Author Archives: cristinanorcross

BHR Issue 17 Fall 2023 / Heart Source & Haven NOW ONLINE!

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BHR 17 cover draft2 image

(Cover artist credit: Richard Havenga)

Welcome to the fall issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR 17 / “Heart Source & Haven”). To read and enjoy our full issue of poetry and artwork, please visit the BHR 17 page of our website.

CONTRIBUTORS

Poets:
Cynthia Pratt * Catherine Gonick * Cathy Thwing * Sue Ann Gleason * Terry Jude Miller * Jim Landwehr * Jacqueline Kudler * Pat Phillips West * Jill McGrath * Janet Ruth * Sarah Sadie * Sarah Dickenson Snyder * Judith Sornberger * Ellen Austin-Li * Bonnie Demerjian * Susan Martell Huebner * Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca * Strider Marcus Jones * Nancy Jean Larson * Mary Fitzpatrick * John Grey * Paula Schulz * Mary Trafford * Luanne Castle * Thomas A Thrun * Nancy Austin * Anne Kundtz * Joanne Clarkson * Gary Grossman * Stephen Anderson * Emily Tee * Laura Foley * Scott Ferry * Carol Tahir * Kathrine Yets * Karen A VandenBos * Julie A Dickson * Mary Ray Goehring * Gary Thomas * Jackie Langetieg * Diane Vogel Ferri * Margaret DeRitter * Lisa Ashley * Gail Tirone * Martha Jackson Kaplan * Marsha Owens * Sara Sarna * Paulette Laufer

Artists:
Richard Havenga (cover artist) * Donna Hilbert (featured artist) * Janet Ruth * Paula Lietz * Jeannie E Roberts * Mary Ray Goehring

EDITOR’S NOTE:

I hope that this collection of poetry and artwork provides a welcome space of quiet calm, at a time when our world is in need of repair and peace. In small and gentle ways, may these offerings comfort the heart and mind. This issue is meant to be savored, so take your time. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in. Take some time to hit pause during your day. We hope that you will return again and again to sit with these poems and drink them in.

Kind thoughts,

Cristina M. R. Norcross, Editor
Blue Heron Review
(*founded in 2013)

2024 Best of the Net Nominations for Blue Heron Review

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Best of the Net BHR logo2

It is an honor to curate Blue Heron Review and bring you a wonderful selection of thoughtful, meditative poetry. I am proud of each and every one of our talented contributors. I wish I could have nominated more than just 6 authors for the Best of the Net awards. This year, it was especially difficult to choose, as we had close to 80 poems to consider. Please join me in celebrating the work of these fine writers. The following poets nominated appear in either BHR Issue 15 Fall 2022 or BHR Issue 16 Spring 2023.

Visit the BHR 15 and BHR 16 pages of this site to read all of these beautiful poems. Simply scroll down to find the work of each author within the issue.

Nominations from BHR Issue 15 Fall 2022

Laura Goldin / “Another Place”

Diane Vogel Ferri / “For You”

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Nominations from BHR Issue 16 Spring 2023

Patricia Nelson / “The Women of Paradise”

Ginny Lowe Conners / “Home”

Chrissy Stegman / “A Pilgrim’s Pace”

Jenna Wysong Fulbrun / “Mirrors”

BLUE HERON REVIEW UPDATES

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Our upcoming fall 2023 issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR #17) is due to be published online at the end of October. We have a gorgeous collection of poetry and photography/art. I can’t wait to share it with you all! Our next open call for submissions will not be until January 2024 (this will be for our spring issue). Details, deadlines, and our new theme will be announced in the coming months. To read past issues, see the ARCHIVES page.

Blue Heron postcard image

(*artist credit: Robert Lee Haycock)

Blue Heron Review Issue 16 / Spring 2023 Now Online!

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BHR16 Cover Image Edit2

(Cover artist credit: Thomas A Thomas)

Welcome to our BHR 16 Spring 2023 issue of Blue Heron Review! We hope you enjoy this themed selection of poems — Sanctuaries & Places of Peace. To read the full selection of poems and view the beautiful, fine art photography included, please go to the BHR 16 page of our website. Take your time, allow yourself to leisurely sip and savor this issue. These poems will surround you with the energy of peaceful afternoons in the forest, time spent with loved ones, and the deep well of calm that exists within. Breathe, read, reflect, repeat. Thank you for joining us for this very special issue!

CONTRIBUTORS:

Poets:
M J Iuppa * John Davis * James Crews * Mary Alice Williams * Michael S Glaser * Kai Coggin * Javi Maria Cain * John M Bellinger * Tad Phippen Wente * Gloria Heffernan * B L Bruce * Beate Sigriddaughter * Jo Taylor * Patricia Nelson * Lisa Romano Licht * Andrea Potos * Kristen Baum DeBeasi * Abha Das Sarma * j lewis * Elizabeth McCarthy * Angela Hoffman * Jeannie E Roberts * Jenna Wysong Filbrun * Kathie Giorgio * Jennifer Dodge * Susan Glassmeyer * Mary Anna Scenga Kruch * Steve Bucher * Ginny Lowe Connors * Kathleen Deyer Bolduc * Helen Bournas-Ney * Penny Harter * Chrissy Stegman * Colleen Keating * Daniel Lanzdorf * Gwyneth Wynn-Davies * Ronnie Hess * Lynne Burnett * Carol Alena Aronoff * Diana Raab * Cheryl Byler Keeler * Patricia Carney * Jan Chronister * Joyce Ritchie * Joan Leotta * Michael Minassian

Artists:
Thomas A Thomas (cover artist) * j lewis (featured artist) * Fiona Capuano * Michael Jeske *

Editor’s Note:

It is with great sadness that I must share the news that we have lost a dear member of our Blue Heron Review family. Professor and poet M J Iuppa passed away last month. M J was a regular contributor to Blue Heron, and she was our featured poet for the month of March 2015. She will be greatly missed by the writing community. In honor of M J’s memory, her poem, “Drink This In,” appears as the first poem in our issue.

Send goodness and light out into our world. This will be our saving grace for tomorrow.

Peace,
Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor
Blue Heron Review

BHR 16 / Spring 2023 Issue Release Date Delayed until Mid-May

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(*Photo by Javardh on Unsplash)

Our next online issue “Sanctuaries and Places of Peace” will be launched in mid-May.  (This is only a delay of 2 weeks.)  I am especially thrilled and honored to curate this issue.  Our world needs welcoming, peaceful spaces, where we can hit the pause button, take a deep breath, and find nourishment for the heart.  I hope that you enjoy our next issue.  We have a varied collection of poems and fine art photography on this theme.

Until then, please enjoy the gentle lead up to spring.  Find moments of calm and connection in your life.  Celebrate the times when there is quiet after a storm.  I know that we could all use that, right now.  We’ll see you back here on the BHR page in May!

Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor
Blue Heron Review
(Founded 2013)

(*Photo by Javardh on Unsplash)

Delayed Submission Responses for Blue Heron Review Issue #16

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SANCTUARIES AND PLACES OF PEACE

PLEASE READ / SPECIAL NOTE: Delayed Submission Responses for BHR16
Due to unexpected circumstances, response times will now be 10-12 weeks (instead of 8-10 weeks).  Apologies for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.
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Thank you to all those who submitted poems for our next issue, BHR 16 Spring 2023 / “Sanctuaries and Places of Peace.”  Our issue will be devoted to creating a safe haven of peace for our writers and readers. All submissions will be read with great care. Our online publication date for this issue has been re-scheduled for mid-May.

Submissions Temporarily Closed / BHR 16 Spring 2023 Issue Release Date: Late April

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Submissions TEMPORARILY CLOSED
for Blue Heron Review.  

*

Our next issue, BHR #16 / Sanctuaries & Places of Peace
will be published online at the end of April 2023

BH postcard med

(Artwork, “Great Blue Heron,” by Daniel Adams)

Submissions NOW OPEN for Blue Heron Review / December 1-15, 2022

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Image for BHR 16 subs Photo by Parul Gupta on Unsplash

(*Photo by Parul Gupta on Unsplash)

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN
December 1-15, 2022

 

THEME: Sanctuaries and Places of Peace
(*Please read and follow ALL guidelines carefully on our Submission Guidelines page.)

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Founding Editor, Blue Heron Review

 

2022 Blue Heron Review Pushcart Prize Nominations

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BHR Fall 2022 / Issue 15

“Another Place” by Laura Goldin
“For You” by Diane Vogel Ferri
“Apron Strings” by Patricia Carney
“Beach” by Yvette Viets Flaten

BHR Spring 2022 / Issue 14

“Nesting” by Jessica L Parker
“Transmission of Joy” by Jessica Lee McMillan

(*Visit the BHR 14  and BHR 15 pages of this site to read all of these beautiful poems. Simply scroll down to find the work of each author within the issue.)

Blue Heron Review Issue 15 / Fall 2022 NOW ONLINE!

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FINAL BHR 15 Cover Design

(Cover art credit: Cynthia Yatchman)

Please visit the BHR 15 Fall 2022 page of our site to read and view our full collection of poetry and visual art!

CONTRIBUTORS:

Poets:
Susan Fiore * Kim Klugh * Amy Murre * Laura Goldin * Ellen Lager * Diane Vogel Ferri * Karen A VandenBos * Mary Anna Scenga Kruch * Margaret Rozga * Pam Lewis * Elizabeth R McCarthy * Sami H Tripp * Richard Havenga * Michele Mekel * Lucy Tyrrell * Keith MacNider * Derik Hawley * Patricia Carney * Julie A Dickson * Erna Kelly * Nancy Murphy * Abha Das Sarma * Yvette Viets Flaten * Maryann Hurtt * Mary McCarthy * Fred Kreutz * Erik Richardson * Eamon O’Caoineachan * Ann Wehrman * Fredric Hildebrand * Thomas A Thrun

Artists:
Cynthia Yatchman (Cover Artist) * Michael Jeske * Karren Jeske * Janet Ruth * Jeannie E Roberts * Thomas A Thomas * Derik Hawley * Gail Goepfert


Editor’s Note:

Welcome to the Fall 2022 “Shared Space” issue of Blue Heron Review (Issue #15). It is such a pleasure to share this special collection of poetry and photography/art with our readers! Whether it is about sharing space with the natural world, loved ones, or anyone we have a sense of connection and kinship with, this issue explores all of the ways in which we touch the lives of others in positive ways. I hope that you enjoy reading this issue as much as I enjoyed curating it

Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor
Blue Heron Review