Today’s post is written by Catherine Cobb Morocco, whose poem “What Father Brought Home” appears in our Fall 2015 issue. “What Father Brought Home” draws on my memories of my father’s homecoming after the Second World War. Much about the war and his return were confusing—where he was in the world, whether he was in danger. My […]
The Story Behind “The Basque Shepherd” by Richard LeBlond
November 2, 2015
Today’s post is written by Richard LeBlond, whose essay “The Basque Shepherd” appears in our Fall 2015 issue. At first I was reluctant to write about the circumstances leading to “The Basque Shepherd.” The essay had already crawled inside itself, becoming part of the story. I didn’t think it could support a third perspective. But when I […]
The Story Behind “Raro” by José Angel Araguz
October 26, 2015
Today’s post is written by José Angel Araguz. “Raro,” a piece of his short fiction, appears in our Fall 2015 issue. “Raro” is part of a forthcoming collection, Everything We Think We Hear (Floricanto Press), whose pieces deal primarily with what it meant for me to grow up in and out of South Texas. While growing […]
Introducing Our Fall 2015 Contributors . . .
September 28, 2015
Update: The issue is now live! You can read it here. We’d like to thank all of our readers and those who submitted work to us during the last reading period. We’re excited and encouraged to see such growth at Compose, having received more than 800 submissions to consider for the forthcoming issue. Wow! Our senior editors are preparing our Fall […]
The Story Behind “Summoning Dylan” by Dan Alter
August 19, 2015
Today’s post is written by Dan Alter. We published his poem “Summoning Dylan” in our Spring 2015 issue. In one sense, although this poem is framed as a summoning, it is a work of exorcism. The poem is a séance to exorcise Dylan, who has haunted me for more than thirty years: his power, his unswerving full […]
The Story Behind “Benny’s Bed” by Kate Wisel
August 10, 2015
Today’s post is written by Kate Wisel. We published her short story “Benny’s Bed” in our Spring 2015 issue. “Benny’s Bed” was born out of a story a friend told at 3 a.m. as we were falling asleep in my college living room. In short, when she was in high school, her friend’s boyfriend died of a […]
The Story Behind “On Plotting the Dime Novel,” by Kathleen Glassburn
July 28, 2015
Today’s post is written by Kathleen Glassburn. We published her conversation with Laura Madeline Wiseman—“On Plotting the Dime Novel“ —in our Spring 2015 issue. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by all the options. I’m talking about the deluge of email invitations and announcements. I often wonder: Should I do this? Should I sign up for this? Should I stop everything and re-write a story […]
The Story Behind “Two Poems” by Ruth Foley
July 21, 2015
Today’s post is written by Ruth Foley. We published two of her poems in our Spring 2015 issue. Both “Testament” and “With Love, The Choice” are, at heart, about how little control we have over what we leave. I’m fascinated with loss—as so many poets are—and I had been thinking quite a bit about how little loss […]
Keith Moul: Enthusiast for the Road
July 2, 2015
Today’s post is written by Keith Moul. We published a series of his photographs, Urban Memphis Sights, in our Spring 2015 issue, which were inspired by a road trip similar to the following. I hate 10-hour flights. Travel by car is my recreation. All I want is room at the side of the road to turn […]
The Story Behind “Though I Speak in Tongues of Ravens” by Peter Munro
June 15, 2015
Today’s post is written by Peter Munro. We published his poem “Though I Speak in Tongues of Ravens” in our Spring 2015 issue. Crows, Ravens, and Keeping Faith Crows season the poem “Though I Speak in Tongues of Ravens.” It is true that crows are salted in only minor murders. It is also true that […]
