pieces of evidence
by Tara Roeder
- the testimony of a hospital nurse who saw it happen
- one can of peas separated from the rest
- a scrawl on an old envelope
- the gardener’s bootprint
- the gentle gossip of an elderly bishop
- the way simon gasped when the engagement was announced
- the broken candlestick was replaced without notice
- rose’s sly look
- two false confessions
- it couldn’t have been the fish paste, for that was purchased on tuesday
Tara Roeder is an Associate Professor of Writing Studies in New York City. Her poetry has appeared or will appear in e ratio, THRUSH, Crab Fat Literary Magazine, and Blood Lotus, and her co-edited collection on writing pedagogy was recently published by Parlor Press.
What surprising, fascinating stuff can you tell us about the origin, drafting, and/or final version of “pieces of evidence”? It’s probably not that surprising, but “pieces of evidence” springs from my life-long obsession with Agatha Christie. I wanted to create the skeleton of an investigation that invites readers to imagine their own cozy murder mystery plots.
Check out the write-up of the journal in The Writer.
Matter Press recently released titles from Meg Boscov, Abby Frucht, Robert McBrearty, Tori Bond, Kathy Fish, and Christopher Allen. Click here.
Matter Press is now offering private flash fiction workshops and critiques of flash fiction collections here.
Submissions
Poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction/prose poetry submissions are now closed. The reading period for standard submissions opens again September 15, 2025. Submit here.
Upcoming
06/29 • Chao Wang
07/06 • Adrian Potter
07/13 • Lissa Staples
07/20 • Emily Kingery
07/27 • Eipsita Kumari
08/03 • Ryan McGeeney
08/10 • Suzanne Martinez
08/17 • Courtney LeBlanc
08/24 • Barbara Diehl
08/31 • Richard Hurst
09/07 • Michael Okafor
09/14 • TBD
09/21 • TBD
09/28 • TBD