Parlyaree Press Favorite Poem: I Am the Man That I Wanted to Be Three things I loved: 1. A lot of what Chris describes are things I thought were part of the female condition, like imposter syndrome and self-doubt, but it turns out men have feelings and insecurities too. (I’m being facetious.)  2. I haven’t read much work through this gaze and I was impressed with Chris’s navigation of daily life and the poetic.

Waiting;Street Food; Snacks Happy to See You; Breakfast #2 Photography The Argyle Lit Mag September 2025 Across the Street; You; In the Mist;  Port;Taberna; Belem  Photography Rawhead September 2025 Art Like Honey; Fall Honey  Photography Three Panel Press September 23, 2025 Building Walls Poetry Skeleton Flowers Press September 22, 2025 At Least I Watered the Plants Poetry Dazed Santa

Preverbal by Carroll Beauvais Publisher: Lit Fox Books  Favorite Poem: Why The Arsonist Lit the Match Three things I loved: I really enjoyed Carroll's mix of cnf and poetry about life, the complicated relationship with her mother, and love. These are all things I write about as well, so I found this collection spoke to me with clarity.  I was very drawn to the poem “Orphan Supper”.

Hypersensitive by Taylor N. Williams Press: self-published I was familiar with Taylor’s work as a digital artist, but she recently (very quietly) released a short book of poems! Favorite poem: Mother Three things I loved: 1. Taylor puts the emotions of being enough while feeling you aren’t enough into words (poets will know what I mean).  2. Taylor writes as both the observer of her life and the protagonist.

by Rachel TurneyI watch as she balls the white corn paste in her hands—circling the dough round and round in a movement I could not replicate. She slaps the ball down hard on her wooden press. The lit...

Her Place on the Map - 18 Women and the Colorado Wonders Named for Them Press: Wolverine Farms (which is also a shop and gorgeous events space) Favorite Story: Rosalie Peak Three things I loved: Sarah wrote a collection that is empowering and even salacious (scandal being one of my favorite things). I'll never look at a Bierstadt painting the same way again thanks to this story about Rosalie.

August Newsletter TURNEYTALKS.COM I used to live in Chicago, once in 2007/2008 and again in 2012ish. Couldn’t make it stick. I wrote a longer poem about things I lost on the CTA, which was published this month by Cosmic Daffodil. One reason I like working with them is because they send proofs - I usually catch something I missed. …

My Heresies by Alina Stefanescu Press: Sarabande Books Favorite Poem: I am unable to choose due to how different each poem in this collection is and how they spoke to me in different ways as I reread them.  Three things I loved: I have been reading this book for months, and indeed rereading it. Since I did ask my library to purchase it for me, I should probably return it soon.

Long Island Sad Poems by Jane-Rebecca Cannarella Publisher: Serotonin Press  Favorite Poem: Quilted Rainbow Three things I loved: I am obsessed with the way Jane-Rebecca has titled her poems. They reveal so much and are a poem in themselves.  As a collection, this really hit. I would read one poem and think that I perfectly understood, then read the next and think I was lost in a dream. 

Calm in the Dark by Cat Speranzini Publisher: Grey Coven Note: I do not know Cat, so these are only my opinions, based on the presentation of the poetry as I saw it. (Authors can always reach out to me to amend or edit my Thumps if they wish.) Favorite poem: The Memory  Three things I loved: Cat is a woman who has been through a gauntlet.

July Newsletter turneytalks.com In July, I was delighted to have some sci-fi/fantasy poems featured on Cajun Mutt Press. That was encouraging because not much of my sci-fi/fantasy work has been picked up. Zach thinks I don’t know enough about the genre, which is probably true because I have never even watched a whole Star War or whatever. Thistle and Thread also featured me.

Caffeinated by Annette Gagliardi Publisher: Island of Wak-Wak Favorite poem: "I Thought I Loved Your Breakfast Bacon" (Annette - did you slip a saucy little sex poem right in the middle of this intellectual coffee chapbook - you did and I love it!) Three things I loved: 1. I also write a lot about coffee and was intrigued by how alike some themes were and also how very differently coffee 'brews' creativity and writing.

Vonku by Vaughn Ross Press: Crying Heart Press (Vaughn's Press) Favorite Poem: Three things I love: Vaughn, like his press, is unpretentious, clear, and genuine. This small collection is a personal look into the daily life of Vaughn. Writing about 'the basics' of daily life resonated with me. I have been using these short "vonkus" as writing prompts and the relatable imagery has helped spark my own creativity. Thank you for Vonku, Vaughn. You’ve been THUMPED! Read THUMPS on my website turneytalks.com and Bluesky @rachelturney

Three new poems were featured in Cajun Mutt Press. I also appeared in the Friday Feature on Thistle & Thread with one new poem: Teeth Eyes. Click the press name(s) below to view. Thank you to editors and readers! CAJUN MUTT PRESS Thistle & Thread

This Is My Body by Jonathan Fletcher Press: Northwestern University Press Click here to purchase. Favorite Poem: “Coconut” Three things I loved: 1. I felt a lot of connection with the content and the way the collection was written. I felt I knew Jonathan and that he would most certainly understand me, too.  2. I especially appreciated Jonathan's pieces that spoke to the 'otherness' he was made to feel - like the line "I have the tongue, just not the mother" in “Coconut”.

A Disappearing Virtual Hybrid (Micro)Chapbook by Rachel Turney “I can see this vine covered building from my balcony in Copenhagen…In the morning it will slip back into the dawn mist and reattach to...

LINK TO PURCHASE Dear Memphis by Rachel Edelman @rachelsedelman Press: River River Books Favorite Poem: "No Matter, My Treads are Lined with Kevlar" Three things I loved: 1. It's a beautiful book that incorporates creative form in a compelling way. 2. I really enjoyed the "earthy" words and themes like those used in "The Portrait". 3. I'm from Missouri and really found connection with Rachel and with their depiction of the American South.  Thank you for Dear Memphis, Rachel! You've been THUMPED!

Link to purchase book

LINK TO PURCHASE BOOK

My momma always told me (a classic Thumper line from Bambi): "If you can't say something nice don't say nothin' at all." So, I am "Thumping" my fellow writers. I will write short positive reviews of their work. I plan to share an excerpt that intrigued me, my favorite poem, and three things I enjoyed about the work. Many of the books I use for my THUMPS, I have requested that my library purchase.