Charles O. Smith

Writer, artist, dog lover, Southern expatriate

photo of Charles

2024-12-31 2024: My year in reading "wrapped"

The days are short and the nights are dark. Spotify is busy reminding everyone of their listening habits. Even though I read embarassingly slow reader, I read so many great things this year. Here are the highlights.

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2024-12-02 The Giraffe nominated for a Pushcart Prize

Several years ago I sought the help of a friend to work through my difficulty finishing the writing project I was (not) working on at the time. As part of one exercise, I visualized a steep mountain path lined with torii gates. My future “author” self stood at the summit looking down at my then-present self languishing near the base.

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2024-11-14 The Giraffe in Your Impossible Voice

I’m honored to announce that my story, The Giraffe, is available in issue 31 of Your Impossible Voice!

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2024-10-31 Creative Engagement Podcast

Fairy tale Halloween! On the Creative Engagement podcast, host Dan Mandel and I chat and laugh about creative process, our collaboration in progress, and how fairy tales are part of the shared human experience.

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2024-08-04 The Silver Ring in Midnight Chem Issue Two

The first story of my collection of fairytales in-progress, The Silver Ring, has found a home!

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2023-11-30 The Long-rising Loaf named finalist in Alcove Chapbook contest

Today WTAW Press named the winner of their Alcove Press Chapbook Series contest. I am honored that my story “The Long-rising Loaf” was named a finalist.

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2023-05-11 Creative Engagement Podcast

My friend Daniel Mandel has interviewed me for his Creative Engagement podcast. In my episode, I read an excerpt called “The Tower” from a novel in progress and we talk about fairytales and creativity. You can hear the podcast:

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Stories