Books
My first poetry chapbook, Agora (Alien Buddha Press), follows the story of a young woman with functional agoraphobia navigating the city for the first time. The speaker explores the imagined dangers of her agoraphobia and panic alongside the very real dangers of being a woman in society.
More about Agora, courtesy of the publisher:
“Agora by Gretchen Gales, with photography by Christine Sloan Stoddard, takes readers on a captivating journey of self-discovery, seamlessly blending the lyrical beauty of prose with profound introspection and beautifully somber illustrations that merge urban cityscapes with the tranquility of the countryside. In this poignant collection, Gales skillfully navigates the complexities of identity and the yearning for a sense of belonging.
“From the very first page, readers are transported to a world where deep roots intertwine with the longing for personal growth. Gales’s enchanting descriptions of nature’s embrace unveil the solace found within the sanctuary of trees and the untamed wilderness. Through her tender exploration of the power of imagination and the enchantment of literature, she reveals how the pages of a book can transport us to distant lands and ignite our spirits with boundless possibilities. Photographer Christine Sloan Stoddard, known for her work on “Hello New York: The Living and Dead,” adds a layer of catharsis to the experience with her seventeen striking black and white images, perfectly capturing the mood and style of Gales’s words.
Agora stands as an exquisitely written testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It delves into the depths of personal identity, serving as a captivating exploration of self-discovery. With every turn of the page, Gales reminds us of the transformative power that comes from embracing our own unique path.
You can order your copy here.
Add to your Goodreads “Want to Read” List here.
Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction
I’m fortunate to have my creative pieces featured in more than 25 publications, both online and in print. My literary writing has or will be published in Nebo, Plainsongs, TERSE, East Jasmine Review, White Stag, The Ear, and others. The photographs above showcase select pieces as well as anthologies where my writing is featured. Links featuring the pieces can be found below.
ANTHOLOGY APPEARANCES
Her Plumage: An anthology of women’s writings from Quail Bell Magazine (co-editor, contributor)
Local News: Poetry About Small Towns edited by Tom Montag and David Graham (contributor, poetry)
Writing Through the Apocalypse: Pandemic Poetry and Prose edited by Marcia Meier (contributor, nonfiction)
POETRY
“a·poc·a·lypse” – Heart of Flesh Literary Journal
“Away Message” – The Rotten Pomegranate
“The Bus” – Susan The Journal
“The Citrus Leaf Tree” – Five:2:ONE
“Cracked” – High Shelf Press
“Cranberries” – Noble/Gas Qrtly
“exhale” – Ink & Nebula
“Expiration Date” – Olive Press
“Fade Out” – Cathexis Northwest Press
“Great Uncle’s Funeral” – Poetry For All Mini Book
“Gonna Tell My Kids” – Plainsongs Winter 2021 Issue
“Honeysuckle Hunters” – The Platform Review
“I Flew Out of the Car Like Superman” – Nebo Spring 2020 Speculative Issue
“Pandemica I-III” and “Rooted” – Willows Wept Review Spring 2022 Issue
“Pandemica VII” – Flora Fiction Volume 2 Issue 1
“Participation Trophy” – Ethel Zine
“Projection” – Sheila-Na-Gig Online
“Refuge”, “the one where i see the anthrax letter in a museum”, and “Long Time Coming” – The Headlight Review
“Terminal”, “Hoarding”, “Memento Mori” – White Stag: #GhostMotel
“Transition”, “C”, “Returned”, “Phases”, and “The Fool” – Mercury Retrograde
FICTION
“Feral Freedom” – Disabled Tales
“Missing Jolene” – Anti-Heroin Chic
“Pretty” – Jimson Weed (Print)
“The Perfect Cut” –Amendment
“Recurrent” – Idle Ink
“Help Me Be Pretty” – 50 Word Stories
CREATIVE NONFICTION AND MEMOIR
“Catching Death” – The Ear
“Data” – TERSE Journal
“Palette” – Burningword Journal Issue 82
“Vice’s Virtue” – East Jasmine Review
Children’s Literature
The Wall
The Wall was a project done through DoDream, a nonprofit art collective between writers and artists to create children’s books for those in need. The mission of each book is to inspire children with relatable main characters as they go through their own struggles. The Wall had a limited run specially made for the organization and was illustrated by Skye Lim. As of 2021, it will be available on the DoDream website as an eBook and audiobook completely free to all who visit the site.
Gretchen Gales 