“The Girl Who Died Twice” by Sharyn Kolberg

They say she was buried alive. Rufina Cambaceres was a great beauty on the eve of her nineteenth birthday when a friend whispered in her ear a terrible secret: Rufina’s beloved fiancé was having an affair with Rufina’s own mother. Rufina collapsed to the floor. Three doctors declared her dead; they did not know her heart still beat, however slowly.

She was interred until a few days later, when workers heard her scream. When they unburied her there were scratches on her face and on the coffin lid from her attempts to escape. They were too late to save her. Her mother then had her laid above ground in a white marble mausoleum, her coffin behind a glass wall so that if the lid should ever rise again, everyone could see . . .

“Yoga Bitch” by Kathleen McElligott

I’ve maxed out my credit cards. I got fired. I only leave the house for organic food—and yoga . . .

EVENT ALERT: The Half That’s Never Been Told launch event, featuring David Hinds of Steel Pulse!

In New York? Join us Wed., 3/4 at 7:00 PM to celebrate the release of The Half That’s Never Been Told!

Terry McMillan’s Introduction to Loving Donovan

To celebrate the release of Loving Donovan, the long-awaited reissue of Bernice L. McFadden’s classic novel, we’re pleased to share a new introduction written by Terry McMillan.

“Boarding School Drop-Off” by Leslie Martini

On September 11th of this year, we drove our thirteen-year-old daughter to a boarding school for children with learning differences.

It was the second-worst day in memory. The first was when she was three months old and the pediatrician told me she had fragile X syndrome . . .

“Lady Luck” by Narween Otto

“Mum! What did you do with my curling iron?”

Trinh’s voice tumbles down the staircase. There is an uncomfortable silence at the table as Leah avoids the glances of her friends . . .

“if you leave a twenty and a crackhead alone in your room, it’s your own damn fault!” by Eshu Bandele

I started by speed walking, then high-stepping, then flat-out mad dashing. I knew that my increasing anger was irrational.

Really, if you leave twenty bucks and a crackhead alone in your room, it’s your own damn fault! . . .

Spotlight on the NYU Creative Writing Program

On Friday, February 13, the NYU Creative Writing Program will feature Akashic authors Nelson George (The Lost Treasures of R&B), Bernice L. McFadden (Loving Donovan), and Arthur Nersesian (The Fuck-Up) as part of their Reading Series. Today, Akashic is thrilled to spotlight the NYU Creative Writing program.