Brandon Allen
@brandwrites.bsky.social
Author/MFA student @ work on a novel on the Arizona/Mexico border involving the missing son of a dentist & a runaway mother.
Fiction at The Saturday Evening Post (@satevepost.bsky.social) and Pleiades (@pleiadesmag.bsky.social).
www.linktr.ee/brandallen
Fiction at The Saturday Evening Post (@satevepost.bsky.social) and Pleiades (@pleiadesmag.bsky.social).
www.linktr.ee/brandallen
Pinned
Honored to appear in @pleiadesmag.bsky.social this spring. This story has alternately bewitched and disturbed me. I hope you enjoy. 🙏🏻
This. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Lock arms, people. They can’t take us all.
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 11:23 PM
This. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Lock arms, people. They can’t take us all.
Got a chance to visit our library friends across the state line @jocolibrary.org today! Beautiful facility, and an entire genealogical section at the Central Resource Library for any of the Writers for Readers students who've taken my family history class.
January 22, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Got a chance to visit our library friends across the state line @jocolibrary.org today! Beautiful facility, and an entire genealogical section at the Central Resource Library for any of the Writers for Readers students who've taken my family history class.
Another @kclibrary.bsky.social creative writing class, another amazing cohort. So honored to teach these incredible writers in our community! ❤️
January 18, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Another @kclibrary.bsky.social creative writing class, another amazing cohort. So honored to teach these incredible writers in our community! ❤️
A pair of songs that made me weep (in the best way) this morning. This world is a disaster in so many ways, and an unmitigated miracle in so many others.
I cannot shake the belief love holds it all together, and that is enough for now. 🌎
I cannot shake the belief love holds it all together, and that is enough for now. 🌎
January 16, 2026 at 2:14 PM
A pair of songs that made me weep (in the best way) this morning. This world is a disaster in so many ways, and an unmitigated miracle in so many others.
I cannot shake the belief love holds it all together, and that is enough for now. 🌎
I cannot shake the belief love holds it all together, and that is enough for now. 🌎
Free creative writing classes begin again at @kclibrary.bsky.social next week, some taught by yours truly. I hope you can join me!
You can find the full lineup here: kclibrary.org/news/2025-12...
You can find the full lineup here: kclibrary.org/news/2025-12...
January 6, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Free creative writing classes begin again at @kclibrary.bsky.social next week, some taught by yours truly. I hope you can join me!
You can find the full lineup here: kclibrary.org/news/2025-12...
You can find the full lineup here: kclibrary.org/news/2025-12...
Visited the stellar folks at The Story House Bookstore in Springfield today, and added 2 books to my collection I’ve been after for a while.
Brian and A.J. tell me there are some exciting plans in store for this space: a theater, workshops, partnerships with local universities & more!
Brian and A.J. tell me there are some exciting plans in store for this space: a theater, workshops, partnerships with local universities & more!
January 4, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Visited the stellar folks at The Story House Bookstore in Springfield today, and added 2 books to my collection I’ve been after for a while.
Brian and A.J. tell me there are some exciting plans in store for this space: a theater, workshops, partnerships with local universities & more!
Brian and A.J. tell me there are some exciting plans in store for this space: a theater, workshops, partnerships with local universities & more!
Honored to be participating in this reading on January 10 at ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council . I’ll be reading a short fiction piece on grief but the main event is a book release by Brian Bulger.
If you’re in the KC area come support this bevy of incredible artists! Tix at brianbulgermusic.com
If you’re in the KC area come support this bevy of incredible artists! Tix at brianbulgermusic.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Honored to be participating in this reading on January 10 at ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council . I’ll be reading a short fiction piece on grief but the main event is a book release by Brian Bulger.
If you’re in the KC area come support this bevy of incredible artists! Tix at brianbulgermusic.com
If you’re in the KC area come support this bevy of incredible artists! Tix at brianbulgermusic.com
I read 39 books this year (a record for me). 🍾
Some classics I’d never gotten to, some stellar nonfiction, and much literary love. ❤️
I’ve got some amazing books queued up for 2026 as well!
Plus, I got to meet one of my literary heroes, the inimitable Karen Russell, courtesy of Rainy Day Books!
Some classics I’d never gotten to, some stellar nonfiction, and much literary love. ❤️
I’ve got some amazing books queued up for 2026 as well!
Plus, I got to meet one of my literary heroes, the inimitable Karen Russell, courtesy of Rainy Day Books!
January 1, 2026 at 12:23 AM
I read 39 books this year (a record for me). 🍾
Some classics I’d never gotten to, some stellar nonfiction, and much literary love. ❤️
I’ve got some amazing books queued up for 2026 as well!
Plus, I got to meet one of my literary heroes, the inimitable Karen Russell, courtesy of Rainy Day Books!
Some classics I’d never gotten to, some stellar nonfiction, and much literary love. ❤️
I’ve got some amazing books queued up for 2026 as well!
Plus, I got to meet one of my literary heroes, the inimitable Karen Russell, courtesy of Rainy Day Books!
Beauty everywhere ❄️
December 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Beauty everywhere ❄️
A year ago I wrote a story that ended up in The Saturday Evening Post about my childhood memories of Christmas caroling.
www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/03/divi...
Leo and Margaret Porter were two of the kindest people I met as a child…
Read the rest here: brandallen.substack.com/p/divinity
www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/03/divi...
Leo and Margaret Porter were two of the kindest people I met as a child…
Read the rest here: brandallen.substack.com/p/divinity
Divinity
A year ago I wrote a story that ended up in The Saturday Evening Post about my childhood memories of Christmas caroling.
brandallen.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:53 AM
A year ago I wrote a story that ended up in The Saturday Evening Post about my childhood memories of Christmas caroling.
www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/03/divi...
Leo and Margaret Porter were two of the kindest people I met as a child…
Read the rest here: brandallen.substack.com/p/divinity
www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/03/divi...
Leo and Margaret Porter were two of the kindest people I met as a child…
Read the rest here: brandallen.substack.com/p/divinity
Count me with the castoffs. New Substack post about the Nativity, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and outsiders. Happy holidays!
brandallen.substack.com/p/count-me-w...
brandallen.substack.com/p/count-me-w...
Count me with the Castoffs
Another view of the Nativity
brandallen.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Count me with the castoffs. New Substack post about the Nativity, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and outsiders. Happy holidays!
brandallen.substack.com/p/count-me-w...
brandallen.substack.com/p/count-me-w...
Y’all, the writers in KC are the best. 🌟 Yesterday I taught another roomful at @kclibrary.bsky.social and they once again showed me why stories and the hard work of creating them matters. ✍🏻 Happiest of holidays as you all continue your projects! 🎄
December 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Y’all, the writers in KC are the best. 🌟 Yesterday I taught another roomful at @kclibrary.bsky.social and they once again showed me why stories and the hard work of creating them matters. ✍🏻 Happiest of holidays as you all continue your projects! 🎄
Tonight at 6 pm! This Writers for Readers benefit with @candicemillard.bsky.social funds the free creative writing classes I help teach at the @kclibrary.bsky.social It’s always a good time.
If you’re in the KC metro join us!
kclibrary.org/donate/wfr
If you’re in the KC metro join us!
kclibrary.org/donate/wfr
November 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Tonight at 6 pm! This Writers for Readers benefit with @candicemillard.bsky.social funds the free creative writing classes I help teach at the @kclibrary.bsky.social It’s always a good time.
If you’re in the KC metro join us!
kclibrary.org/donate/wfr
If you’re in the KC metro join us!
kclibrary.org/donate/wfr
Fantastic time—as always—teaching writing at @kclibrary.bsky.social today! Forgive the panoramic angle; there were too many students to fit in!
November 16, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Fantastic time—as always—teaching writing at @kclibrary.bsky.social today! Forgive the panoramic angle; there were too many students to fit in!
A day trip to Hermann, MO for story research on a cloudless autumn day. 🍁 Bonus points for Oktoberfest! 🍺
October 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A day trip to Hermann, MO for story research on a cloudless autumn day. 🍁 Bonus points for Oktoberfest! 🍺
An absolutely jam-packed writer’s room at my workshop today at @kclibrary.bsky.social . 🔥 The energy of other authors lights me up. 📚 Honored to take part in this year’s Heartland Book Fest and can’t wait for next year!
October 11, 2025 at 9:52 PM
An absolutely jam-packed writer’s room at my workshop today at @kclibrary.bsky.social . 🔥 The energy of other authors lights me up. 📚 Honored to take part in this year’s Heartland Book Fest and can’t wait for next year!
THE END 🖋️
Wrote those lines at the end of the latest draft of my novel yesterday in preparation for my final year at @umkc.bsky.social .
Feels good, feels right. Even the weather cooled off to congratulate me. 😄 Bring it on, fall. 🍁
Wrote those lines at the end of the latest draft of my novel yesterday in preparation for my final year at @umkc.bsky.social .
Feels good, feels right. Even the weather cooled off to congratulate me. 😄 Bring it on, fall. 🍁
August 24, 2025 at 10:57 PM
THE END 🖋️
Wrote those lines at the end of the latest draft of my novel yesterday in preparation for my final year at @umkc.bsky.social .
Feels good, feels right. Even the weather cooled off to congratulate me. 😄 Bring it on, fall. 🍁
Wrote those lines at the end of the latest draft of my novel yesterday in preparation for my final year at @umkc.bsky.social .
Feels good, feels right. Even the weather cooled off to congratulate me. 😄 Bring it on, fall. 🍁
Once again, the authors at my @kclibrary.bsky.social writing class knocked me out with their talent and insight.
Grateful to be teaching here. ❤️ Visit kclibrary.org/wfr for full class list.
Grateful to be teaching here. ❤️ Visit kclibrary.org/wfr for full class list.
August 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Once again, the authors at my @kclibrary.bsky.social writing class knocked me out with their talent and insight.
Grateful to be teaching here. ❤️ Visit kclibrary.org/wfr for full class list.
Grateful to be teaching here. ❤️ Visit kclibrary.org/wfr for full class list.
Honored to appear in @pleiadesmag.bsky.social this spring. This story has alternately bewitched and disturbed me. I hope you enjoy. 🙏🏻
June 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Honored to appear in @pleiadesmag.bsky.social this spring. This story has alternately bewitched and disturbed me. I hope you enjoy. 🙏🏻
I received the Crystal Field Poetry Scholarship from The Writer’s Place of KC. Part of that honor was a reading at their venue last week. 🙏
Thx to Dr. Bar’s grad workshop for the assist to my poetry skills. 😁
📸: @maritza4770.bsky.social
@alextretbar.bsky.social
@mrscboogie.bsky.social
Thx to Dr. Bar’s grad workshop for the assist to my poetry skills. 😁
📸: @maritza4770.bsky.social
@alextretbar.bsky.social
@mrscboogie.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I received the Crystal Field Poetry Scholarship from The Writer’s Place of KC. Part of that honor was a reading at their venue last week. 🙏
Thx to Dr. Bar’s grad workshop for the assist to my poetry skills. 😁
📸: @maritza4770.bsky.social
@alextretbar.bsky.social
@mrscboogie.bsky.social
Thx to Dr. Bar’s grad workshop for the assist to my poetry skills. 😁
📸: @maritza4770.bsky.social
@alextretbar.bsky.social
@mrscboogie.bsky.social
Last writing class of the semester at @kclibrary.bsky.social , and it was amazing! These writers inspired me with their stories. ✍🏻
May 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Last writing class of the semester at @kclibrary.bsky.social , and it was amazing! These writers inspired me with their stories. ✍🏻
Writing fun @kclibrary.bsky.social this afternoon! Love helping others tell their stories! 📖
May 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Writing fun @kclibrary.bsky.social this afternoon! Love helping others tell their stories! 📖
If you’re in KC on 4/17, don’t miss! (Free) RSVP required at link in OP.
Iowa-based short story writer, Jamel Brinkley, won the fourth annual Maya Angelou Book Award for Witness: Stories. As part of his statewide tour, Brinkley will discuss Witness: Stories and its diverse cast of characters next Thursday.
📍: Plaza Branch
📅: April 17 | 6 p.m.
RSVP: tinyurl.com/yc45c7um
📍: Plaza Branch
📅: April 17 | 6 p.m.
RSVP: tinyurl.com/yc45c7um
April 12, 2025 at 12:40 AM
If you’re in KC on 4/17, don’t miss! (Free) RSVP required at link in OP.
Creative writing class at the @kclibrary.bsky.social with these amazing writers: the perfect way to spend Saturday afternoon.
Join us next time! linktr.ee/writersforreaders
Join us next time! linktr.ee/writersforreaders
April 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Creative writing class at the @kclibrary.bsky.social with these amazing writers: the perfect way to spend Saturday afternoon.
Join us next time! linktr.ee/writersforreaders
Join us next time! linktr.ee/writersforreaders
✏️Grateful for the chance to collaborate with these wonderful souls at KC Public Library & UMKC’s Writers for Readers classes today.
You guys, there is almost no greater thrill for me than being in a room with 17 other writers and talking about narrative. Charges my creative batteries every time. ⚡️
You guys, there is almost no greater thrill for me than being in a room with 17 other writers and talking about narrative. Charges my creative batteries every time. ⚡️
March 8, 2025 at 11:30 PM
✏️Grateful for the chance to collaborate with these wonderful souls at KC Public Library & UMKC’s Writers for Readers classes today.
You guys, there is almost no greater thrill for me than being in a room with 17 other writers and talking about narrative. Charges my creative batteries every time. ⚡️
You guys, there is almost no greater thrill for me than being in a room with 17 other writers and talking about narrative. Charges my creative batteries every time. ⚡️