A Light to Hope By (pastel) by Leticia Cheng, 10; published in the November/December 2023 issue of Stone Soup A note from Tayleigh Greene Dear readers, As a kid, I remember spending entire days of winter break curled up reading by the light of a lamp not unlike the one so beautifully drawn by Leticia Cheng, 10, pictured above. These days, it’s rare that I have the opportunity to devote several hours in a row to reading; the many to-do’s…
Search Results for: winter
January 14th in Asheville. Year 2023.
No one is awake, and the silence is so absolute that you can hear the universe rearrange itself outside my window. It is blue-gray and a moth-eaten blanket of snow barely covers everything. The wind whips whistles whines ROARS. It is the bleak midwinter, and I the only thing alive. I lift the blind and the trees rise up like the petrified bodies of so many crones from times past. They dance a ballet with the windsong— paying homage to…
Thin Ice
The narrator has a close call on the thin ice of a forest stream I rubbed my mittens together to bring some warmth to my cold hands. The temperature had dropped below what the thermometer could read. But I still loved the winter wonderland of the forest; no blizzard could deter me from the great and gorgeous nature that surrounded my warm, wooden home. For this reason, on this icy dusk, I had ventured outside, bundled in a cozy yarn-knit…
I am Here
I am from a place not of leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold, but instead a teenaged sky, moody with deluges of rain, moments later opening to periwinkle heavens and effervescent light, scurrying clouds away. I am from salty, rocky beaches, gray water too cold to swim in (even though we do every New Year’s Day). I am from cobalt suil amhain, freckles and loud, accented, argumentative voices. Stories from my Nana of cherry buns at Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton…
Editor’s Note
It’s January, and I was expecting this issue to be full of winter poems and stories—and there are some, such as “One Winter Day,” the evocative nonfiction piece that opens the magazine, and a chilling story called “Thin Ice.” But what surprised me was the humor I discovered this season! There’s a hilarious and a little bit snarky story about the Greek gods, a sly art theft mystery, a poem about sneakers, and the rousing tale of a little chicken…
Saturday Newsletter: November 11, 2023
Golden Muse and Sun Flowers (acrylic) by Arwen Gamez, 14; published in the November/December 2023 issue of Stone Soup A note from Emma Wood Dear readers, It is that time of year again: when more leaves fall from the trees with each gust of wind or heavy rain, and when we announce the winners of our annual book contest. The 2023 winner is His Tower of the Night: A Nathalia Kitzmiller Mystery by Siri Nelson, 12, of Illinois. His Tower of the…
Highlight from Stonesoup.com
From the Flash Contests The First Snow Linda sat on the porch watching the clouds, and occasionally, the butterflies fluttering over the front yard. Ever since she’d been diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer last year, she started to slow down and to appreciate the simple yet beautiful things all around her so much more. Suddenly, she heard loud footsteps. It must be Charlotte, Linda thought. Sure enough, her five-year-old daughter, Charlotte, came running around to the porch and sat down…
Seasons
As the seasons change, the animals must face extreme weather conditions. There was once a spring so windy the fields were empty, the people were lifted off their feet, and the sky was dotted with flying leaves. “My god,” Mole exclaimed as he hopped frantically back into his hole. He wiped at his frizzled fur. “I almost got blown away!” “What’s wrong, Mole?” asked Worm, who had just poked his head out of the ground. “The outside has become chaotic!…
Seasons
Winter, winter, coming clear, come outside, what do you hear? Wind whistles through the trees, a robin tweets, no more freeze. Spring has come as small as a hum, and too fast, summer is second to last, summer, summer, fall’s the last. Who knew the year could pass so fast? Winter, winter, coming fast, the old year’s in the past . . .
Flash Contest #60, October 2023: Make up an imaginary celebrity and write a story in which they are the main character–our winners and their work
Our October 2023 Flash Contest was based on Prompt #273 (provided by Stone Soup contributor Molly Torinus), which asked that participants get into the mind of an imaginary celebrity. We received 60 submissions this month, and they were certainly creative. There were musicians, fashionistas, astronomers, and basketball stars. Even a pirate was dropped into the mix! These celebrities definitely did not disappoint with their antics and reflections on the difficulties (and benefits) of being famous. As always, thank you to…
