Featured Writing

Empty movie theater

With This Money

by Claude Chabot Lily had found the powder room in haste, and rapidly finishing her customary ablutions before the start of the feature, hurried to the stairs. This was her ritual before every picture she had seen, and though she could resist it, she felt fully at ease only when…

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Close-up of typewriter keys

Announcing the Winners of the 2023 Fall Fiction Contest

The 9th annual Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Fall Fiction Contest brought writers from across the country together for a chance to win a scholarship to SNHU and publication in The Penmen Review. After receiving more than 700 submissions, a panel of creative writing experts considered several factors during their…

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Morgan Talty

Word for Word, Featuring Special Guest Morgan Talty

On October 11, 2023, Word for Word, Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) online literary series, kicked off its 2023-24 season with special guest author, Morgan Talty, a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation who lives in Levant, Maine. Talty is the author of the critically acclaimed story collection “Night of…

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Alyssa Cole

Word for Word, Featuring Special Guest Alyssa Cole

On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Word for Word, Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) online literary series, proudly welcomed Alyssa Cole, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romantic thrillers and more. Her debut thriller, “When No One Is Watching,” won the 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best…

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A pen preparing to write on a blank page

Word for Word Honors SNHU’s Fall Fiction Contest Winners

On Wednesday, January 18, 2022, the Word for Word Reading Series at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) featured the winners of the annual Fall Fiction Contest. This year’s contest had over six hundred submissions. The five winners — Douglas Goff, Tim Brumbaugh, Michael Cabrera, H. Derek Pursley and Kevin Broccoli…

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curly-haired woman sitting at a laptop

Announcing the Winners of the 2022 Fall Fiction Contest

The 8th annual Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Fall Fiction Contest brought writers from across the country together for a chance to win a scholarship to SNHU and publication in The Penmen Review. After receiving more than 660 submissions, a panel of creative writing experts considered several factors during their…

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Woman writing on laptop while sitting outside

Announcing the Winners of the 2021 Fall Fiction Contest

The 7th annual Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Fall Fiction Contest brought writers from across the country together for a chance to win a scholarship to SNHU and publication in The Penmen Review. After receiving more than 650 submissions, a panel of creative writing experts considered several factors during their review, including originality, structure, character arc, language and whether it was engaging. Once the…

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The Death of Jane Lawrence

The Penmen Profile: A Q&A with Award-Winning Fiction Writer Caitlin Starling

by Nicholas Patterson Caitlin Starling is an award-winning fiction writer who creates original and unique horror stories that encapsulate speculative fiction’s broad reach. For example, you can probably find “Luminous Dead” on the science fiction shelf of your local bookstore, although this novel is not your typical sci-fi work. Starling…

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A student writing a short story for the 2020 Fall Fiction Contest.

Announcing the Winners of the 2020 Fall Fiction Contest

The 6th annual Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Fall Fiction Contest brought writers from across the country together for a chance to win a scholarship to SNHU and publication in The Penmen Review. After receiving more than 650 submissions, a panel of creative writing experts considered several factors during their review, including originality, structure, character arc, language and whether it was engaging.  Cyndle Plaisted Rials, an…

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The book jacket of Colin Dodd's new novel, "Ms. Never."

The Penmen Profile: Writer Colin Dodds Releases New Sci-Fi Novel

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Colin Dodds just added a sixth novel to his list of published works. This November, he brought two people with dark secrets together in “Ms. Never,” a sci-fi story that tackles a number of life’s mysteries. Dodds is a poet, novelist and film director and has been…

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The Penmen Profile: MFA Student, Disney Writer-for-Hire

When Alexandra Z. Lazar isn’t working on her first novel, a re-imagining of the Fairy Godmother’s sister, she’s adapting Disney movies into children’s books. Lazar got her start as a Disney Writer-for-Hire by entering fan fiction contests for her favorite book series, “Kingdom Keepers” by Ridley Pearson.  In an interview…

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