Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty-year writer and the author of 12 published books of fiction and poetry and 5 stage plays. She has been nominated 21 times for the Pushcart Prize in both fiction and poetry. Her play ‘The Crooked Heart’ concerning artist Jackson Pollock premiered on October 25, 2022 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC. Adapted from an earlier novel, it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Another play, LADY IN A POST BOX, co-written with poet and writer Ciaran O’Driscoll is moving toward production in Ireland.  Her play CLANDESTINE is making the rounds.  OFFICE, a Novel was re-printed as a Second Edition. Susan is a Brand Ambassador for The Galway Review.
http://www.susantepper.com

Fault Line

By Susan Isla Tepper

The house on the lake
in error: Respond! Respond!
The fault line cracked
a problem in our genetics
Mother suffered a while
kept to the couch kept
a steady eye on the lake
noticing ripples and
errant fish she claimed
fell dead at the shore.
A tail-light from
a parked red truck she claimed
blazed a hole of shimmering fire
in the face of a man
eating his meal on a bench.
Despite our hand wringing
all the while
proclaiming it was the sun!
The sun created this illusion!
she remained uncertain.
I want to stay crumpled
in bed under the comforter.
Should anyone be punished
for sudden malaise—
Where have all my friends gone to?

Judith A. Lawrence was the editor/publisher of River Poets Journal for several decades. She is also a prolific painter, and has had numerous poems published in anthologies and literary magazines. Her newly released book is titled “The Lafourche River Murder, a Mystery/Thriller.” Also published are five additional books: A Memoir titled Point of Comfort, a book of 20 short stories called Uncharted Territories, The Metamorphoses of Connie Toscano (a Novella), Remembrance, a book of 50 Poems, and The IRS Chronicles which is a comedic take on IRS Examiner Training. All Judith’s books are available on amazon.com. She is currently working on a sequel to her new Mystery/Thriller, plus a book of short poems called Moonbeams which will contain many of her watercolors. Judith lives in Florida with her pet Piccolo, a spoiled Shih Tzu.