Temple in a city

Assigned reading:

For the first time, we now know how many Black-owned bookstores exist in the U.S. The National Association of Black Bookstores has released the “first comprehensive national report” on the state of America’s Black-owned bookstores.

There has never been an official, comprehensive record of Black-owned bookstores across the United States — until now

March 2026 Issue — Ghost Parachute

The March 2026 issue of Ghost Parachute is here! Cover illustrated by @genevievetyrrell.bsky.social.

tinyurl.com/y9cbkfs9

Flash fiction by Madeleine Armstrong February 18, 2026 / in Resurgence Monday Morning, 9:05am Outside Reproductive Choices, South London Edith unfolded her garden chair and settled in. She had her Thermos, raincoat and book - it might be a long day.

Temple in a City literary journal Flash fiction Monday Morning, 9:05am Outside Reproductive Choices, South London by author Madeleine Armstrong. Published in Temple in a City literary journal.

Monday Morning, 9:05am Outside Reproductive Choices, South London
@madeleinewrite.bsky.social
templeinacity.com/flash-fictio...

Micro fiction by Betty Stanton February 18, 2026 / in Resurgence Sixth Street The houses on Sixth Street are identical, white teeth in a jaw that never closes. Their lawns are shaved to the same length, sprinklers hissing like snakes. Windows stay shut, blinds tilted just enough to catch light, never enough to reveal who is watching.

Temple in a City literary journal Micro fiction Sixth street by author Betty Stanton. Published in Temple in a City literary journal.

The houses on Sixth Street are identical, white teeth in a jaw that never closes. @fadingbetty.bsky.social

templeinacity.com/micro-fictio...

Poetry by Darren C. Demaree February 18, 2026 / in Resurgence 5/28/25 In this case alienation means there is only one American & he is a boy in a failing man's body & that means we are all vulnerable when he focuses his attention on us.

Temple in a City literary journal Poem 5/28/25 by poet and editor Darren C. Demaree. Published in Temple in a City literary journal.

…there
is only one American

& he is a boy
in a failing man's body…

templeinacity.com/poetry-by-da...

So goooooood!!!!

Sweet hours left for last-second deadline folk.

Temple in a City Temple in a City literary journal of flash fiction, poetry, art and letters

Final day to submit for our spring issue. Flash micro poetry art, letters or mix and match any 3 of these. International authors welcome, new authors welcome, established authors welcome, angry despairing or joy-filled welcome. In other words, you are welcome.
templeinacity.com/submit-writi...

"Today, you’re urging me to eat soggy, cold, cheese-denuded pizza in my leaky car."
@sudhab.bsky.social in @templeinacity.bsky.social with this righteous rage piece that isn't really about pizza 🧡🧡🔥

"The sting of his leaving has almost scabbed over now, crusted layers of hurt sloughing from shiny pink skin underneath."
This fractured CNF in @templeinacity.bsky.social by @cake-girl.bsky.social is raw, tender, skilful 🧡🧡🧡

"She shakes my hand and I absorb the chalk dust deep inside her, powder-dry, stained with the smell of school dinners." We never really leave school, do we? @joycebingham.bsky.social with another amazing piece in @templeinacity.bsky.social 🧡🧡🧡

Temple in a City Temple in a City literary journal of flash fiction, poetry, art and letters

Subs for our ever-growing Joy issue are always open because Joy is vital sustenance for the work of being alive and tending to others. Joy is nutriment. Send us your defiant joy, learned joy, exuberant joy, escape joy, any kind of joy, you’re the boss here templeinacity.com/submit-writi...

Temple in a City Temple in a City literary journal of flash fiction, poetry, art and letters

Final day to submit for our spring issue. Flash micro poetry art, letters or mix and match any 3 of these. International authors welcome, new authors welcome, established authors welcome, angry despairing or joy-filled welcome. In other words, you are welcome.
templeinacity.com/submit-writi...

Temple in a City literary journal Micro fiction Undead by author LM Fontanes. Published in Temple in a City literary journal.

Love this micro by @lorifontanes.bsky.social @templeinacity.bsky.social

"It’s funny how life can keep going like a zombie that hasn’t tasted salt. That’s what happens when you give salt to resurrected corpses. They remember they’re dead and return to their graves."
templeinacity.com/micro-fictio...

And it does that for you alone, that’s enough.

Let’s create as many temporary lifelines as we can. Everything is temporary anyway, but many of us have a song, poem, story, book or artwork that saved us, pulling us through a difficult, even critical time. Your work may be that for someone…

…take care of yourself and those around you however you can. And those you don’t know, if there’s a way you can. Taking care of each other is the only way through.
If writing or art is your way, pls write and create. Share it with us or your favourite lit journals or your friends or cat or self.

Temple in a City Temple in a City literary journal of flash fiction, poetry, art and letters

It’s easy to feel helpless against the enormity of world trauma. Sometimes it helps to write. Sometimes it’s a temporary lifeline between writer and words and words and reader.
We’re open for spring subs for another day or so. Joy issue always open for subs. But…
templeinacity.com/submit-writi...

Love is best.
(Robert Browning said that but we do too)

SO lovely! Bravo, @ruralunease.bsky.social

Us, too. So vital.

This really moved me, @verybadllama.bsky.social

"Much later in our failed marriage, I understood you turn into a Bollywood hero when you’re trying to score."
Great story, @sudhab.bsky.social - and that ending!

Edith thought of her son, Callum, forced into her then snatched away, red faced and squalling, without her having any say.

So good, @madeleinewrite.bsky.social
@templeinacity.bsky.social

👌

Assigned Reading

"When it was too hard Edith thought of her son, Callum, forced into her then snatched away, red faced and squalling, without her having any say.

"Who knew what had happened to him."