NIKOLINA AI – I SWALLOW THE FUSE

Hua Ai (Nikolina) is an MA student in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London, and holds a BA in English Literature from King’s College London. A published feminist fiction writer in Mandarin since the age of fifteen, her English-language poetry has appeared in Crumps Barn Studio, The Mythic Circle, The Field Guide Magazine, The87 Press, Otoliths, Literary Yard, and Writing in a Woman’s Voice. Her work often explores spiritual animality, intersectional feminism, sensuality, and sisterhood. She is currently completing her debut literary fiction novel in English, centered on themes of fragility, disconnection, survival, and emotional reconstruction amid political unrest. She is a mom of five rescue cats.


Some pieces don’t arrive—they emerge. Narrow Hole Underground is one of those rare, unsettling works that feels more like a descent than a read. With stark, elegant language and an eerie pulse beneath each sentence, R. OLAF Rich drags us gently into the dark, where grief and memory twist like roots. There’s something deeply human buried in this piece—aching, quiet, and almost too raw to name. It doesn’t just echo. It haunts.

Truly a haunting and fabulous piece.


R. OLAF RICH – NARROW HOLE UNDERGROUND

R. Olaf Erich lives a quiet life in Wisconsin USA with his furry family, Shadow and Skyler. He has been writing for decades and has several dozens poems published. He is dedicated to writing more and sharing more of his poetry with the world.
Sharp-tongued and shadow-laced, This is Hades, Ladies walks the fine line between satire and sorrow—and does it in stilettos. Howard Osborne delivers a piece that is both theatrical and unnervingly intimate, with a voice that smirks even as it burns. It's myth draped in modernity, death with a drink in hand, and a chorus of laughter echoing in the underworld. Beneath the wit lies something ancient and aching, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

Sounds like a piece that is not made for a museum. Marvellous.

HOWARD OSBORNE – THIS IS HADES LADIES

Howard has written poetry and short stories, also a novel and several scripts. With poems published online and in print, he is a published author of a non-fiction reference book and several scientific papers many years ago. He is a UK citizen, retired, with interests in writing, music and travel.


Not every voice screams to be heard—some whisper, some linger, some crawl beneath the skin and make a quiet home there. These four equally chilling pieces each carved their own space into the midnight, refusing to be forgotten. Whether steeped in sorrow, steeped in surrealism, or stitched from shadows, every story brought a distinct rhythm to the anthology’s pulse.

They may not wear the crown, but make no mistake—these voices reign in their own accord:


ALEX ANDY PHUONG – HAUNTINGLY ENCHNATING NIGHTS

Alex Andy Phuong earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University—Los Angeles in 2015. He was a former Statement Magazine editor who currently writes about literature, film, and culture. He also earned an Associate of Arts in English from Pasadena City College in 2013, and tutored there. He has written hundreds of film reviews for MovieBoozer, and has contributed articles to Mindfray. His writing has appeared in The Bookends Review and The Society of Classical Poets. Emma Stone inspired Alex to submit writing actively to publications after hearing the Oscar-nominated song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the “Best Picture” nominee La La Land (2016). His poetry collection is An Altruistic (Cyberwit.net, 2020).

Currently residing in Alhambra, California, he now writes with the sincerest hope to inspire readers while fully supporting the ones who dare to pursue their dreams. The link to his blog is http://alexandyphuongengl492playlist.blogspot.com/


LORA BUTCHER – INDUSTRY ERROR

Lora Butcher was the moderator of a channel on Disqus called Poetry Park that had over 200,000 subscribers. It published poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and plays. She has been published in Chaos, Crisis, and Conflict, a Moonstone Press Anthology; Awakening Within, a Wingless Dreamer Anthology; The Heartland Review; Ink To Paper Vol. 8 & 9; Time Of Singing; and The Lyric. She won 1st place in a Tanka contest, 2nd place in the Linda Bannon Memorial contest 2023, second place in the Bright Star Award 2024, and second place in the Brick by Lego Brick contest 2025 of the Poetry Society of Indiana.


RYAN RAHMAN – SLEEP PARALYSIS

Ryan Rahman is a writer based in Orlando, Florida. His works have appeared or are set to appear in Beyond Words Magazine, The Stardust Review, Half and One, BarBar, Humans of The World, WILDsound Writing Festival (Festival for Poetry), Wingless Dreamer Publisher, Moonstone Arts Center, and Poets Choice. When he’s not writing, Ryan enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, and traveling.


LINA BUIVIDAVIČIŪTĖ – TRUMAN’S

Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet and literary critic. Lina is an author of three poetry books in Lithuanian language. Her poetry is published in "Matter", "Masters", “Proverse poetry prize" contest anthologies, "Drunk monkeys", "Beyond words", "The Dewdrop", "The limit experience", "Poets choice", "HOW", "Beyond queer words", "Maudlin House", "Cathexis northwest press", "Poetry online" magazines and "Versopolis" poetry platform. Upcoming publications will appear in “New millennium writings”, "Cathexis northwest press", "Quillkeepers Press", "The Stardust review" and “Beyond words” magazine.