Susan Isla Tepper has two new books of fiction coming out in the spring and winter of this year. She presented her darkly comic play CLANDESTINE in an Equity Premiere Staged-reading, hosted by SHOPTALK, on June 10 at EAG Guild Hall Theatre, NYC. Her most current Novel “Hair of a Fallen Angel” was published by Spuyten Duyvil Books. A twenty-year writer, she’s written 12 published books of fiction and poetry and 7 stage plays. Honors include 24 Pushcart Prize Nominations. 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. Susan is a Brand Ambassador for The Galway Review. A Youtube music video for her latest novel at: https://youtu.be/W2HVIc4NrqY

THEY

By Susan Isla Tepper

They took us here
a steep ungainly climb
while they seemed to move
inches above ground level.

One male announced:
Their task is going to be mighty.

We looked around at each other.

Are we to construct a new system
of power
said a small girl
pointing at the windmills.

Of sorts, said the same male.
The rest in his group were silent.

This made me uneasy.
I started crying.
I’ve never been good at
any type of constructing.
Just moments ago
I’d been struggling
to put together
a small step ladder.
My ceiling bulbs keep burning out.

I would like to return
to that task.
Tears sloshed my face.
Is this the end, I said.

Settle down, said the man,
softly. But, all the same.

Poet/photographer, Alexis Rhone Fancher has authored 11 books of poetry and flash, most recently, EROTIC, and BRAZEN (both published by NYQ.), and TRIGGERED (MacQueens). Coming up: A Picture is Worth a Poet’s Words, a photo-portrait book of over 100 Southern California poets will be publishe in early 2026 by Moon Tide Press, in addition to publishing Alexis’ full-length, erotic book of poems and flash fiction, CockSure. SinkHole, a chapbook of twenty-five“sister” pantoums, exploring her beloved sister’s final illness and death, will be published by MacQueen’s in January, 2026. A multiple Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee, Alexis recently won Best MicroFiction 2025. She calls the Mojave Desert home..www.alexisrhonefancher.com