katiedowrite.bsky.social
“To master your craft, you must become one with your instrument,” he says, intoning as if quoting someone erudite and long-deceased. -from “The Violin/ist or The Madrigal” by yours truly, NOW published!
It took a long time to find a home for this short story. Thanks @kaleidotrope.bsky.social 😱
“The Violin/ist or The Madrigal” by Katie R. Yen
kaleidotrope.net
Reposted by Katie R. Yen
neilwillcox.bsky.social
The Beekeeper's Daughter, my story of bees, giants, goblins, secrets, and more bees, is only one of many in the new issue of Kaleidotrope, online now at kaleidotrope.net
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I thought of sharing something in solidarity, but no words came that didn't feel trite. This morning, 4 am—they appeared as haiku:
Golden Light Dances,
Weathered Wood Stands Tall in the
Shifting Stream—Quiet Strength
🌎
This is my prayer, words to offer the world on this day and too many like it.
A tree stump in the middle of a stream illuminated by warm golden light with a poem that reads: 
Golden Light Dances, 
Weathered Wood Stands Tall in the 
Shifting Stream—Quiet Strength 
by Katie R. Yen
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I had been thinking of this old tree all week—Wednesday with its unanticipated tragedy, Thursday as we prepared to remember.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
On Monday morning I went for a nature walk, and ran down to the stream to capture the glorious dappled light on this weathered wood stump, rooted in spite of everything around it.
A tree stump in the middle of a stream illuminated by warm golden light with a poem that reads: 
Golden Light Dances, 
Weathered Wood Stands Tall in the 
Shifting Stream—Quiet Strength 
by Katie R. Yen
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I'm so happy that "Leaving Sorrow," inspired by the ancient Chinese poem "Lí Sāo (Encountering Sorrow)" by Qu Yuan, will be published later this year.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Charles Yu was listed as a judge--would he read my work? That would be an honor, at the very least.

Several months of trying not to refresh my inbox later, I learned I received an honorable mention.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Yes, *that* Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown and How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe. No biggie.

My poem, "Leaving Sorrow," is about visiting Taipei with my son after the passing of his Agong -- grandfather.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
After a few years (yup, years) of it sitting in a digital folder, I ran across the Betty L. Yu & Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes. This competition is "established in partnership with TaiwaneseAmerican.org in honor of Charles Yu’s parents."
TaiwaneseAmerican.org
Highlighting Taiwanese America
TaiwaneseAmerican.org
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Writers know that not everything we write ever sees the light of day. But, I had this one poem I really wanted to place, so I kept searching for the right home for it (read: rejections! waiting! sadness! etc.!).

www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/06/char...
(1/🧵)
TaiwaneseAmerican.org
Highlighting Taiwanese America
TaiwaneseAmerican.org
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Do you have any favorite quotes about gardening or flowers? Inspirational or sarcastic, I’d love you to share with me!
katiedowrite.bsky.social
“...the earliest account is from our foremother, Rhoda. You know her better as Red Riding Hood. That’s right, she was a real person. Back then, it was still a handbasket, but more on that later.”

Read the rest of HELL IN A HANDBAG, on Metastellar.
www.metastellar.com/fiction/flas...
Hell in a Handbag - MetaStellar
The earliest account is from our foremother, Rhoda. You know her better as Red Riding Hood. That’s right, she was a real person. Back then, the handbag was still a handbasket, but more on that later.
www.metastellar.com
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Edward Gorey would have appreciated this > see his book, “The Epipleptic Bicycle”
Reposted by Katie R. Yen
apparitionlit.com
(1/4)
CONGRATULATIONS to Nadaa Hussein, Angel Leal
@angelvleal.bsky.social, Katie R. Yen @katiedowrite.bsky.social, and Elis Montgomery
@elismontgomery.bsky.social on making the
@sfpoetry.bsky.social Rhysling Long List!

Links in thread...
Apparition Literary Magazine masthead in teal over dark green, teal, and white background from issue 1 cover (artist Kim Sokol). Splattery brushstroke of black-green paint over most of image. Text on paint reads, "Congratulations to our Rhysling Award Long-Listers! Short Poems: kan-da-ka by Nadaa Hussein, Language as a Form of Breath by Angel Leal. Long poems: CONSENT FOR FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION WITH THE SHELLEY CONCEPTS INC CUSTOM PATIENT-FITTED RECONSTRUCTION PROSTHESIS by Katie R. Yen, the thing that leaps by Elis Montgomery.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
“The air pressure felt ominous the morning my husband died, like the entire universe was shrinking to accommodate the loss. But it had only been a thunderstorm, seasonal and expected.”
Read “The Obsolete Model,” my heartfelt speculative story featured in The Nonbinary Review, Issue 35, Old Friends.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Show of hands: who else started watching Resident Alien and shouted, “Steve the Pirate!”? 🏴‍☠️👽
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I cannot wait for the next season of Foundation, one of the best sci-fi epics. 🪐Lee Pace as Day could be its own show. Seriously. Do it.
Foundation Season 3 Casts Recent Oscar Winner As A Psychic Leader
Asimov's Preem Palver is coming to Apple TV+.
screenrant.com
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I hear ya! I’m a big fan of Libby, though my library doesn’t always have the titles I want. If you like audiobooks, the author reads her own work and does an incredible job. PS Don’t waste any more time not reading The Ghost Bride!
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I love a good audiobook, especially when the narrator augments an already tight story. Helen Laser, the narrator who performed Yellowface, was especially emotive here.
katiedowrite.bsky.social
I enjoyed this book, which was also adapted for a Netflix miniseries a few years ago. As luck would have it, author Yangsze Choo just released a new book this week!
katiedowrite.bsky.social
Found out that my speculative poem is nominated for the Rhysling Award hosted by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association. Congrats to all the finalists!

Thanks to the editors at the magazine for believing in my work, and to the SFPA for the honor.
CONSENT FOR FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION WITH THE SHELLEY CONCEPTS INC CUSTOM PATIENT-FITTED RECONSTRUCTION PROSTHESIS - Apparition Literary Magazine
apparitionlit.com