Yellow Mama E zine

Editor’s Page – Yellow Mama Issue #117 (Aug. 15, 2026)

 

       Hi all!

       It’s summer, all right. Crazy weather we’ve had here, between toxic air from Canadian wildfires, heavy rain, and days of torturous heat.

       Yellow Mama is sizzling, as usual. Issue #117 brings you Jersey mopes; sadistic nuns; rock and roll memories; nightmares within nightmares; and more.

      In Bill Mesce, Jr.’s “payables,” Big Frank and B. B. face off with “frenemies” over offing one of their crew. Sophia Wiseman-Rose’s “Reverend Mother Munchausen” knows a lot about poisons. Jon Park’s “Too Tough to Die” recalls the heyday of The Ramones at CBGB’s. And Kenneth James Crist’s narrator “Can’t Wake Up”!

        Other gripping stories include Athos Kyriakides’s’ “Fire Lighter,” in which a role-playing couple enjoy torturing a guitarist. Craig Kirchner’s “K.O.” features rival fighters stuck in a mental hospital. And, in Jesse Binger’s tale, “Janey’s Gonna Lose It” when her ex tracks her down once again.

         Our flash and micro lineup include sci fi treats, like Bruce Costello’s tongue in-cheek “The Perils of Wife-Cloning,” and Z. T. Fairfax’s “Lukewarm,” about an AI hooker and a wannabe sinner. Check out tearjerkers, like Stefan Sofiski’s “Dear Frank,” about a “heartless” father; Dale Scherfling’s “Milford Eyes,” recalling a teen affair with a married neighbor; and my own “Kaput” (sequel to “Cuz” from Issue #115), in which Tommy’s ghost takes the wheel. Laugh out loud at Louella Lester’s “I Run Into My Cousin Who’s Out Panhandling,” and have fun at Roy Dorman’s “Brunch at Mickey’s.”

       Our poetry lineup features awesome works by John Sweet, Craig Kirchner, Michael Keshigian, Daniel G. Snethen, Sophia Wiseman-Rose, and others.

        Full-length and flash fiction stories (and some poems) are individually illustrated by our gifted artists: Bernice Holtzman, Joseph Richkus, Jack Garrett, Kevin Duncan, Hillary Lyon, J. Elliott, Sophia Wiseman-Rose, Luis Cuauhtémoc Berriozábal, Steve Cartwright, Michael D. Davis, Darren Blanch, KJ Hannah Greenberg, Luke Lester, Kelly Moyer, Sean O’Keefe, Giggs Kyriakides, John C. Mannone, and Ann Marie Rhiel.

 

         Also, check out our “temperature-breaking” cover by Bernice Holtzman!

 

          If you want to submit full-length fiction, flash fiction, or poetry, check out our guidelines page.

 

         And thanks for reading!