Underbelly Press

@underbellypress

Uncomfortable, unfiltered pieces that aren’t afraid to investigate the underbelly of existence. Narratives exploring the overlooked, the mundane, the human.

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Bluesky

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Underbelly Press@underbellypress· 28d

Grains of Utopia by Brandon Shane 'and when they do it’s a violent stabbing too deep and they cry out and no one listens cry out a little more and no one listens just continuing on their routes to work or home as if they existed in another realm'

Issue 7 Teasers
women on the street who
haven't had a warm meal in years
the man whose hands are shaking
so badly they are unable to
shoot heroin into their arms
and when they do it’s a violent
stabbing too deep and they
cry out and no one listens
cry out a little more and no
one listens just continuing on
their routes to work or home
as if they existed in another realm
another solar system another universe
another cosmos altogether
Grains of Utopia
Brandon Shane

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· 28d

EMPTY SPACES by C.W. Bigelow @cwbigelow.bsky.social 'I didn’t even know you owned a gun and what does that say about a father fooled, blinded by vicarious pride? This search for answers'

Issue 7 Teasers
I didn’t even know
you owned a gun
and what does that say
about a father fooled,
blinded by vicarious pride?
This search for answers
EMPTY SPACES
C.W. Bigelow

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· 28d

We belong to the night by Laurie Avadis

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· 28d

Leaving Sunset Boulevard by Simon Collinson 'People are frightened as though they might catch it. There's a lot of ignorance. Maybe they’re afraid to say the wrong thing, so they say nothing and avoid me like the plague. I might as well have been dead.'

Issue 7 Teasers
Before the breakdown I’d been regarded as honest, my word as good as the Bank of England. After? Well people don’t believe you anymore.

When you have mental health problems you become the outsider, the untouchable, the unmentionable. People are frightened as though they might catch it. There's a lot of ignorance. Maybe they’re afraid to say the wrong thing, so they say nothing and avoid me like the plague.

I might as well have been dead.
Leaving Sunset Boulevard
Simon Collinson

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· 28d

Legacy by Huina Zheng 'You realized the only inheritance your mother might have passed on to you was a different kind of legacy: the possibility of breast cancer.'

Issue 7 Teasers
As you approached forty, you arranged your father’s funeral. You then cared for your mother through cancer, with weekly hospital visits, daily herbal medicine, and long hours at home. At forty-two, you buried your mother. Not long after, you were told that all of your parents’ savings, along with the apartment you had lived in for half your life, had been left to your brother. You realized the only inheritance your mother might have passed on to you was a different kind of legacy: the possibility of breast cancer.
Legacy
Huina Zheng

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jul 10

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of Underbelly Press Issue 7, ahead of its release in just one week, 17.07.26! Thank you to the wonderful Rebecca St. Pierre, whose striking shot is the cover of this issue. Teasers from Issue 7 coming soon!

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jul 6

Issue 7 will be released on the 17th of July These themed issues have been such a rewarding experience to curate. This issue also marks two years of Underbelly Press. I feel very fortunate for all the connections the magazine has brought. Thank you for being here.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jul 3

Short Fiction: ☆ Angela Joynes @angelajoynes.bsky.social ☆ Huina Zheng ☆ Ian Brownlie @ianbrownlie.bsky.social ☆ Kathy Prokhovnik ☆ Katy Goforth @katywrites.bsky.social ☆ Kelly Murashige ☆ Madeleine Armstrong @madeleinewrite.bsky.social ☆ Megan Hanlon (CNF) @sugarpigblog.bsky.social ☆

Issue seven
Short fiction
☆ Angela Joynes ☆ Huina Zheng ☆ Ian Brownlie ☆ Kathy Prokhovnik ☆ Katy Goforth ☆ Kelly Murashige ☆ Madeleine Armstrong ☆ Megan Hanlon (CNF) ☆ Rebecca Tiger ☆ Richard Pounder ☆ Scott MacLeod ☆ Simon Collinson ☆ Vanessa Serna ☆

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jul 3

Art & Photography: ☆ CLAUDIO PARENTELA ☆ Danny D. Ford ☆ Karen Walker @kawalker.bsky.social ☆ Laurie Avadis ☆ Rebecca St. Pierre @rebeccamstp.bsky.social ☆ Sona Eidnani ☆ Vincenzo Cohen ☆

Issue seven
Art & photography
☆ CLAUDIO PARENTELA ☆ Danny D. Ford ☆ Karen Walker ☆ Laurie Avadis ☆ Rebecca St. Pierre ☆ Sona Eidnani ☆ Vincenzo Cohen ☆

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jul 3

Poetry: ☆ Aerin Higginbotham ☆ Arielle Arbushites ☆ Arthur Neong @arthurneong86.bsky.social ☆ Brandon Shane ☆ C.W. Bigelow ☆ D.L. Husband ☆ Edward Lees ☆ Ellen Williams ☆ Geoffrey Aitken @8cakey.bsky.social ☆ JD Clapp @jdclappwrites.bsky.social ☆

Issue 7 Poetry
☆ Aerin Higginbotham ☆ Arielle Arbushites ☆ Arthur Neong ☆ Brandon Shane ☆ C.W. Bigelow ☆ D.L. Husband ☆ Edward Lees ☆ Ellen Williams ☆ Geoffrey Aitken ☆ JD Clapp ☆ Lee Fraser ☆ LindaAnn LoSchiavo ☆ Louis Faber ☆ Lydia Rae Bush ☆ Marie-Louise Plum ☆ Peter Devonald ☆

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jun 11

A quick update! I'm away June 12-July 3 (and then it'll be full steam ahead!). While I won’t be posting on socials during the break, I’ll still be checking emails and messages, so if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. Anticipating a late July release for Issue 7.

Out of office
12 June to 3 July
Image of a coffee mug

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jun 7

This week's Sunday Snippet is Lift by Jeff Skinner. We loved the distinct, colloquial voice in this piece and found it gritty, candid, and authentic. Read it now in Issue 6.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Jun 5

All responses for Issue 7 have now been sent! If you haven’t found yours, please check your spam folder, and feel free to contact us at underbellypress@gmail.com with any questions! Thank you for the privilege of reading through so many brilliant submissions.

All responses for Issue 7: DECEPTION & DIRTY REALISM have now been sent! If you haven’t found yours, please check your spam folder, and feel free to contact us at underbellypress@gmail.com with any questions! There were a couple of instances of emails bouncing back, so please do get in touch if you haven’t received anything.

Thank you for the privilege of reading through so many brilliant submissions. Rejections are always the hardest part of what I do, and please know I’m grateful to everyone who submitted. I loved seeing the creativity, care, and individual ways people approached the themes.

Thank you for your continued support. More news about Issue 7 soon as we head into the editing stage!

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 31

This week's Sunday Snippet is a rich slice of Aristotle’s Menu by Sreelekha Chatterjee @sreelekha2024.bsky.social We loved the irony of the piece, its vivid & immersive imagery, & the unexpected ending. Read it in Issue 6. ~ Responses are still being sent out, thank you for your patience.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 28

This week's Thursday Throwback is a glimpse of Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me by Laura Cooney. @lozzawriting.bsky.social We found this piece evocative and especially enjoyed its distinct narrative voice. The twist at the end left us wanting to see more of Claire... Read it now in Issue 5.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 23

Submissions for Issue 7: DECEPTION and DIRTY REALISM are now closed. I’m very grateful to everyone who submitted! Thank you, as always, for your patience and support.

Submissions for Issue 7: DECEPTION and DIRTY REALISM are now closed. I’m very grateful to everyone who submitted!

To be transparent, as it’s a busy time for me personally and professionally, I’ll once again be sticking mostly to form rejections. It’s not ideal, but as it’s just me working on the issues, it’s the best way to keep everything on schedule and not get burnout.

As it’s bank holiday weekend, I’ll properly begin sending out responses next week. I aim to respond to everyone within a couple of weeks.

I also just wanted to say that I’ve read a lot of brilliant work so far, and I’ve taken my time and care with it, letting pieces sit with me before coming back to them. There are never easy decisions when it comes to rejections, because there is value in everything I read. Even if you receive a form rejection, please know your work was read and appreciated with sincerity. I never take this privilege lightly.

Thank you, as always, for your patience and support.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 21

This week's Thursday Throwback features Pot Washer by Emyr Payne. @emyrpayne.bsky.social A sharp and candid piece, we thought it excelled in voice and enjoyed its resonant authenticity. Read it now in Issue 4. Friendly reminder, submissions for Issue 7 close tomorrow!

THURSDAY THROWBACK

‘You can’t put a price on education,’
Somebody said to me once

‘About 9k a year I think, minus
Maintenance.’

They didn’t like that

‘But you can go anywhere with
A degree.’

‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘The job centre
Is nice.’
Pot Washer
Emyr Payne

Text is on a black background. In the bottom right corner is a yellow outline image of a pot.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 20

Final call for submissions! Submissions close May 22, in just a couple of days... Issue 7: DECEPTION and DIRTY REALISM 🔗 forms.gle/rfX3nyUnRMwD...

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 15

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE IN ONE WEEK! Submissions are open until May 22 Issue 7: DECEPTION and DIRTY REALISM 🔗 forms.gle/rfX3nyUnRMwD...

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 14

This week's Thursday Throwback is Redefining Boots by Nicola Golding. @nicolag01.bsky.social It's a tender, poignant story about adopting a cat to help you heal, a must read for any cat lover. We found it evocative and full of feeling. Read it now in Issue 3.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 12

This week's Tuesday Taster is a sharp bite of Chlorosis by D. W. Baker. @lowermelody.bsky.social It's a striking piece with a compelling rhythm, and we especially enjoyed reading it aloud. Read it now in Issue 6.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 10

This week's Sunday Snippet is Witnesses by Alexei Raymond. @enemyofcruelty.bsky.social A tender piece of slice of life realism, we enjoyed how the mundane details ground the emotion beautifully. Read it now in Issue 6.

$SUNDAY SNIPPETS He lingered, then thanked her—struggling to let go. With the phone in his pocket, the solitude he no longer registered settled over the evening. Chirping of unseen bats. The path ahead was occasionally punctuated by small, erratically dashing shadows—roaches on the prowl. Passing through a narrow street, Adam paused beneath a streetlamp embowered by a tree. Its light refracted on the leaves and blossoming flowers, casting a greenish-purple shimmer onto the brick road. Witnesses Alexei Raymond Text is on a black background. Underbelly Press logo in the top right corner, in the bottom right corner is a silhouette of a cat sitting.$

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 7

We're Not Really Here by Madeleine Armstrong @madeleinewrite.bsky.social It's a poignant, emotional story and we enjoyed its authenticity. It captures the candid, human tone we covet beautifully, and it is a piece you feel, not just read. Read it in Issue 5.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 5

This week's Tuesday Taster is a morsel of Esmeé’s New Friend by Madeleine Swann. @madeleineswann.bsky.social A unique read with a resonant and authentic narrative voice, we especially liked the use of mundane details contrasted with the uncanny. Read it now in Issue 6.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· May 1

Submissions are open until May 22! Issue 7: DECEPTION and DIRTY REALISM 🔗 forms.gle/rfX3nyUnRMwD...

Issue 7 Deception and Dirty Realism
The second year of Underbelly Press
Submissions open until May 22

$Poetry (30 lines max), submit up to three. Short fiction (1,000 words max), submit up to three. Art & Photography (of any medium), submit up to five. Please note that submissions will be responded to after the reading period. Acceptances and rejections will start being sent out after May 22. Editing will take place throughout June (I am away from mid June to early July). Issue 7 tentatively set for mid to late July. For poetry and short fiction, if you were a contributor in the last issue we won’t be accepting submissions for the consecutive issue in the same category you were published. The theme is DECEPTION. For our two year anniversary, we’re returning to our roots. Issue 7 calls back to our initial core focus - dirty realism.We’re looking for work that is gritty, unflinching, raw. The mundane, the overlooked, the everyday struggles. Think gritty noir and kitchen sink realism. The underbelly of contemporary life. Where does deception live within that? In lies, fractured relationships, self delusion, blurred truths, the things we refuse to face, the things we conceal or convince ourselves of. For artwork, we’d love to see pieces that explore illusion and distortion, as well as greyscale or black and white pieces.$

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Apr 30

This week's Thursday Throwback features Witching Hour by Lucy Whalen. A liminal piece, we especially enjoyed the way the speaker finds themselves detaching from the mundane reality of life and connecting with the beauty found in the witching hour. Read it now in Issue 2.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Apr 28

This week's Tuesday Taster is a slice of Unicorn Hunt by Paul Whelan. Sharp and cynical, we especially liked its blend of grit and greed. Read it now in Issue 6.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Apr 23

A Recipe: Dandelion Tea for Lonely Souls by Jasmine Grace. In the unique format of a recipe to offer an underlying commentary on loneliness, we especially enjoyed its combination of mundane and supernatural elements, creating a quirky, darkly whimsical tone. Read it in Issue 2.

THURSDAY THROWBACK
Everyone gets lonely sometimes. Whether you find yourself in a new place, far from familiar friends, or stuck so long in the same place that you’re struggling to meet new people, this recipe can help. You’ll host a tea party (a classic gathering perfect for socializing), and spend time with souls you may otherwise have never met.
A Recipe: Dandelion Tea for Lonely Souls
Jasmine Grace

Text is on a black background. Bottom right is an image of a dandelion.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Apr 21

This week's Tuesday Taster is a sharp bite of Eat by Lauren Paré. A striking use of stark minimalism, we loved how every word feels intentional and the thoughtful format of the piece. Find it in Issue 6.

TUESDAY TASTERS

they fed me

teaspoons

empty calories

lost dreams

the fear

swallowed

i present to you

this platter

Eat
Lauren Paré

The text is on a black background. The poem forms the shape of a teaspoon.

Underbelly Press@underbellypress· Apr 19

This week's Sunday Snippet offers a gritty slice of Blind As A Bat by Jesse Binger. @jessebinger.bsky.social A striking piece of noir, we especially loved the twist and the distinct narrative voice. Read it now in Issue 6.