SOLACE in SO MANY WORDS Award-winning anthology. Fiction, poetry, essays. All on the meaning of solace.

“I Kid You Not” by Laura Rodley

12/12/2018 By Ellen Beals Leave a Comment

Hey there! Happy December! I haven’t posted in a while, but then I got this poem from Laura Rodley and I wanted to share it. Peace, love, and solace I Kid You Not The bird whose name he does not know flew smack against his armpit- the beginning of the heart meridian- smack through the car window, bounced to the floor amidst papers and cookie wrappers as though dead, eyes closed, smacked him hard enough for it to hurt, leave a faint … [Read more...]

Take that hour and make it your present

11/03/2018 By Ellen Beals Leave a Comment

It’s my favorite weekend of the year because it is the end of Daylight Savings–that extra hour we get when we set our clocks back is the best present of all. I’m here to suggest you put it to productive use: Take a nap. Crawl under the covers and think of yourself for once. You deserve it! I know I’ll be celebrating that way. I don’t have too many worries in the napping department. On the contrary, I could write a book on “Women Who Nap Too Much,” except I don’t think … [Read more...]

Open House Chicago — this weekend

10/10/2018 By Ellen Beals Leave a Comment

Hey Chicago Peeps -- It is one of the best weekends of the year. It is the weekend of Open House Chicago. Make sure you get out and see some of the sites. Peace, love, and solace … [Read more...]

October news — Facèré’s Signs of Life and LitroUK

10/02/2018 By Ellen Beals Leave a Comment

Hello. Happy October to all. Some would say the month started off with a dumpster fire of emotions. The Kavanaugh hearing on Thursday September 27 has left many of us feeling out of sorts. There is enough commentary on this situation so I won't fuel the fire. Instead I'll use this space to promote two new placements of mine. I had the pleasure of writing a poem on commission for Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery, specifically in response to a beautiful glass bead necklace … [Read more...]

Helen Degen Cohen — My Life on Film

09/21/2018 By Ellen Beals Leave a Comment

I was glad to hear that Helen Degen Cohen's posthumous poetry collection My Life on Film is now out. A founding editor of Rhino Poetry, Helen Degen Cohen was a central figure in the Chicago area poetry community. When she died in 2015, she left behind several projects-in-progress, including an almost-finished manuscript of poems highlighting her in-depth interest in film. My Life on Film is published by Glass Lyre Press and the launch for it is Sunday, September 23rd … [Read more...]