Category: Dating + Relationships

Of Flowers and Thorns

Lorna McGinnis

My friend is like a hummingbird, flapping her wings eighty times per second. Her voice goes up an octave when she talks about him and her words spill out of her like flower petals on parade. The symptoms of first love, or lust, or wanting, or whatever it is. She Read more

Lorna McGinnis

I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Previously, I have been featured in literary outlets such as Crosscurrents, Wordgathering, and Creative Colloquy. Works published include, “Wish Fulfillment,” “Missing Andrew,” and “Quiet Light.” In my spare time, I read anything I can get my hands on and practice martial arts.

Getting Back Into the Dating Game

Beatrice Bailey

OK…you now find yourself a 50+ widow/widower with a bit of living left to do. You enjoy your time with family and friends. Your days are full with trips to the gym, taking a Tai Chi class, knitting or tutoring grandchildren. Yet, something was missing. Ah, yes…companionship was what was Read more

Beatrice Bailey

Beatrice Bailey was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa to a Baptist minister father and a mother who was a gospel recording artist. She has three sisters and one brother. She attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a BA in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. Retired since 2004 from management positions with both the Xerox Corporation and the State of California, Bea now conducts customized seminars on “Budgeting for the Not So Rich and Famous”, “Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together…The Ultimate Balancing Act,” as well as interview techniques entitled, “Selling the Sizzle and Not the Steak.” In addition, she is an active member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA, where she is an Adult Sunday School teacher. Bea has been a Head Feature Writer for Senior Magazine of Northern California. She also writes a monthly newspaper column entitled, “Uniquely Bea” Currently, she has authored a best-selling book, entitled, "Farewell, My Friend” and is conducting presentations and book signings throughout the United States and Mexico. "Radio Luz,” a Spanish Speaking Christian Radio Station, has interviewed her multiple times. Bea also was selected to be included in a book by The Author’s Show, as one of the "50 Outstanding Writers You Should Be Reading”. Bea has produced and hosted a new innovative television show, “A-Z with Bea”, which aired in November 2009 on RCCTV, Sacramento, CA. Bea is active at St. Paul Baptist Church and is an Adult Sunday school Teacher, and a Small Accountability Group Leader. She is a member of Kaiser’s Bio-Ethics Committee and on the Board of Advisors for the East Lawn Corporation. Recently, she has been asked to participate as a speaker with the Black Health Today national organization. To relax, Bea likes to work out at the gym, walk, knit, paint, sew, cook, garden, and read. Traveling within the United States, Mexico, Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe is one of Bea’s true passions. She has two adult children, one “bonus son”, five wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She resides in Northern California.

The Universe Between Us

Amye Archer

Alone, I am a star burning against the night sky. I am lost in a blanket of darkness, a heaving illuminated mass threatening to collapse in on itself. But together, Timmy and I are a galaxy, a vast wonderful world of possibilities. We are bright and organized, burning into one Read more

Amye Archer

Amye Archer holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. Her memoir, Fat Girl, Skinny, was named runner-up for the Red Hen Press Nonfiction Manuscript Award, and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She has two poetry collections: BANGS and A Shotgun Life, both published by Big Table Publishing. Amye’s work has appeared in Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, Hippocampus, Mothers Always Write, Nailed Magazine, PMS: Poem Memoir Story, PANK, and Provincetown Arts. She is the creator of The Fat Girl Blog.

You’re Not the One Who Broke His Heart

Logan Ebbets

I recently reconnected with my “it’s complicated” after a falling out. This was a mistake. But my rationale was, he had recently broken up with his college-aged girlfriend, and I felt like it was a good time to have the talk we never had after our falling out. My conscious Read more

Logan Ebbets

My name is Logan and I am a mountain loving millennial from the East Coast. After graduating from the University of Vermont, I drove to Colorado, to work at a ski resort, and stayed for five years. I had the time of my life and considered that my post-graduate education in life. This Fall I am pursuing a real Master's degree in Organizational Leadership. Writing has always been my form of therapy and I hope anyone who takes the time to read my essays can feel a little better about their own struggles.

Falling in Love in Mexico

Dori Owen

“You’re pretty low maintenance, as women go.” “I am, am I?” She sounded amused. “Yeah. Like a cactus.” ― Roxanne Snopek I did not want to go on the trip. My beloved father had just died and my grieving encompassed all of my spare time. I cried often and could Read more

Dori Owen

Dori Owen is a storyteller, writing from small town Arizona, after living a few decades in California as an LA Wild Child, with a brief stop in Reno. She settled into grownup life as a project manager, collecting an MBA and a few husbands along the way. She is a shown artist and her favorite pastime is upcycling old furniture and decor she finds from thrift stores. She lives with the cat who came to visit but stayed. The love of her life is her grown son who lives in Portland, Oregon. Her essays and poems have been published in RAW&UNFILTERED VOL I, StigmaFighters Vol 2, and Love Notes From Humanity. Her blogs have been featured on The Lithium Chronicles, Open Thought Vortex, Sudden Denouement, and The Mighty.

While You Were Away

Julie Anderson

While you were away I walked through shadows disguised as glass I danced alone I learned that I could feel, be just as I am While you were away freedom delivered me to heaven. I found my voice spoke for myself, enjoyed the words said them again and again While you were Read more

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is the Creator and Publisher of Feminine Collective. Julie was inspired to create this safe place for women to share their secrets, desires, triumphs and pain as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. In her column Pursuit of Perfection, she explores the importance of rectifying the balance of inner and outer beauty through essays, poems and articles on self-esteem, shame, family, and self- acceptance.

It’s All About Sex. Top Ten Sex Fun Facts

SA Smith

The news is so negative these days. Everyone is fighting or upset about something. So I thought it would be nice to step away from the news of the world a bit and share some arbitrary random facts. No thinking involved, no debating, no negativity, just a little fun and Read more

SA Smith

SA Smith has always loved the magical life. She is the bestselling Amazon author of FOREVER, her four part young adult paranormal romance series. She is an advocate for women of all shapes and sizes. Believing that we are all enough just as we are, and needing to spread that word far and wide. Having been diagnosed with CRPS over 12 years ago, SA also uses her writing to increase social awareness of the disease. Writing is her passion. She often tells friends that writing is a journey for her. It’s like spending time with friends. "I just follow my characters along on their adventures, like a fly on the wall, and see where they take me." SA currently lives in Florida with her best friend/husband and their one son.