Underbelly Press

ISSUE 6 TEASERS She had been sitting there, seeing many women busy offering prayers by lighting lamps, or offering Parikrama, and ending it all by going on all fours and touching their heads to the floor to offer obeisance right at the entrance, just beyond the pillar, close to where she sat. Yet none of them noticed the old, Sari-clad woman hugging a cloth bag that had seen better days and clutching a cell phone in her free hand. She didn’t know how to draw their attention and even if she did, what could she ask? They were strangers to her. A Mother’s Wait Chandrika R Krishnan

A Mother's Wait - Chandrika R Krishnan
Yet none of them noticed the old, Sari-clad woman hugging a cloth bag that had seen better days and clutching a cell phone in her free hand. She didn’t know how to draw their attention and even if she did, what could she ask? They were strangers to her.

A Need for Nectar - Sarah Leavesley @sarahleavesley.bsky.social

ISSUE 6 TEASERS Plastic forks click, paper plates bend beneath ambition. Margie reaches over me for fried chicken - not rudely, but with the practiced precision of someone who counts calories and grudges equally. Buffet Politics David Anson Lee

Buffet Politics - David Anson Lee
Plastic forks click,
paper plates bend beneath ambition.
Margie reaches over me for fried chicken -
not rudely,
but with the practiced precision of someone
who counts calories and grudges equally.

ISSUE 6 TEASERS I love you in the hush between courses at my mother’s table— when everyone pretends the ruins are not there and I pretend not to burn. Our kneecaps clash and blush, never bruise. You learned the maps of my people; you pressed where others would not. Still you cannot receive—you spend affection like change and miscount its cost. offering between courses Sarai Nichole

offering between courses - Sarai Nichole
Our kneecaps clash and blush, never bruise.
You learned the maps of my people; you pressed where others would not.
Still you cannot receive—you spend affection like change and miscount its cost.

ISSUE 6 TEASERS ‘Use me,’ I say when you can’t conceive. Surrogacy feels as natural as forging your signature. You never check, have too much money anyway. But your bank does check, involves the bizzies. Sister Act Chris Cottom

Sister Act - Chris Cottom @chriscottom.bsky.social
‘Use me,’ I say when you can’t conceive. Surrogacy feels as natural as forging your signature. You never check, have too much money anyway. But your bank does check, involves the bizzies.

Issue 6 of Underbelly Press is almost here…
Before the full release this Friday, 13 March, I’m excited to share a small teaser of what’s inside. It’s been a pleasure curating this themed issue, filled with brilliant work from many wonderful contributors. Here's your first taste!

This somewhat sunny day we bring another fabulous preloved story 🦝

We loved the gritty, salty language here, the relatable-while-infuriating MC, and the use of cheese to enrich and hold the story.
Grab a cracker or two and read @jdhellenwrites.bsky.social rich tale
trashcatlit.com/the-ripening...

It's an honour to feature it! 🖤

Thank you as well to everyone who submitted cover art. A special mention to our shortlisted artists, Laurie Avadis, @sadeebee.bsky.social and @sarahleavesley.bsky.social , whose pieces will appear throughout the issue as inside heading artwork.
Teasers from Issue 6 coming soon!

Cover Reveal 13.03.26 L. Duthie The centre shows the cover of Issue 6, Spring 26, Underbelly Press. The image is of a cat staring head on, licking its lips.

I'm delighted to reveal the cover of Underbelly Press Issue 6, ahead of its release in just one week, 13.03.26!

Thank you to the brilliant L. Duthie, whose gorgeous shot is the cover of this issue. @darkonelf.bsky.social

My pleasure!

Today's issue spotlight is a real mood-booster 🦝

It's short, it's sharp and it's gloriously, Britishly funny.
Set your GPS and go read and listen to @doctor-dolittle.bsky.social's wee delight.

trashcatlit.com/you-have-arr...

Our next feature shines a light on Debbi Voisey, writer, editor, and mentor. Debbi has a range of writing courses currently open for enrolment, including a 6-module Zoom novel course starting in June, great for anyone ready to commit to shaping their manuscript with structure and support. Debbi also runs a daily writing group that’s currently welcoming new members! ‘Do you have the seeds of an idea for a novel? Or maybe you’ve already watered it a bit and shoots are beginning to grow. Or, you may just be pondering a whole handful of seeds and don’t know where to start. Whatever stage you are at with your thinking and working process, the Grow Your Novel course is designed to get you through it.’ Alongside her courses, Debbi hosts a wonderful quarterly Writers Reading event, with the next gathering on 19 March. Admission is free, with an optional donation (gratefully received, but not required). ‘Have a book to promote? Want to read from your latest published story? Or simply keen to sit back and enjoy an evening of diverse literary talent? All are welcome.’ You can browse everything on offer here: https://www.debbivoisey.co.uk/courses-and-events.html

Our next feature shines a light on Debbi Voisey @dublinwriter.bsky.social writer, editor, and mentor.

You can browse everything on offer here: www.debbivoisey.co.uk/courses-and-...

~

Next week, I'll also be sharing tasters from Issue 6. I'm excited for you to get a feel for what's coming.

I love reading this piece 🖤

New to Bluesky. Writer of noir and crime fiction from New Jersey. Debut novel on submission, short stories in the wild. Two dropping March 13: @villaineralit.bsky.social and @underbellypress.bsky.social. Come find me here if you're into reading about broken people making bad decisions.

My poem ‘how to leave a home’ published on @underbellypress.bsky.social - if wardrobes were carousels, this suitcase is a coffin of seeds 🌱

Read this issue here as we wait for their latest release: underbellypress.wixsite.com/home/copy-of...

#poetry #home #loss #grief #migration #underbelly

Underbelly Press Issue 6 coming soon March 13 Underbelly Press logo in the bottom right corner. Text is on a black background with a stack of cash behind the text.

I’m delighted to share that Issue 6 of Underbelly Press will be released on the 13th of March!

I appreciate your support. Thank you for taking the time to read our issues, share them, and submit to them.

Cover art submissions are open until 28.02

Read some great writing today. Not to compare.
Just to absorb. Feel how those words form and land.
Another writer’s rhythm can remind you what’s possible.
Check out my website. www.debbivoisey.co.uk/client-testi...
#ThursdayThoughts #WritersRead #ReadingLife #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky

#HorrorCommunity
🖤 🧛 🦇 "Vampire Verses" published by @twisteddreamspress.bsky.social soon ends its NetGalley tour.
‼️📕 Proud to share:
we made it to p. 1 of MOST REQUESTED BOOKS!
@hwany.org @sfpoetry.bsky.social @dmcwriter.bsky.social @twisteddreamspress.bsky.social
www.netgalley.com/catalog/publ...

Well worth a read!

🖤🖤

Ta dah!

Thrilled to give your piece a home!

can’t wait to read & share the ish!

theme is GREED

evergreen topic, n’est-ce pas 🧐

Lovely to have you 🖤

Coming soon 💕

Delighted to include it! 🖤

Thrilled to have a story in issue 6 of Underbelly. 😊

ISSUE 6 SHORT FICTION cont.
☆ @pamavoledo.bsky.social ☆ @sreelekha2024.bsky.social ☆

ISSUE 6 SHORT FICTION ☆ Alexei Raymond ☆ Benjamin Duncan ☆ Chandrika R Krishnan ☆ Chris Cottom ☆ Debbi Voisey ☆ Delphine Gauthier-Georgakopoulos ☆ Eric Herrington ☆ Jason Graff ☆ Jesse Binger ☆ Laurie Avadis ☆ LM Fontanes ☆ Madeleine Swann ☆ Pam Avoledo ☆ Sreelekha Chatterjee ☆

ISSUE 6 SHORT FICTION
☆ @enemyofcruelty.bsky.social ☆ Benjamin Duncan ☆ Chandrika R Krishnan ☆ @chriscottom.bsky.social ☆ @dublinwriter.bsky.social ☆ @delgeo14.bsky.social ☆ Eric Herrington ☆Jason Graff ☆Jesse Binger ☆ Laurie Avadis ☆ @lorifontanes.bsky.social ☆ @madeleineswann.bsky.social ☆