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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Eyes of the Peacock

The Penmen Profile: A Q&A with Self-Published Writer Dawn Gardner

By Nicholas Patterson A native to Virginia and lover of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dawn Gardner embraces her creativity while outdoors. Having grown up writing songs and poems, her artistry developed into a profession of photography and writing. The Penmen Review recently had a chance to ask Gardner about her…

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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 cover for "In the Shadow of the Valley" by Bobi Conn.

The Penmen Profile: A Q&A with Memoirist Bobi Conn

by Pamme Boutselis A Kentucky native, Bobi Conn grew up in an Appalachian holler, withstanding a tumultuous childhood while developing an innate love for words and the natural beauty of her surroundings. Both still run deep and she’s instilled each in her debut publication – recently released – “In the…

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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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