Hi there, Today we feature the work of Sunday T. Saheed! Sunday T. Saheed is a Nigerian writer and the Chairman of Ogun Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation. His works have appeared in Kalahari Review, Applied Worldwide, and Open Leaf Press Review. Sunday T. Saheed was the 1st runner-up for the Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors 2021. He was also one of the 84 finalists for the WSICE (Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange) 2018. "I write because writing is a medium by which all my pains are suppressed. Art holds healing and mirth with it. I’ll advise people who doubt their writing to never do so, again. Give your writing a voice, let the voice be what will speak for you." -Sunday T. Saheed Thanks for sharing your work with us! -- Read and Produced by Jaime Alejandro | Original Music by Cultured Animal Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by Jaime Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello! On this Creative Drive, we bring you the work of Mark A. Murphy! About the Author: Mark A. Murphy is a working class, Ace poet, living with GAD, and OCD. He has poems forthcoming in Cultural Weekly and Acumen. He has had work published in 18 countries. He is a 3 time Pushcart Nominee, and has published seven books of poetry to date, including, 'Tin Cat Alley & Other Poems: Not to be Reproduced' by Venetian Spider Press, 2021. German publisher ‘Moloko Print’ are to publish his latest collection, ‘The Ruin of Eleanor Marx’ in the spring of 2022. A few words from Mark: I have always thought that poetry can change lives, and still do. I believe artists have a responsibility to step up to the mark, and say the things, others, perhaps less privileged, would like to, or are unable to say. If humanity is to survive the current and impending ecological disaster beyond the next generation, we must learn new ways to live together. Support Mark here! https://www.claresongbirdspub.com/featured-authors/mark-a-murphy/   https://waterloopress.co.uk/books/night-wanderers-plea-2019-2/   http://www.molokoplusrecords.de/finder.php?folder=Print&content=75   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tin-Cat-Alley-other-poems/dp/1734946954 Thanks for sharing your work with us! -- Read and Produced by Jaime Alejandro | Original Music by Cultured Animal Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by Jaime Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi there, Welcome to Creative Drive! Today we feature poetry by B.I.W. (Beauty in Words)! Please stop by her social media, as I believe her work is fully realized with the visual components and collaborations this artist creates. Three poems: 'the Queen's regime' 'winter,spring,summer' 'insects irritation'  About the author:  b.i.w is the pen name of an upcoming anonymous online poet/writer, sole founder and creator of the instagram page @beauty_in_words._ and built up her following from there. Her content varies from both short and long poems, in both modern and traditional style, illustrated by other artists on the platform. She provides other things related to the field of creation such as books and movie recommendations, as well as reviews. Her poems have been published in several print and online publications, including witchesnpink, Dizzie magazine, Twist in Time Literary Mag, spoken word scratch night and she has been featured and guested on many podcasts such as "Art of Bombing" "Poets Return" and "Mind in the Moon." Social Media :  Instagram: beauty_in_words._  Facebook: b.i.w poetry  Tiktok: beauty_in_words._ Thanks for sharing your work with us! -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro | Original Music by Cultured Animal Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi there, Welcome to Creative Drive! Today we feature poetry by Januário Esteves! More from the author here: https://www.facebook.com/januarioantonioesteves About: Januário Esteves was born in Coruche and was raised near Costa da Caparica, Portugal. He graduated in electromechanical installations, uses the pseudonym Januanto and writes poetry since the age of 16. In 1987 he published poems in the Jornal de Letras, and participated over the years in some collective publications. Recently published in the Brazilian magazine Musa Rara, in the American magazine EIGHTEENSEVENTY.POETRY.BLOG, in the Brazilian Revista LiteraLivre, in the Romanian magazine Poesis, in the australian review Otoliths, in the american review BlazeVox, in the american magazine Harbinger Asylum, in the liberian Ducor Review, in the Indian Taj Mahal Review, in the american review The Writing Disorder, in the Brazilian review Acrobata in the Brazilian magazine Mallamargens, in the american magazine JMWWBlog, in the romanian magazine ScarletLeaf Review, in the 4th Literary Competition of the Vieira da Silva Editions, in the Indian magazine LiteraryYard, in the american magazine Spillwords, in the Brazilian magazine Revista entre poetas & poesias, in the American magazine Free Verse Revolution, in the portuguese review Athena, in the brazilian review Arara, in the English magazine Lothlorien Poetry Journal, in the american review Bezine, in the american review Adelaide Literary Magazine, in the American magazine Archive - the collaborative , in the Indian magazine INNSÆI, International Journal of Creative Literature for Peace and Humanity, in the american blog Pondersavant.com, in the american review ACADEMY OF THE HEART AND MIND, in the mauritian the Pangolin Review, in the Indian magazine The Criterion, in the american magazine Dreginald, in the american magazine Fevers of the mind, in the indian magazine Wordweavers, in the american review Starline of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association. Thanks for sharing your work with us! -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro | Original Music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello! Today we feature the poetry of Seema Prusty! Seema recently graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in India, is currently married and settled in Kaust, Saudi Arabia, where her husband works as a Research Scientist. She is working there as well, and they have a young son. Thank you for trusting the Creative Drive Podcast with your work, Seema! All the best and happy writing! j -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro | Original Music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello! Today we bring you the work of Christopher T. Dabrowski CLAIRVOYANT'S MISFORTUNE A short piece by Christopher T. Dabrowski. Translated by: Monika Olasek Support the author here: https://krzysztoftdabrowsk.wixsite.com/krzysztoftdabrowski https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063614135306 Christopher is an internationally published author from Poland. His work has been featured all over the world: Books in USA: "Escape" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press), "Anomaly" (2020 - Royal Hawaiian Press) Books in Spain:"La fuga" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press), "Anomalia" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press) Books in Germany: "Die Anomalie" (2020 - Der Romankiosk) Books in Poland: "Deathbirth" (2008 - Armoryka publishing house), "Anima vilis" (2010 - Initium publishing house), "Grobbing" (2012 - Novae Res publishing house), "Deathbirth and other stories" (2012 & 2017 - Agharta & Armoryka publishing house), "Z życia Dr Abble" (2013 - Agharta publishing house), "Orgazmokalipsa" (2016 - Alternatywne publishing house), "Anomalia" (2016 - Forma publishing house), "Ucieczka" (2017 - Dom Horroru publishing house) & "Nie w inność" (2019 - Waspos publishing house) ANTHOLOGY in: USA, England, Australia, Canada, Poland, Russia, Germany & India. And he published his stories in the following magazines: PLAYBOY (Slovak edition), USA, England, Czech Republic, Russia, Brasil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Mexico Make art. Much love, j -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro | Original Music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi there, Creative Drive is back! Today we welcome back Dr. Thomas Davison! Thank you for sharing your work with us! Prison Philosophy 101 – Originally featured in Teach. Write., Summer/Spring Edition, 2020 About the author: Dr. Davison is teaching at two all-male prison facilities in Northern Ohio. He has been deeply moved by his interactions with incarcerated students and has been motivated to create poems and short stories about these experiences. Thomas has started a non-profit dedicated to providing free one-on-one support services for felons. You can view more of his published work at: https://thomasdavisoncom.wordpress.com Make art. Much love, j Read and Produced by J. Alejandro | Original Music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hey friends, Creative Drive is back in action! I wanted to share some music and poetry experiments I have been working on recently. This is the first of a few more to come, and I hope I can keep sharing original work every now and then on the podcast. This is a reading of a poem with original music, from my debut poetry collection, "Flame to the Watering Hole." I wrote it when I worked at the cemetery. Check it out if you can, I would greatly appreciate it. https://www.amazon.com/Flame-Watering-Hole-Poetry-Collection-ebook/dp/B08PQCMK9H Looking forward to reading your work! Make art. Much love, j Produced by J. Alejandro Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello friends, We are thrilled to present the work of MJ Fievre! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, M.J. Fievre moved to the United States in 2002. She currently writes from Winter Garden, FL. M.J.’s publishing career began as a teenager in Haiti. At nineteen years-old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps, in Haiti, for the publication of a Young Adult book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has authored nine books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles. In 2013, One Moore Book released M.J.’s first children’s book, I Am Riding, written in three languages: English, French, and Haitian Creole. In 2015, Beating Windward Press published M.J.’s memoir, A Sky the Color of Chaos, about her childhood in Haiti during the brutal regime of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. M.J. Fievre is the author of the Badass Black Girl series. She helps others write their way through trauma, build community and create social change. She works with veterans, disenfranchised youth, cancer patients and survivors, victims of domestic and sexual violence, minorities, the elderly, those with chronic illness or going through transition and any underserved population in need of writing as a form of therapy—even if they don’t realize that they need writing or therapy. A long-time educator and frequent keynote speaker (Tufts University, Massachusetts; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; the University of Miami, Florida; and Michael College, Vermont; and a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, AWP), M.J. is available for book club meetings, podcast presentations, interviews and other author events. SUPPORT THE AUTHOR HERE: Check out her books and additional content at: https://www.badassblackgirl.com/ Badass Black Girl: https://mango.bz/books/badass-black-girl-by-mj-fievre-799-b Empowered Black Girl: https://mango.bz/books/empowered-black-girl-by-mj-fievre-1600-b Pre-order MJ's upcoming book, Resilient Black Girl: https://mango.bz/books/resilient-black-girl-by-mj-fievre-1873-b -- Read by Brenda Zamora | Produced by J. Alejandro Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello all! On this special episode of Creative Drive we are thrilled to bring you a short piece by Lee Anderson! Warning: This tale features violence and language. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee has written short stories and essays for a multitude of small and large press publications, including "Fiction International" and "The Miami Herald." He also wrote and staged two one-act plays in New York City, "Supper's Ready" and "Little America." He's the author of the shocking horror novel "What Happened at Sisters Creek" and the critically-acclaimed short story collection "Dark Lords of the Trailer Park. Lee lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and calico. SUPPORT THE AUTHOR HERE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lee.anderson.writes/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theleeanderson Website: https://www.palmcirclepress.net -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi there, This week, we bring you the first of several special episodes in the coming days to showcase the single pieces we have received recently: Today we feature the work of G.X. Jupitter-Larsen. Additional details on the writer coming soon! Read and Produced by J. Alejandro Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello all! Today we are thrilled to present selections from The Definition of Empty, by New Mexico Senator and poet Bill O'Neill! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bill O’Neill grew up in rural Ohio and graduated from Cornell University. Elected to the New Mexico Legislature in 2008 he is now in his second term in the New Mexico State Senate. His poems have appeared in numerous literary reviews, both regional and national. Bill’s career has been framed by his work with nonprofits, with a focus on incarcerated juveniles and adults. In 2005 Governor Bill Richardson appointed him Executive Director of the NM Juvenile Parole Board. Named an Emerging Leader in 2016 by the University Of Virginia’s Darden School, he credits his early literary inspiration to mentors E.L. Doctorow and V.B. Price. You can learn more about Senator O'Neill at this website here (https://billoneill.org) The Definition of Empty (A Poetry Collection) The Definition of Empty is the story of a dedicated advocate trying to help adolescents facing incarceration and newly released parolees navigate imperfect and seemingly indifferent legal systems and societies. Told from the point of view of a public servant trying his best to work with people at various levels of brokenness, these poems are compassionate, heartbreaking, and even sometimes brutal while the voice is gentle, outraged, and naïve in turns. With this collection O’Neill insists that readers bear witness to the struggles of disenfranchised people they might otherwise ignore. Purchase The Definition of Empty here (https://unmpress.com/books/definition-empty/9780826362230). -- Read and Produced by J. Alejandro Music provided by Musopen Sound from Zapsplat.com Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! For more information, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/ Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hey all, here we go! Today we are thrilled to bring you three poems by Steven Rossi! 1. A Look Into Us 2. Collections 3. Directions When The Path Ahead Berates You A FEW WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR: I could have never, in a million years, imagined I would have become a writer. In fact, I studied business in college and currently work in the federal consulting space. I came into writing after taking one (yep - just one) creative writing class my sophomore year of college. I originally came into writing during a dark time in my life when I was using journaling as a way to better understand the constant stream of thoughts flowing through my mind. As I continued to write, I realized what a power I felt in being able to not only shape the flow of my thoughts, but also see the concepts I had written about take shape in my day-to-day. As a spiritual person, much of my work revolves around exploring philosophical and spiritual (and often religious) concepts. Much of my poetry explores and blurs the border between mundane and transcendental, and is often shaped by the fact I am a practicing Buddhist. - Steven Rossi Thanks so much for trusting us with your work, Steven! -- Narrated by J. Alejandro Music provided today by: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Axletree/Sunset_EP/Reservoir_Sunset_Full_Synth_Mix https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Gratton/progress-and-regress/building-a-legacy-1 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serat/piano-textures/viewpoint-1 Sounds by: https://freesound.org/ -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hello all, Today we're thrilled to present the flash fiction piece, "Baked Ziti" by E.H. Davis! A FEW WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR: One thing was constant for me when as a boy I spent my New England summers lazing on the back porch, ignoring the allure of the nearby beach and the call of friends to devour the works of my favorite authors – I was determined to become a writer. I know, cliché, cliché; but clichés are often life’s first drafts – overwritten by struggle and accomplishment. Nothing else would satisfy. No doubt I was being romantic, corrupted by the very books I loved. Still, I dreamed of living the rough-and-tumble life I’d only read about in the books of authors I admired, like London, Hemingway, Kerouac, and later Balzac, Henry Miller, and Mailer, and travel the world gathering experience for my own novels. I’ve been writing through all the phases of my life, during good times and bad, in times of celebration and sorrow: marriage, births, deaths, and of the course the inevitable rejection by publishers and agents. The bulk of my writing is contained in ink-engorged journals, which I began in my twenties: some thirty notebooks in all. They’ve served as compost for the five screenplays, two novels (my M.A. graduate thesis and my debut novel My Wife’s Husband: A Family Thriller (Amazon, December 2019), a dozen published short stories, and a handful of essays, memoirs, film reviews, and occasional poems I’ve committed to ink. As the saying goes, “Art is long and life is short.” I am grateful, still, to be building my “castles in the sky” and telling the stories that come from life keenly-observed and cherished. For more information, check out the author Website! Also check out E.H. Davis' novel on Amazon! -- Narrated by J. Alejandro Music provided today by: https://musopen.org/ Sounds by: https://www.zapsplat.com/ -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hello all! Today we bring you the work of Christopher T. Dabrowski! DEATHBIRTH A flash fiction story by Christopher T. Dabrowski. Translated by: Monika Olasek Support the author here: https://krzysztoftdabrowsk.wixsite.com/krzysztoftdabrowski https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063614135306 Christopher is an internationally published author from Poland. His work has been featured all over the world: Books in USA: "Escape" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press), "Anomaly" (2020 - Royal Hawaiian Press)   Books in Spain:"La fuga" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press), "Anomalia" (2019 - Royal Hawaiian Press)  Books in Germany: "Die Anomalie" (2020 - Der Romankiosk) Books in Poland: "Deathbirth" (2008 - Armoryka publishing house), "Anima vilis" (2010 - Initium publishing house), "Grobbing" (2012 - Novae Res publishing house), "Deathbirth and other stories" (2012 & 2017 - Agharta & Armoryka publishing house), "Z życia Dr Abble" (2013 - Agharta publishing house), "Orgazmokalipsa" (2016 - Alternatywne  publishing house), "Anomalia" (2016 - Forma publishing house), "Ucieczka" (2017 - Dom Horroru publishing house) & "Nie w inność" (2019 - Waspos publishing house) ANTHOLOGY in: USA, England, Australia, Canada, Poland, Russia, Germany & India. And he published his stories in the following magazines: PLAYBOY (Slovak edition), USA, England, Czech Republic, Russia, Brasil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Mexico -- Narrated by J. Alejandro Music provided today by: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Axletree/the-erthe-series-ongoing-project/the-woods-remastered https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kecap_Tuyul/tunnel-songs/2-1 -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hello all! Today we bring you the work of Sherre Vernon! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sherre Vernon (she/her/hers) is a seeker of a mystical grammar and a recipient of the Parent-Writer Fellowship at The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. She has two award-winning chapbooks: Green Ink Wings (fiction) and The Name is Perilous (poetry). Readers describe Sherre’s work as heartbreaking, richly layered, lyrical and intelligent. SUPPORT SHERRE'S WORK HERE: To read more of her work visit www.sherrevernon.com/publications and tag her into conversation @sherrevernon. -- Narrated by J. Alejandro Music provided today by: https://musopen.org/music/108-nocturnes-op-9/ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/verona/we-are-so-close-id-1414 https://musopen.org/music/43257-cobarde/ Sounds by: https://www.zapsplat.com/ -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hello all! Today we are so excited to share 3 flash fiction stories by Lee Anderson! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lee has written short stories and essays for a multitude of small and large press publications, including "Fiction International" and "The Miami Herald." He also wrote and staged two one-act plays in New York City, "Supper's Ready" and "Little America." He's the author of the shocking horror novel "What Happened at Sisters Creek" and the critically-acclaimed short story collection "Dark Lords of the Trailer Park. Lee lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and calico. SUPPORT THE AUTHOR HERE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lee.anderson.writes/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theleeanderson Website: https://www.palmcirclepress.net -- Narrated by J. Alejandro Music provided today by: https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Axletree https://musopen.org/music/108-nocturnes-op-9/ Sounds by: https://www.zapsplat.com/ -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hi there! Today we are thrilled to present A Flash Memoir (Lebensborn, Avrum, Pandemic) by Miriam Sagan! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I’m Miriam Sagan, poet and writer. I founded and now run the creative writing program at Santa Fe Community College. Most recent books are MAP OF THE LOST (UNM Press) and SEVEN PLACES IN AMERICA (Sherman Asher). I’m working on site specific poetry installations. For Miriam's extraordinary content, please visit: http://miriamswell.wordpress.com A few words from Miriam about the work: This is a flash memoir. Why I put off difficult material until I was 66 years old and in lockdown in a pandemic...I do not know. Will it be published? I can't predict. But I'm working on it anyway! My most recent published memoir Bluebeard's Castle (Red Mountain, 2019) is about my near death experience as a young woman and my difficult fascinating activist father, who was on Nixon's Enemies List. Hope you enjoy. I am not that focused on what I've overcome, but here is what helped me-- feminism, Buddhism, bodywork, love, painting, music, community, landscape, the young, solitude, and pickled things in jars from farmers' markets. -- Narration by Madelyn Cruz Original music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support helps us tremendously! Or you can support by purchasing J. Alejandro's poetry collection! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hey all! Happy National Poetry Month! Let's get back on track with 3 wonderful poems by Linda Imbler! Gray to Black Ensorcelled Within the Moonlit Eyes of P’aqo A Backyard Incident in St. Louis ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Imbler is the author of five paperback poetry collections and three e-book collections (Soma Publishing.) This writer lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Mike the Luthier, several quite intelligent saltwater fish, and an ever-growing family of gorgeous guitars. Learn more at lindaspoetryblog.blogspot.com. -- Narration by J. Alejandro and Madelyn Cruz Music by descheveler Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please subscribe and review this labor of love, and don't forget to tell your writer friends! Your support would help us tremendously! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hello all! Today we present The Bard of Frogtown by A. Whittenberg! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A Whittenberg is a Philadelphia native who has a global perspective. If she wasn’t an author she’d be a private detective or a jazz singer. She loves reading about history and true crime. Her other novels include Sweet Thang, Hollywood and Maine, Life is Fine, Tutored and The Sane Asylum. Support this writer here! https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Whittenberg/e/B001HD23P4%3F -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. If you have a sec, please subscribe and review this labor of love, your support would help us tremendously! Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive

Hello all! Today we have a wonderful episode featuring poetry and flash fiction by Lydia Tai! A few words from Taiwanese-American writer Lydia Tai: "I write as not only a coping mechanism for my mental health but also to express my creativity through the English language and interpret the world as I see it." For more of Lydia's work, please visit: http://heroinchic.weebly.com/blog/poetry-by-lydia-tai https://twitter.com/lydia__tai https://www.instagram.com/lydia__tai/ About our Guest Reader: Brenda Zamora is an L.A. based actor recently seen in The Laundromat, now on Netflix! Follow her adventures on Instagram! -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-…

Hello all! The first of multiple episodes coming this week! Today we present the poetry of Huda Tariq! About the Author: Huda Tariq hails all the way from Pakistan. She has done her Graduation in Botany (Biology) and is dedicated to serving in the field of Education. "I absolutely love to write, all day every day, irrespective of genres or platforms and I love to surround myself with infinite emotions and feelings. Though I am not a big famous writer, I believe I will be. I have been published in different magazines and journals respectively. To enjoy and have a peek at my precious pieces you can follow my Instagram where I regularly post my work on Instagram!" https://www.instagram.com/huda.ht/ About our Guest Reader: Brenda Zamora is an L.A. based actor recently seen in The Laundromat, now on Netflix! Follow her adventures on Instagram! -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-…

Hello all! We have a great episode (part 1 of 2!) showcasing an amazing talent: A. Whittenberg! A Whittenberg is a Philadelphia native who has a global perspective. If she wasn’t an author she’d be a private detective or a jazz singer. She loves reading about history and true crime. Her other novels include Sweet Thang, Hollywood and Maine, Life is Fine, Tutored and The Sane Asylum. Support this writer here! https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Whittenberg/e/B001HD23P4%3F Brenda Zamora is an L.A. based actor recently seen in The Laundromat, now on Netflix! Follow her adventures on Instagram! Music featured: Chromatic Waves by Joel Loopez Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7413-chromatic-waves License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-…

Hello there! Welcome to the international showcase of writers from all walks of life! Today it’s my pleasure to present poetry by Dr. Thomas Davison. Thank you for sharing your work with us! Dr. Davison is teaching at two all-male prison facilities in Northern Ohio. He has been deeply moved by his interactions with incarcerated students and has been motivated to create poems and short stories about these experiences. Thomas has started a non-profit dedicated to providing free one-on-one support services for felons. You can view more of his published work at: https://thomasdavisoncom.wordpress.com TAKING A WALK IN MY YARD THIS MORNING: The State prison culture is unique. The felons live by their own code and set of values. There is no better place to observe this – then in the prison Yard. The following poem Taking a Walk in My Yard This Morning best captures what it truly feels like – for me. The prison ‘pecking order’ is complex and fluid. As you probably can imagine - there are some very hard people on the inside. The prison Yard is an integral part of prison life. It is the place where reputations are made – and lost. It is where leaders are crowned - and dethroned. It is where all social activities have their origins – and their endings. This is where individuals and gangs have their battles – and wars. Trips to everything important in a felon’s life: visitation, mess hall, chapel, etc., all pass through the Yard. JUST ANOTHER DAY IN MY HOUSE: Like most people I want to believe that I am a good judge of character. I have spent most of my adult life working with young men. In the US Army, with my son’s and grandson’s boy scout troops, with inner city college students, and with incarcerated felons. I also want to believe that I am a realist. There is no doubt that I am an optimist. I’m one of those folks who is always looking for that ‘silver lining’ in any situation. I have been accused of being a Pollyanna. That is not true. I see people for what they are – but – I also see people (especially my students) for their potential - of what they can become. The prison changes all men. For some this change is for the worse. Mental health is a huge challenge within the prisons. The following poem Just Another Day in My House - is my way of accepting that for some - there is not always potential - or a silver lining. For some there is only a slow sinking into the abysmal pit of: self-despair – anger – retribution – and ultimately madness. At the risk of being referred to as ‘Captain Obvious’ – prison has a dark-side. HOLD ON: The first thing that I ever wrote about the state prisons was the following poem called Hold On. The feelings and stress felt by the prisoners is apparent every moment of every day. Half of the prison staff and administration – that I work and talk with - on an almost daily basis – sincerely believe their role is to punish felons for their offenses to society. Whereas, the other half (just as sincerely) believe that it is their role to rehabilitate these offenders. I am reminded of a boat with rowers on both sides. One side is rowing in what they believe is the best direction for their ship. While the other side is rowing just as eagerly to a totally different direction. Result – the ship is going nowhere – it is in the middle of the ocean spinning in tight little circles. Unable to change course. We as an American Society must decide if prisons exist to rehabilitate or to punish. It can’t do both. Previously published works: Taking a Walk in My Yard This Morning – Teach. Write. A Writing Teachers’ Literary Journal Spring/Summer 2020. Just Another Day in My House – Black Petals, Issue #91, Spring, 2020 -- Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets and writers from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-…

Hello there! Welcome to the international showcase of writers from all walks of life! Today it's my pleasure to present poetry by Varun Amatya. Thank you for sharing your work with us! Comments from Varun: I am 34 years old and I write from Kathmandu, a city located in Nepal. I am a Phd. candidate majoring in Development Administration Field. I have spent many years of nights in thoughts until the sun would rise. These stories in my head range from personal development to human and nation's development. Through the medium of poetry, I was able to express my expectation from my surrounding environment and my hope for an even better world. I write to either express myself - to myself, or other times to spread a message to others who are like me and sometimes even lost in this lonely world. Today, I wrote a poem to express the need for freedom in our individual life. Freedom from work, expectations of family and the control to drive our life in our own happy manner. With this poem I wished we all had the choice to work in our own pace rather than the pace required by the outside business platform. It is about a poet's day-dream to feel free like a bird with the whole sky as its playing field Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/

Hello everyone! As we close 2020, I'd like to announce the next chapter of the podcast: We would like to introduce Fuerza Creativa! This new podcast will be the Spanish version of Creative Drive, where we will showcase more amazing poetry and short fiction from all over the world! Disfruten el primer episodio en Fuerza Creativa! Título: El enigma de los tornillos Autor: Antonio Rolando Arenas Obtuvo el título de Master of Arts with a Major in Modern Languages en Almeda University (USA, 2010), es Diplomado en Gestión Pública de la Provincia de Mendoza por la Escuela de Gobierno y Administración de la provincia de Mendoza – FCPyS, UN de Cuyo (Mendoza, 2012), es Profesor de Lengua y Literatura para el tercer ciclo de la EGB de la Educación Polimodal por el Instituto Superior del Profesorado PT-14 Escuela Italiana (Mendoza, 2013) y es Diplomado en Historia Argentina en Latinoamérica por la Escuela de Gobierno y Administración de la provincia de Mendoza-Instituto de Revisionismo Histórico Argentino e Iberoamericano Manuel Dorrego (Mendoza, 2015). Recibió el diploma del Curso Profesional de Analista Químico. Neptunos Formación. España, 2018. Publicó el libro Interrogantes, el libro La página del buffet; una publicación literaria diferente y el libro Diálogos internos. El Juego de los errores disponible en Barnes & Noble!

Hello all! So happy to present 3 poems by Nayanjyoti Baruah! FROM THE POET: I'm Nayanjyoti Baruah, from Assam, India. I'm pursuing M.A. in English Literature from Gauhati University. My poems have been appeared in Tayls, Rasa Literary Review, Felicity, Akhore, Meghali Budhidrom, The Fiction Project, A Too Powerful Word, Necro Magazine etc. I'm the Co-author of The Bag of Knowledge. I've written two essays and four short stories as well. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nayanjyoti2544/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nayanjyoti.baruah.3745 Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/creative-drive-podcast/

Hello all! It's a pleasure to present Michele Mekel's poetry today! Living in Happy Valley, Michele Mekel wears many hats of her choosing: writer and editor; educator and bioethicist; poetess and creatrix; cat herder and chief can opener; witch and woman; and, above all, human. Her work has appeared in various academic and creative publications, including having her poetry featured on Garrison Keillor’s _The Writer’s Almanac. She is also a co-principal investigator for the Viral Imaginations: COVID-19 project (viralimaginations.psu.edu)._ Viral Imaginations: viralimaginations.psu.edu On Instagram! @ShaktiEnergy Creative Drive is an international podcast produced by J. Alejandro to bring visibility to poets from all walks of life. Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/

Hello all! Today we feature the work of Alexander Limarev! Did the little boy exist? I am alive Predestined About the Poet: Alexander Limarev, freelance artist, mail art artist, curator, poet, photographer from Siberia / Russia. Participated in more than 900 international projects and exhibitions. His artworks are part of private and museum collections of 64 countries. His artworks as well as poetry have been featured in various online publications including UNDERGROUNDBOOKS.ORG, BUKOWSKI ERASURE POETRY ANTHOLOGY (Silver Birch Press), NOKTURNO.FI, StyleBlueprint, TUCK MAGAZINE, ANGRY OLD MAN MAGAZINE, CALIBAN ONLINE MAGAZINE, GALLERY & STUDIO ARTS JOURNAL, MAINTENANT etc. FB: https://www.facebook.com/alexander.limarev.7 Blog: http://parallels2000.blogspot.com/2014/10/alexander-limarev-1964.html Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Acepto poesia y relatos cortos en español! https://cruzfolio.com/fuerza-creativa/ For more information about the podcast, visit https://cruzfolio.com/

Hello all! On this week of gratitude, I'm delighted to share 3 poems by Daniel Damiano, from his poetry collection, 104 Days of the Pandemic. This collection provides us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the emotions of the pandemic through an assortment of delicate and ferocious moments captured daily since March. Thanks for sharing your work with us, Daniel! About Daniel: Daniel Damiano is an Award-winning Playwright, Screenwriter, Actor, Poet and Novelist based in Brooklyn, NY.  His plays have been produced in many areas of the U.S. as well as London, England and Sydney & Melbourne, Australia, and his poetry has been published in Crooked Teeth Literary Magazine, Newtown Literary Journal, New Voices Anthology, Cloudbank and HotMetal Press.  He has been nominated for Pushcart Prize for Poetry and was a Finalist for the Arts and Letters Prize in Drama. His acclaimed play, "Day of the Dog", was published in 2018 by Broadway Play Publishing.  In 2020, he completed his first novel, "The Woman in the Sun Hat", as well as a book of poetry, "104 Days of the Pandemic." For more information, please visit www.danieldamiano.com Now accepting 3 poems or flash fiction! And accepting Spanish submissions too! https://cruzfolio.com/

Hello all! Trying out some video for the Creative Drive Podcast! Here's a short story I wrote a few months ago, I'm working my way back into writing fiction, so here it goes! If you're a writer with a day-job, I'd love to know what you're up to and how you're holding up in the throes of every day chaos. Submit your poetry and flash fiction today and I'd love to share it on the podcast! Send in your short works today, especially the rejected ones at creativedriveshow (at) gmail (dot) com, or through our website! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Much love, j

Hello one and all! Today we feature once again a friend of the show: Zach Murphy! Zach Murphy is a Hawaii-born writer with a background in film. His stories have appeared in Peculiars Magazine, Ellipsis Zine, Emerge Literary Journal, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Ghost City Review, Lotus-eater, WINK, Drunk Monkeys, and Fat Cat Magazine. He lives with his wonderful wife Kelly in St. Paul, Minnesota. Also, check out Zach’s movie review website: http://fadetozach.blogspot.com/ Thanks for sharing your work with us once again, Zach! Always welcome! If you’d like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today at: https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Don’t be idle, make art! Much love, j

Hello all! Today we feature a novel excerpt from Aisha Urooj's My Dear Ellie! Check it out! Aisha Urooj lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and graduated with her Bachelors from University College, University of Toronto. She grew up loving classic books and getting lost in the intriguing characters and compelling stories. She writes mostly as a hobby along with painting and photography. She hopes that those that read her book will enjoy it as much as she did writing it. She is currently working on her second novel tentatively titled "Eleanor's Travels", chronicling Ellie's travels around the world, an extraordinary gift from Ellie's parents on her twenty-first birthday. Where to find her online! www.goodreads.com/aishaurooj http://aishauroojbooks.wordpress.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083JJK8TY Thanks for sharing your work with us, Aisha! Produced by J. Alejandro https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Much love, j

Mark Anthony Smith was born in Hull. His writings have appeared in Musicians for Homeless and Be their voice, Spelk and Truly U. His latest work, Hearts of the Matter, is available on Amazon. Visit Mark on Facebook and Twitter for updates on his latest work. Thank you for your sharing your work with us, Mark! If you’d like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Don’t be idle, make art! Much love, j

Hello there, Today it's a pleasure to bring you "Smoothing Out the Wrinkles" a poem by Samantha Terrell. Samantha Terrell is an American poet raised in the Midwest, whose work emphasizes emotional integrity and social justice. Her work has been published in Dove Tales by Writing for Peace, Ebola chapbook (West Chester University), Poetry Quarterly (Pennsylvania), and many other online and in-print journals. She and her family reside in Upstate NY. You can find her on Twitter @honestypoetry. Check out Samantha's website for more of her work! https://poetrybysamantha.weebly.com/ Stop by idlewy.blog to submit your work, and to discover more stuff by and for working class creatives! Much love, j Produced by J. Alejandro @idlewy Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com Special thanks to Dust Jones @ Speer Productions

Hello all! Today I am happy to ready for ya "Bob Dylan" by Troy Jackson: poet, musician, and literacy advocate based out of Memphis Take it away, Troy! Troy’s Book of Poetry, now on Amazon. Check it out! Catch up with Troy Jackson on Twitter @troyrjackson! Check out Troy’s beats! https://www.beatstars.com/leemay2k Stop by idlewy.blog to submit your work, and to discover more stuff by and for working class creatives! Much love, j

Hello all! Today's episode is an experiment so we can find more ways to showcase you, the working class creator, on this podcast! On this episode, I bring you Troy Jackson, a creative based out of Memphis, who will be reciting his poetry, as well as providing some underscoring for the episode. Take it away, Troy! Troy's Book of Poetry, now on Amazon. Check it out! Catch up with Troy Jackson on Twitter @troyrjackson! Check out Troy's beats! https://www.beatstars.com/leemay2k Stop by cruzfolio.com to submit your work, and to discover more stuff by and for working class creatives! Much love, j

Big show today! We're back in business featuring a personal essay in dramatic form! The Time We Had, by Susana Ramirez. Susana Ramirez is a wife and mother of two. She is the Founder of Save The Sharks, a South Florida non-profit organization working to promote healthier shark populations through education, research and outreach. Susana immigrated from Cuba, living in Finland before settling in the U.S. She began writing at an early age, focusing on conservation work throughout the world. Today, she understands the power in having a voice and hopes her words can have an impact on others, leading to a global shift on how humans interact with wild animals and their environments. Find Susana on Twitter @susanaiswriting and check out Save The Sharks! This piece was originally published in The Selkie: https://theselkie.co.uk/the-time-we-had/ Brenda Zamora is an L.A. based actor, follow her adventures on Instagram! Produced by J. Alejandro. Submit your work to Creative Drive, a place for working class creatives! MUSIC FEATURED: Dreamsphere 7 by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/458-dreamsphere-7 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Calm In The Night by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6232-calm-in-the-night License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 5 vor 12 by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/2973-5-vor-12 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ On the Edge of Forever - http://teknoaxe.com/Home.php Simple Piano Medley 1- http://teknoaxe.com/Home.php Freezing by Warm by Meydan: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Meydan/Ambient_1860/Freezing_but_warm SOUND EFFECTS: https://freesound.org/people/florianreichelt/sounds/459977/ https://freesound.org/people/SpliceSound/sounds/369846/ https://freesound.org/people/borQue/sounds/336855/ https://freesound.org/people/AnthonyChan0/sounds/177956/ Additional sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

A few words and a poem too. #blacklivesmatter #nojusticenopeace Campaign Zero: Organization that utilizes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in the U.S. https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ Unicorn Riot: Nonprofit media collective dedicated to exposing the root causes of social, economic, and environmental issues. https://unicornriot.ninja/ George Floyd Memorial Fund: The official GoFundMe to support the Floyd family. https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd Minnesota Freedom Fund: Community-based fund set up to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for individuals who have been arrested while protesting police brutality. This has become one of the most prominent bail funds, providing relief to protesters in Minneapolis seeking justice for George Floyd. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/ Submit your poetry and flash fiction today for the Creative Drive Podcast: https://cruzfolio.com/you/

Hello all! Today we feature the poetry of Rob J. Blevins: "Jars of Oil; Sands of Rhyme" Three moments of poetry that were a joy to record. Rob J. Blevins is a songwriter and author currently sharing content on the blog, Cooking with Crayons, as well as producing a podcast of the same name. Stop by for more poetry and creative work from Rob! https://www.cookingwithcrayons.com To sign up for Rob's email list, as well as links to his Amazon books, visit his site: https://cookingwithcrayons.com/ Thank you for your sharing your work with us, Rob! If you'd like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today! https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Don't be idle, make art! Much love, j

Hello all! Today we feature the poetry of Mark Gordon! Mark Gordon is a novelist and poet who grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals in the United States and Canada. He is presently living in Toronto. "Raconteur" was recently published in Gravitas, edited by Andrew Lafleche. Please check out this wonderful literary magazine! https://andrewlafleche.com/gravitas-poetry Visit Mark on Twitter for updates on his latest work, and on his website http://www.markgordonauthor.com/ Thank you for your sharing your work with us, Mark! If you'd like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today! Don't be idle, make art! Much love, j

Today we feature the work of Zach Murphy! Zach Murphy is a Hawaii-born writer with a background in film. His stories have appeared in Peculiars Magazine, Ellipsis Zine, Emerge Literary Journal, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Ghost City Review, Lotus-eater, WINK, Drunk Monkeys, and Fat Cat Magazine. He lives with his wonderful wife Kelly in St. Paul, Minnesota. Also, check out Zach's movie review website: http://fadetozach.blogspot.com/ Thanks for sharing your work with us, Zach! If you'd like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today at: https://cruzfolio.com/you/ Don't be idle, make art! Much love, j

Phase 2 of the Creative Podcast begins today: Featuring the work of Mark Anthony Smith! "Roundabouts" was originally published in Fiction Kitchen Berlin, please check out this wonderful literary magazine! Mark Anthony Smith was born in Hull. His writings have appeared in Musicians for Homeless and Be their voice, Spelk and Truly U. His latest work, Hearts of the matter is available on Amazon. Visit Mark on Facebook and Twitter for updates on his latest work. Thank you for your sharing your work with us, Mark! If you'd like to hear your short works of poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic writing on the podcast, submit your short work today! Don't be idle, make art! Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi folks! It's been about a month since I last recorded for the show (on account of a pandemic). Just wanted to stop by and test out the new recording spot in my house and a new opportunity for any of your folks looking to hear their poetry/monologues/flash fiction out loud: I'D LOVE TO READ YOUR STUFF! Submit your short works to be featured on the podcast! https://idlewy.blog/you/ More to come. Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi all, Road recording! Lessons from this week about finding an unbeaten path beyond the outline. Much love, j When have you veered away from your story outline? Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi everyone! I was tinkering this week with different versions of podcasting in the car this week, and out of the three recordings, I'm happy with this setup the best! Shotgun mic and external recorder now setup to podcast in the car! Super excited about that! This week was chaos. Or so it seemed. This discussion with myself is on acknowledging the objectives that were met along the way to the big goals! What are you up to? Much love, j

Hi folks! I lost my phone yesterday and it took me all of Thursday night to get it back. Alas, here is the recording from yesterday before all hell broke loose. It gets pretty intense again, in regards to my failed attempts to make more time for life and work and art stuff. I'd like to offer this bit of honesty as a reminder that we all have to pick our battles when it comes to being a working-class creative. Also: Check out this poem I wrote as an example of how to be inspired by a place you go to all the time: Your workplace! I'm hoping I can turn this into a short series of exercises. More to come! How do you make time for your art with a dayjob and other stuff? I'd like to know! Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Hi folks! I didn't get to come home for lunch today so this episode had to happen on the go! This is Take 2 of a conversation with myself about patience as the plans are reinvented. It was a pretty long day, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

Some stream of consciousness musings and conclusions: Step 1. Produce and create unashamedly. Step 2. Collaboration fuels and accelerates creative improvement. I'd also like to share an anecdote about talented friends bailing out my art. It happens. Have you ever had a project completely transform for the better through tough collaboration? I would love to hear your story. Let me know here: https://idlewy.blog/you/ Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co

After being sick for most of the holidays, I get to sit and revisit my resolutions to be a better working-class creative and pass on some bite-size helpings of working-class productivity, thoughts on creativity, and cats meowing in the background. What are you folks up to creatively? How are you getting it done this year? I'd love to hear from you! Wishing you all a happy new year! Much love, j Find out more at https://creativedrive.pinecast.co