Catharina Coenen
@catharinacoenen.bsky.social
Bio Prof. Essayist. Books, plants, dogs.
First essay collection on family, fascism, science, and war coming out from Restless Books on October 28.
https://www.catharinacoenen.com
First essay collection on family, fascism, science, and war coming out from Restless Books on October 28.
https://www.catharinacoenen.com
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
PEN America Reveals Literary Award Longlists https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/pen-america-reveals-literary-award-longlists-1/
PEN America Reveals Literary Award Longlists | Kirkus Reviews
The literary nonprofit will announce the winners of the prizes next March.
www.kirkusreviews.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
PEN America Reveals Literary Award Longlists https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/pen-america-reveals-literary-award-longlists-1/
Wow, I completely blipped over this last month—thanks again to @electricliterature.com for publishing this excerpt from UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE.
It’s one of those stories you wish weren’t relevant to the time we’re living in…
It’s one of those stories you wish weren’t relevant to the time we’re living in…
“When I ask my mother what it was like, in the orphanage, her face closes down, the way it always does when conversations drift toward the war.”
My Mother, My Aunt, and the Horrifying History of Psychiatric Hospitals Under Nazi Rule - Electric Literature
Each time Elfriede is hospitalized, my mother knows she’s forever behind those bars
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Wow, I completely blipped over this last month—thanks again to @electricliterature.com for publishing this excerpt from UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE.
It’s one of those stories you wish weren’t relevant to the time we’re living in…
It’s one of those stories you wish weren’t relevant to the time we’re living in…
Oh, wow, thanks @literaryhub.bsky.social for giving space to my Oma Lotte’s big dream to become a writer and to the kindness of a young tailor who fed and held her dream.
Let’s all nourish and defend a world where girls’ and women’s voices can ring loud and clear and free.
Let’s all nourish and defend a world where girls’ and women’s voices can ring loud and clear and free.
@catharinacoenen.bsky.social reflects on how Germany’s turbulent 20th century impacted her grandmother’s life.
A Young Woman and Her Literary Dreams, Caught in the Churn of German History
My grandmother dreamed of becoming a writer all her life. When she was a child, her mother, like many women in the workers’ quarters of Essen, Germany, took in lodgers, subletting a room in their a…
buff.ly
December 9, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Oh, wow, thanks @literaryhub.bsky.social for giving space to my Oma Lotte’s big dream to become a writer and to the kindness of a young tailor who fed and held her dream.
Let’s all nourish and defend a world where girls’ and women’s voices can ring loud and clear and free.
Let’s all nourish and defend a world where girls’ and women’s voices can ring loud and clear and free.
Tomorrow is Pub Day for UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE!
So happy to celebrate on my publisher’s home turf!
A lively conversation with students today and a reading snd discussion tomorrow —Big Thanks to Restless Books and the German Department at Amherst College for the invitation!
So happy to celebrate on my publisher’s home turf!
A lively conversation with students today and a reading snd discussion tomorrow —Big Thanks to Restless Books and the German Department at Amherst College for the invitation!
October 27, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Tomorrow is Pub Day for UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE!
So happy to celebrate on my publisher’s home turf!
A lively conversation with students today and a reading snd discussion tomorrow —Big Thanks to Restless Books and the German Department at Amherst College for the invitation!
So happy to celebrate on my publisher’s home turf!
A lively conversation with students today and a reading snd discussion tomorrow —Big Thanks to Restless Books and the German Department at Amherst College for the invitation!
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math
October 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math
When Kirkus Review sounds like they might have asked your mom about your memoir….
🙈😬🙈
🙈😬🙈
August 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
When Kirkus Review sounds like they might have asked your mom about your memoir….
🙈😬🙈
🙈😬🙈
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Don't self-reject! Submit your manuscript to the 2025 Literary Awards Program, judged by @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social, for a chance to have your book published!
The deadline to enter is 9/15 and our entry fee is $30. Make sure to read our full guidelines: buff.ly/sj20Ri1
The deadline to enter is 9/15 and our entry fee is $30. Make sure to read our full guidelines: buff.ly/sj20Ri1
August 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Don't self-reject! Submit your manuscript to the 2025 Literary Awards Program, judged by @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social, for a chance to have your book published!
The deadline to enter is 9/15 and our entry fee is $30. Make sure to read our full guidelines: buff.ly/sj20Ri1
The deadline to enter is 9/15 and our entry fee is $30. Make sure to read our full guidelines: buff.ly/sj20Ri1
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
TONIGHT!
Join us for the virtual book launch of @writesloud.bsky.social collection: FIRST KICKING, THEN NOT (@stanchion.bsky.social)
Readers include: @coocoo4afropuffs.bsky.social, @toddedillard.bsky.social, @mrswhitehouse74.bsky.social, and me!
Register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/hannah-gri...
Join us for the virtual book launch of @writesloud.bsky.social collection: FIRST KICKING, THEN NOT (@stanchion.bsky.social)
Readers include: @coocoo4afropuffs.bsky.social, @toddedillard.bsky.social, @mrswhitehouse74.bsky.social, and me!
Register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/hannah-gri...
August 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
TONIGHT!
Join us for the virtual book launch of @writesloud.bsky.social collection: FIRST KICKING, THEN NOT (@stanchion.bsky.social)
Readers include: @coocoo4afropuffs.bsky.social, @toddedillard.bsky.social, @mrswhitehouse74.bsky.social, and me!
Register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/hannah-gri...
Join us for the virtual book launch of @writesloud.bsky.social collection: FIRST KICKING, THEN NOT (@stanchion.bsky.social)
Readers include: @coocoo4afropuffs.bsky.social, @toddedillard.bsky.social, @mrswhitehouse74.bsky.social, and me!
Register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/hannah-gri...
Unexploded Ordnance has a cover!
August 2, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Unexploded Ordnance has a cover!
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
You are cordially invited to our Anti-Prime Sale, where every purchase will financially support bookstores, NOT billionaires 🥳
July 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
You are cordially invited to our Anti-Prime Sale, where every purchase will financially support bookstores, NOT billionaires 🥳
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Things about mainstream publishing I wish more people knew:
1) The NY Times Bestseller List is a marketing list, not an accurate list of the best-selling books for that period.
🧵
1) The NY Times Bestseller List is a marketing list, not an accurate list of the best-selling books for that period.
🧵
June 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Things about mainstream publishing I wish more people knew:
1) The NY Times Bestseller List is a marketing list, not an accurate list of the best-selling books for that period.
🧵
1) The NY Times Bestseller List is a marketing list, not an accurate list of the best-selling books for that period.
🧵
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Psst…we’re reading full-length poetry manuscripts now. Yes, we read them all. Yes, all submitters hear back from us before we announce selections. No, there’s no mandatory reading fee. 📚💙🌊🌊
riverriverbooks.org/editors/subm...
riverriverbooks.org/editors/subm...
May 6, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Psst…we’re reading full-length poetry manuscripts now. Yes, we read them all. Yes, all submitters hear back from us before we announce selections. No, there’s no mandatory reading fee. 📚💙🌊🌊
riverriverbooks.org/editors/subm...
riverriverbooks.org/editors/subm...
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
I’m wrapping up Pride Month in my newsletter with this comic on bisexuality, myths and stereotypes, bi erasure, and what my bisexuality means to me. Happy Pride, everyone! Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Read the full comic: aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/my-letter
Read the full comic: aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/my-letter
June 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I’m wrapping up Pride Month in my newsletter with this comic on bisexuality, myths and stereotypes, bi erasure, and what my bisexuality means to me. Happy Pride, everyone! Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Read the full comic: aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/my-letter
Read the full comic: aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/my-letter
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
The Brevity Blog is a separate editorial team & pub than the literary magazine. As the Brevity lit mag's managing editor, I can say we do not & will never consider essays written—even partially—by LLMs. Ethics aside, we consider AI anathema to what makes art worth making & stories worth telling
June 22, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The Brevity Blog is a separate editorial team & pub than the literary magazine. As the Brevity lit mag's managing editor, I can say we do not & will never consider essays written—even partially—by LLMs. Ethics aside, we consider AI anathema to what makes art worth making & stories worth telling
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Hey, I'm accepting book pitches for @barrelhouse.bsky.social for our new nonfiction series, For What It's Worth. Book-length essays (25-30K words) on a pop cultural obsession, ideally with a personal angle that makes the book something only you could write.
Barrelhouse - Book Pitches: For What It's Worth (CNF)
We're accepting pitches for a new book series, For What It's Worth: short (25-30K words) works of creative nonfiction that have some pop-cultural "thing" at their center and combine elements of memoir...
barrelhouse.submittable.com
June 19, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Hey, I'm accepting book pitches for @barrelhouse.bsky.social for our new nonfiction series, For What It's Worth. Book-length essays (25-30K words) on a pop cultural obsession, ideally with a personal angle that makes the book something only you could write.
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
The older I get, the more helping other people matters to me. We are all in this together. We are all we have. Kindness and compassion are the only weapons that will not chip against the armor of injustice and callousness that surrounds the modern world.
We can be and do better.
We can be and do better.
June 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The older I get, the more helping other people matters to me. We are all in this together. We are all we have. Kindness and compassion are the only weapons that will not chip against the armor of injustice and callousness that surrounds the modern world.
We can be and do better.
We can be and do better.
Ten seconds of Italy…
June 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Ten seconds of Italy…
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Review our full submission guidelines here: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
We look forward to receiving your work on seeds! 💚
We look forward to receiving your work on seeds! 💚
Submission Guidelines
Inspire change by submitting your work and sharing your ideas on nature and the human experience.
humansandnature.org
May 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Review our full submission guidelines here: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
We look forward to receiving your work on seeds! 💚
We look forward to receiving your work on seeds! 💚
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
For our 2025 open call for submissions to Humans & Nature Press Digital, we’ll be welcoming essays, poetry, & artwork on the theme of seeds. 🌱
Submissions will be open June 24 thru July 15. Contributors receive an honorarium of $500 upon publication.
Guidelines: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
Submissions will be open June 24 thru July 15. Contributors receive an honorarium of $500 upon publication.
Guidelines: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
May 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
For our 2025 open call for submissions to Humans & Nature Press Digital, we’ll be welcoming essays, poetry, & artwork on the theme of seeds. 🌱
Submissions will be open June 24 thru July 15. Contributors receive an honorarium of $500 upon publication.
Guidelines: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
Submissions will be open June 24 thru July 15. Contributors receive an honorarium of $500 upon publication.
Guidelines: humansandnature.org/submission-g...
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
In other news, if you'd like a signed copy of one of my books or a critique of a short story, poem, first chapter, lmk! For critiques, we can work out an affordable rate. Very affordable.
May 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
In other news, if you'd like a signed copy of one of my books or a critique of a short story, poem, first chapter, lmk! For critiques, we can work out an affordable rate. Very affordable.
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Academics/artists, and writers (especially literary): What's your side hustle? Having teenagers is expensive and I need to score some extra cash. Having twin teens means expense(2)!
Choir trip: $400
Science trip for Feb (dep) $500
Prom for one who's going $50
Sports: $300
That's half a paycheck!
Choir trip: $400
Science trip for Feb (dep) $500
Prom for one who's going $50
Sports: $300
That's half a paycheck!
May 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Academics/artists, and writers (especially literary): What's your side hustle? Having teenagers is expensive and I need to score some extra cash. Having twin teens means expense(2)!
Choir trip: $400
Science trip for Feb (dep) $500
Prom for one who's going $50
Sports: $300
That's half a paycheck!
Choir trip: $400
Science trip for Feb (dep) $500
Prom for one who's going $50
Sports: $300
That's half a paycheck!
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
Tonawanda Senecas oppose new rural data center: 'We do not want you as a neighbor' buffalonews.com/news/local/a... via @TheBuffaloNews
Tonawanda Senecas oppose new rural data center: 'We do not want you as a neighbor'
A $6.3 billion data center could be built in rural Genesee County beginning next year, despite fierce opposition from the neighboring Tonawanda Seneca Nation.
buffalonews.com
May 13, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Tonawanda Senecas oppose new rural data center: 'We do not want you as a neighbor' buffalonews.com/news/local/a... via @TheBuffaloNews
May 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Catharina Coenen
"Women with red hair, she said, are fearless. I think of the flood and the ships sinking all around her."
My lord, I love this piece of writing by @jesselkercheval.bsky.social so much! 💙💙💙
My lord, I love this piece of writing by @jesselkercheval.bsky.social so much! 💙💙💙
Thank you CRAFT Literary and @jacqdoyle.bsky.social Doyle for publishing my essay, "Drawing My Mother"! Click on the "Author's Note" medallion on the right side to read my thoughts about writing this essay! www.craftliterary.com/2025/05/07/d...
Drawing My Mother by Jesse Lee Kercheval - CRAFT
My mother’s been dead since 1982, two thirds of my life. Today, I am perched on a stool at a table in the Comics Room at the University of Wisconsin–Madison trying to remember what she looked like so ...
www.craftliterary.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"Women with red hair, she said, are fearless. I think of the flood and the ships sinking all around her."
My lord, I love this piece of writing by @jesselkercheval.bsky.social so much! 💙💙💙
My lord, I love this piece of writing by @jesselkercheval.bsky.social so much! 💙💙💙
When one of your students is seriously into botany, gift-giving, and puns…. 😆
❤️ *Perfect* office decor! ❤️
❤️ *Perfect* office decor! ❤️
May 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
When one of your students is seriously into botany, gift-giving, and puns…. 😆
❤️ *Perfect* office decor! ❤️
❤️ *Perfect* office decor! ❤️