THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES
Literary Journal
The Spring Collection 2024: RENAISSANCE
I T ‘ S H E R E !
M A S T H E A D:
Editors: Sarah Steele, Kimberly Kralovic, and Ashley Whittemore
Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Kimberly Phinney
RENAISSANCE (n.)- a renewal or rebirth; a new growth or burst of activity; a revival of the old or lost; a period of vigorous artistic and intellectual productivity
The Way Back to Ourselves is humbled to present a chorus of voices in our FOURTH publication. This beautiful collection is still just the beginning of what we hope to achieve as a community of faithful creatives. So, won’t you join us in welcoming these talented artists? Please, read widely. Comment. Encourage. Share. Connect. Some of our writers are quite established with multiple publications and awards, while other writers are newer voices with something powerful to say. We believe in nurturing both. Each piece brings a celebration for the human experience, the natural world, and a creator God. And together, they call us back to ourselves— back to quiet, meaning, and awe.
We hope you enjoy this RENAISSANCE and the MORE THAN FIFTY talented writers that lie herein. May they stir you AWAKE, push you toward FAITH, and beckon you to live the CREATIVE life God destined for you.
MAY YOU FEEL A REBIRTH SIMMERING IN YOUR SOUL.
Pushcart Nominated: Saint Catalina
In his moving short story, “Saint Catalina,” Zaher Alajlani tells an unlikely restoration story through the serendipitous meeting of two women.
Birdsong and Eventide and Other Works
In her poetry and short story, Bethany Peck delves into the complexities of grief and longing with rich nature imagery and themes of faith and perseverance.
Slaughtering Lies and Other Stories
In her short story “Slaughtering Lies,” Awara Fernández describes how a discarded dog brought her hope in the face of her own suffering. In “Masquerading as Crows,” she explores the loss that comes with Alzheimer’s Disease and the future restoration found in God.
The Artist
In his moving short story, “The Artist,” Zaher Alajlani, tells an unlikely revival story through the life of Cristian, a lovelorn youth.
Veorica (Pushcart Nominated)
In his gripping short story “Veorica,” Zaher Alajlani explores the existential quandaries of being spiritual things in a material world, as he resurrects a semiautobiographical encounter.
Start your journey.
It starts today— in the small steps you take, the hands you hold, the prayers you say, and the hard things you conquer…
The way back isn’t as far as you think.
COUNSELING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS COMING IN 2024…