Succulent plant in a terracotta pot with trailing vines and green leaves.

From My Desk

Publishing updates, recommendations and news from my writing desk.

Whatever Anthology
Johanna Blaak Johanna Blaak

Whatever Anthology

I am THRILLED to have been invited to contribute to this anthology of Gen X-inspired short fiction. More on this soon!

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Tuesday Girl in Room Magazine
Johanna Blaak Johanna Blaak

Tuesday Girl in Room Magazine

My (very) short fiction piece Tuesday Girl is available in the issue 45.4 of Room. I love this cover and am a long time fan of this magazine. You can read this story here.

This story is based on a postcard found in my basement of the painting La Lavandera (The Laundress) by Francisco Laso de los Ríos.

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The Landing In Prairie Fire
Johanna Blaak Johanna Blaak

The Landing In Prairie Fire

"The Landing" came from my strange pandemic dream about being inside an abandoned airplane turned into a mountaintop home. 

This short story was published in the Spring 2022 edition of Prairie Fire, a Canadian Magazine of New Writing.   It is close to my heart and I'm excited to share it.  

Cover image “Uncharted Territory” by Diana Thorneycroft

The Landing will also be part of my short story collection, to be published in Spring 2024 by ECW Press!

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Walking to School Should Be Easy
Johanna Blaak Johanna Blaak

Walking to School Should Be Easy

This story was a finalist for an Alberta Magazine Award 

Walking to School Should Be Easy...So why is it so hard?(non-fiction) March 2022

"It seems we're stuck in a loop: We drive our kids because it doesn’t  feel safe for them to walk, and it doesn’t feel safe for them to walk  because there are so many cars."

The Sprawl is community-driven local journalism. It's crowdfunded, 
ad-free, and made in Calgary!

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Tree Love
Johanna Blaak Johanna Blaak

Tree Love

I wrote this little story back in 2011.  In 2021, Short Edition accepted it for publication in 300+ short story dispensers across much of the world, mostly in Europe.  It is also available to read online.

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