Category Archives: Publishing

PRE-ORDER SCRAP: SALVAGING A FAMILY

A couple of days ago I said the pre-order for my new book (ELJ Editions) would be available in a couple of weeks. But: it’s available now!!!! PRE-ORDER SCRAP HERE

This book–flash nonfiction with some reflection pieces, a few poems, a short play script–in other words, very hybrid and an engaging (I think) read–is the end result of my memoir writing for the past SEVENTEEN YEARS. Yeah, no kidding.

If you’d like to purchase a paperback copy ahead of time and be one of the first to get your SCRAP when it comes out in March, please click the link above or the cover image below to get to the pre-order page on the publisher’s website.

For an idea about the book, here is what Kathy Fish, acclaimed flash fiction writer and writing teacher has to say about SCRAP:

Borne of shame and trauma, the secrets uncovered in Luanne Castle’s hybrid memoir reveal her father’s complicated childhood and the impact it had on their relationship. Told in brief, strikingly vivid fragments, and through various perspectives and forms, the book as a whole presents a deeply moving and unforgettable account. We readers are privileged to bear witness to this emotional excavation, one that ultimately reminds us that love is powerful even when it’s painful and that forgiveness is the only way forward. Scrap: Salvaging a Family is a gorgeous and brilliantly original collection. I highly recommend it. ~Kathy Fish, author of Wild Life: Collected Works

 

7 Comments

Filed under Flash Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry, Publishing, SCRAP: SALVAGING A FAMILY

COVER REVEAL FOR SCRAP: SALVAGING A FAMILY

I saw that my publisher has the cover for my hybrid flash memoir up on their website! So without further ado here is the cover for my book, due out March 20, by ELJ Editions. Preorders will be available in a couple of weeks!

The artwork and cover design is by collage artist and writer Lorette Luzajic, the EIC of The Ekphrastic Review and The Mackinaw. Typeface by Keith Powell and Lorette Luzajic.

I commissioned the art from her. Every tidbit in the collage is something from the book itself. Lorette did a wonderful job of excavating the images.

Here’s a book description to wet your appetite.

The hybrid flash memoir Scrap: Salvaging a Family explores the stain of childhood fear and anxiety on the adult spirit and the experience of reconciling with an aging or dying parent. A daughter has grown up in a household with an angry and abusive father. He keeps the secret of his biological father’s identity from his daughter for decades. When the elderly man faces his mortality, he finally names his father. The more the daughter learns about her father’s early life and origins, the more she understands him which leads to forgiveness for the past.

I really hope that you’re going to enjoy the structure of the book which is made up of short micro or flash pieces, a longerish (hahaha) central piece, a few poems, and some dedicated glimpses of reflection.

P.S. You might be wondering if there will be a cat in the book. Yes, and there is an image in the collage on the book cover. Look very closely at the bottom right, and you will see a little black cat.

37 Comments

Filed under death of a parent, Flash Nonfiction, Memoir, Publishing, SCRAP: SALVAGING A FAMILY

I Thought I Heard the Shuffle of Angels’ Feet – read it at MasticadoresUSA

Hope you enjoy this teeny prose poem/flash published at MasticadoresUSA, thanks to Editor Barbara Harris Leonhard. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

https://masticadoresusa.wordpress.com/2025/08/17/i-thought-i-heard-the-shuffle-of-angels-feet-by-luanne-castle/

Leave a comment

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Cats and Other Animals, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Writing

Channeling Ethel Merman

My mother-in-law Diana Dale Castle painted this picture of Ethel Merman. MIL used to hang out at the Broadway theatres during rehearsal time. She would research the actors’ roles and role history and sometimes ended up with a multiple image painting like this one. The painting is under glass which caused the lines in the photo. Also, the color is way off. I am wondering why color is so off in my iPhone pix.

Switch: A Magazine of Microfiction, Editor Elizabeth R. George, published the story I wrote when this painting was demanding my attention. It hangs to the left of my desk . . . . This micro story, “Ethel Merman, American Treasure, May Have Expressed Regret,” allowed me to channel my inner Ethel as it’s Ethel talking to an interviewer.

The story is the 3rd one down.

https://www.switchonline.org/about-1?fbclid=IwY2xjawLrecxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgx66dNYqLdrIVeoUOYsDedT0K4GxnLoYyM9m5Y1-Ic7DuEDuhN0U0uox0pC_aem_RGG7s_ozdQye1MMZagsNoQ

29 Comments

Filed under #AmWriting, #writingcommunity, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing

“What Would Grandma Do” at LatinosUSA – English Edition

Did you have a wonderful grandmother? This fiction story is based on mine.

My story “What Would Grandma Do” is up at LatinosUSA -English Edition.

https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/what-would-grandma-do-by-luanne-castle/

24 Comments

Filed under #AmWriting, #writingcommunity, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing

Flash Fairy Tale “Magic” at LatinosUSA – English Edition

Do you like fairy tales and fantasy? If so, you might like my flash story, “Magic.” Editor Juan Re Crivello just published it at LatinosUSA – English Edition. 

Note: Magic is something special that is often found in fairy tales and fantasy stories. In this story, magic is “personified” as a horse.

If you want to leave a comment, please do so after the story on the journal’s site. Thank you for reading!!!!!! and I hope you like it.

Magic by Luanne Castle

12 Comments

Filed under #AmWriting, #writingcommunity, Fairy Tales, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing

My Life Lately

On Friday I picked up a navy gift bag of Kana’s cremains from the vet’s office. The ashes are in a little cedar box, and they came with a pawprint and two tiny vials of fur marked “Kana Castle.” I’m going to order a little brass plate for the box, just as I did for Tiger Queenie Princess Mimi, Felix, Pear Blossom, and Macavity. Of course, I took photos of everything, but I won’t trigger you by posting them! Everything is on the bookshelf altar of my late furbabies.

The wonderful Cleaver Magazine has published a flash story I wrote about being a medical student on “Grand Rounds” with a mentor/teacher doctor: Another Week Left of Grand Rounds with Dr. Webber

The flash editor Kathryn Kulpa worked with me on little revisions. She was very helpful. Her new chapbook was just released, and I ordered it, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Here is her book launch: For Every Tower, a Princess book launch You can hear little short readings from some of the other Cleaver faculty.

The baby goes to “school” part-time, and Grandpa and I have him part-time. He is very active, preferring to be crawling rather than sitting still, and standing rather than crawling, climbing rather than standing, and he can’t wait to walk on his own, which he can already do while holding my hands. He turned 8 months old Thursday. I set up 3 electric jack o’lanterns to get him used to Halloween! He LOVES his swim lessons. He even will float on his back with one hand under the back. And if I ask him if he likes school, he laughs a gleeful sound. He doesn’t say anything yet, but I am working on “grandma” being his first word. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

It’s been hard to write, between the baby, my painful legs (tendinitis all over), and lots of other life stuff going on, but I plan to take Kathy Fish’s Immersion tomorrow. It’s a 3 day writing party that is free if you are a paid subscriber to Kathy’s substack, which I am. The Art of Flash Fiction Sign up if you want to join me there Sunday, Monday, Tuesday!!!

 

 

 

63 Comments

Filed under #AmWriting, #poetswithcats, #writerlife, #writingcommunity, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing

What’s Going On

Editor Jeff Harvey at the brand new really hot lit journal Gooseberry Pie published one of my stories. The journal only publishes six sentence stories. Try to write one if you haven’t. They are really fun.

Another thing going on is that Mad Swirl journal has published their annual anthology, and along with many stories and poems, they have featured the work of four artists. One of those is me, if you can believe it. Two of my collages. The anthology is available on Amazon.

It sounds like I’m busy, and I am, but mostly with taking care of my baby grandson all day! What a cutie. The only trouble is fitting in work, writing, art, and my daily walk. We’re working it out though, and he’s been so good today. However, yesterday, I typed a 100 word first draft with one hand while I held him!

I’m closing comments just because I it’s hard to respond one-handed–at least until I get used to it!

Leave a comment

Filed under #amwriting, #writingcommunity, Art and Music, Ekphrastic, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing

The Past Holds No Reality for Me at Masticadores USA

Editor Barbara Harris Leonhard has published my Remedios Varo inspired flash fiction story, “The Past Holds No Reality for Me,” at Masticadores USA. More surreal fun!!!

I would love it if you comment over there, if you have time. Turning off comments here. Hope you are having your best kind of weekend!

Leave a comment

Filed under #amwriting, #writingcommunity, Art and Music, Ekphrastic, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing

Flash Boulevard: Three Stories, Art Inspirations

The famous-for-flash Flash Boulevard has published three of my flash fiction stories. A big thank you to Editor Francine Witte, who is a well-known flash fiction writer.

I’m very excited to have my stories published at Flash Boulevard because they publish the best flash fiction writers, so to think that my stories are keeping company over there is dreamy.

The first two stories are inspired by Remedios Varo stories. The third was written after seeing Frida Kahlo’s “Wounded Deer” painting, although the story is not itself ekphrastic. Instead, it is about living with a variety of illness and health conditions. They are all surreal and yet relate to matters of the human heart. Please feel free to comment at the site. I will close comments here.

Leave a comment

Filed under #amwriting, #writingcommunity, Art and Music, Ekphrastic, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Literary Journals, Publishing, Writing, Writing contest