Sumiko Saulson's Blog
October 2, 2025
My Year in Poetry! Nine Anthologies I’m In.
Here is a round of the collections, anthologies, and magazines I’ve had poetry published in over the past year (it includes two December 2024 publications and the rest are 2025 to date). Proud to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful editors and to be a part of so many important, amazing, creative, fun and relevant works. Here are what they are and where to find them:
“The Bones of My Poetry Crack,” in the StokerCon Souvenir Anthology, Burial Day Books, June 2025, edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236598978-stokercon-2025-souvenir-anthology
“Monstrous,” “Ghost in my Heart,”, “A Consumption of Cancer” and “Heartbreaker,” in The Horror Zine Magazine Fall 2025, The Horror Zine Books, August 12, 2025,, edited by Jeani Rector https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Zine-Magazine-Fall-2025/dp/B0FM8453H4/
“My Ghosts Have Dreams,” This Way Lies Madness (Beyond and Within), Flame Tree Collections, October 14, 2025, edited by Lee Murray and Dave Jeffery
https://www.amazon.com/This-Lies-Madness-Beyond-Within/dp/180417906X
“A Rise in Red” in Nightmerica: Corruptions of the American Dream, Dragon’s Roost Press, July 4, 2025, edited by Amanda Worthington
https://www.amazon.com/Nightmerica-Corruptions-American-Amanda-Worthington/dp/1956824685
“Canticle of the Cosmic Vampire,” in Spacefunk!, MVmedia, LLC, January 25, 2025, edited by Milton Davis https://www.mvmediaatl.com/product-page/spacefunk
“Heal Me With Your Purr,” in Black Cat Tales: An Anthology of Black Cats, Black Cat Publishing, June 2025 edited by Francesca Maria and Mark S Causey https://geni.us/blackcattales
“When We Laid Down Our Arms” in Don’t Ask, Ghosts Tell: An LGBTQ+ Horror Anthology, Tundra Swan Press, June 2025 edited by Vince Liaguno and Sirrah Medeiros https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Ask-Ghosts-Tell-Anthology/dp/1965712010/
“The Must of Your Body Covers Me” in Dark Spores: Stories We Tell After Midnight Volume 4, December 2024, edited by Carol Gyzander and Rachel a Brune
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Spores-Stories-After-Midnight/dp/1952388155/
“Should I Worry Myself To Death?” in Sleeve of Hearts edited by Lindsey Goddard
https://www.amazon.com/Sleeve-Hearts-Lindsey-Goddard-ebook/dp/B0DRP7S8FJ
July 28, 2025
Throwback Press Clip from 1987!
From the Tenderloin Times, October 1987
Demonic Art Possesses the 509
by Preston Brady HI
Art was frightening, so scary that I some passers-by were afraid to enter, ^even in broad daylight. But three neighborhood artists, Mars, Saito, and Sumiko Saulson weren’t about to settle for simply hanging some paintings on the walls. They completely transformed the 509 Cultural Center on Ellis Street into a live museum in the group show, “A Haunting Collection of Art Overshadowed by the Macabre.”
These three Hospitality House art students set the mood for their September 20 exhibition with ghostly music. On a small stage, each artist had designed what resembled an altar. Watched over by a faceless mannequin in a black dress, the altars included candles, incense, brass goblets, and chains. Saito’s altar, entitled “Isabella’s Hair,” even included what appeared to be real human hair.
Saulson’s altar was entitled “The Altar of the Fickle Worshipper,” and Mars’ was called “Past, Present and Future in a Roundabout Way.”
However dramatic the overall presentation of the show, some of the paintings succeeded in their own right. Saito’s “Gates to the Beyond” is a stunning rainbow of pastels blending water, sky and crescent moon in a series of three panels.
My favorite piece was Saito’s “Isabella Sands,” a beautiful, realistic pastel on a par with the work of well known Tenderloin artist Rose Linda. According to Saito, “Isabella Sands was a woman who in 1735 was accused of being a witch, but the truth of that matter was the family was very poor. So in order that their daughter be able to show herself worthy in society, she learned from old manuscripts she had found.”
Other outstanding pieces included “Face,” “Victim,” “Paisley Hell,” and “Jesus in the Infrared Garden,” by Sumiko Saulson, and “Phoenix Enigma,” by Mars.
June 30, 2025
Come See Me at BayCon!
Here’s my BayCon Panel Schedule:
January 23, 2025
The Green Hornet & Kato: Detroit Noir City Kickstarter Launching Soon!
Greetings Denizens of the Night:
It is with delight that I share the good news that we’re about 10 days out from the launch of the Kickstarter for The Green Hornet & Kato: Detroit Noir City, a new anthology from Moonstone, edited David Boop, featuring new stories with the heroes of print, comic books, radio, and television The Green Hornet & Kato, along with the usual cast of characters and some all new ones you’re sure to love.
I am so proud that my story, Blind Pig Shakedown, which centers the African American civil rights movement and takes place during the Long Hot Summer of 1967 against the backdrop of the 12th Street Riots, will appear alongside stories by Timothy Zahn & Kevin J. Anderson, Matthew Baugh, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Mary Fan, Michael Haspil, Megan Mackie, Kim May, James A. Moore, and Bill Willingham
The hard-hitting story takes place in the muggy days ramping up to the riot, and puts DA Frank Scanlon, the Green Hornet and Kato up front and center during the historic events and well-documented racial profiling and police corruption that fueled the riots.Above – along with the Green Hornet logo – are Creative Commons images from the 1967 Detroit Riots, which started out at a speakeasy known as a blind pig. Photo credits are US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phil Cherner, and Sekai.
The Green Hornet & Kato: Detroit Noir City also features a stunning cover by Matt Wagner, a legendary artist in the world of comics. STAY TUNED FOR THE OFFICIAL COVER REVEAL!
Follow the campaign TODAY and JOIN US for Detroit Noir where the Green Hornet and Kato will have their newest adventures brought to you by some of the best authors of this century. The campaign will be opening soon with some great rewards!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/greenhornet/green-hornet-noir
August 3, 2024
My Schedule at Necronomicon!
Friday August 16, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Gender and Weird Fiction, Gender As Weird Fiction — Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor.
A discussion of the intersection of gender identity and presentation with weird fiction, film, gaming, and arts. Panelists: Juicy Garland, Khôra Martel (M), Sumiko Saulson, Trisha Wooldridge
Saturday August 17, 9:30 – 10:45 AM
Freaky Black Art: History and Contributions of Black Women and Black Nonbinary Authors in Horror and the Weird – Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor
Panelists discuss the history and contributions of Black Nonbinary and Black Women writers to horror and weird fiction from the Harlem Renaissance to today, highlighting major authors, trends, and milestones. Conversations will focus on Afrosurrealism, the politics of the racial weird, and how key figures influence (or don’t influence) their work. Panelists: Paula D. Ashe (M), Michelle Renee Lane, Hysop Mulero, Zin E. Rocklyn, Sumiko Saulson, Sheree Renée Thomas
Saturday August 17, 2:00 – 3:15 PM
Transgressive Horror and Weird Fiction – Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor
Panelists discuss the history and significance of transgressive fiction, a movement that rejects societal conventions and portrays behavior and ideas that may shock or disturb, tracing the lineage of the transgressive with an emphasis on weird and horror fiction from the 1980s to present. Panelists: Paula D. Ashe, Matthew Cheney (M), Nicole Cushing, Scott Dwyer, Billy Martin, Sumiko Saulson, LC von Hessen
Saturday August 17, 5:00 – 6:15 PM
AUTHOR READINGS — Narragansett Bayview Room, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor
POETRY BLOCK: Adam Bolivar, Billy Martin, Branden O’Brien, Sumiko Saulson, Brian Thao Worra, Meg Smith
I’ll let you know when I get my book signing slot…
July 12, 2024
My schedule at Readercon!
Here’s my schedule for Readercon!
Convincing Your Book Club to Read Speculative Fiction (Friday—today!—at 1pm in Salon A)
EuroDivergence: BIPOC in Community Discuss Alternative Storytelling (Friday 7pm)
Solo reading on Friday 8pm, Blue Hills
Beyond Afrofuturism (Saturday at 1pm)
The Expanding Universe of Speculative Poetry (Saturday at 3pm)
July 6, 2024
Melancholia is Out!
Dark rhymes and deep thoughts send you on a dive through the void as you read this intensely personal poetry collection. Melancholia will send you into worlds both beyond and within, opening your eyes to truths often left untold in this world and challenging you with the harsh realities and injustices of life, without abandoning the darkly comforting magic that can be found in the shadows.
xr:d:DAFskwVf-vk:36,j:3155172400648062092,t:23082520Melancholia: A Book of Dark Poetry is out on Bludgeoned Girls Press.
You can pick it up at the Liminal Fiction booth this weekend at BayCon this weekend
Reviews: Angela Yuriko Smith on Ko-Fi wrote:
Sumiko Saulson has once again dared to submerge into dark and twisted realms to resurface with new poems to challenge. Nothing is taboo in this exploration of the mind and what makes us kick, mourn and find the melancholia that waits for us all. Saulson’s poetry invites us to confront the things we try not to think about and embrace the specters within. An intensely profoundly moving poetry collection that speaks of personal truths often left untold while fearlessly confronting our shadow self without flinching.
Rain Graves, Bram Stoker Award Winning author of Barfodder wrote:
“Sumiko Saulson’s storytelling reaches up from the depths of death, through the sediment of time, catching beams of light in Melancholia: A Book of Dark Poetry. From classic monsters, ghosts, dark fantasy, and urban fairytales to the pain and anguish of everyday modern and sci-fi life, there is much to read between the lines. Their personal struggles, strength and shedding light on tough issues are all beautiful, savory blood on the page.”
Buy on Amazon (Kindle) $1.99 Buy on Amazon (Paperback) – $11.99 Buy on Barnes & Noble (e-Book) $2.99 Buy on Barnes & Noble (Paperback) $11.99
June 23, 2024
My Final BayCon Schedule
BoF Urban Fantasy4 Jul 2024, Thursday 16:15 – 17:30, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)Birds of a Feather gathering for fans of the Urban Fantasy genre.
Julie, Sumiko Saulson
Which Dystopia Are We In?
Thursday 17:45 – 19:00, Sierra (Santa Clara Marriott)
Many say that 1984 came true, with constant surveillance…and an end to fact-checking as well! Likewise, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 was written about the decline in literacy, which has certainly arrived. Futurama even showed Amazon taking over the universe, but life going on just as before. Which other predictions have become much too real? And which are we escaping—at least, so far?Valerie Estelle Frankel (Silicon Valley Authors), Steve Frankel, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press), Peter N. Glaskowsky
Speed Friending Format: Event
4 Jul 2024, Thursday 22:00 – 23:15,
Main Stage (Santa Clara Marriott)There’s no expectation of setting up a date for anyone; this is just about getting to know a bunch of people one person at a time.
Gre, Julie, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
Writing Beyond Trauma5 Jul 2024, Friday 10:30 – 11:45, Writer’s Workshop (Santa Clara Marriott)
These are perilous times for many of us. As survivors or the loved ones of survivors, how has our experience affected us as writers? How do our stories transcend and heal? Escape? Educate our audience? Are there times when the pain is so great, the words simply will not come–what do we do when we have lost our voice and how do we use writing to regain it? In this panel, we will strive to listen respectfully and to leave time between each speaker to absorb more deeply what they have said.Deborah Ross (M) , L.M. Kate, Gregg Castro (Association of Ramaytush Ohlone), Maya Bohnhoff, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
A World of Pure Imagination: Mythopoeia Across Genres Format: Talk Show5 Jul 2024, Friday 12:00 – 13:15, Monterey (Santa Clara Marriott)Some stories, some worlds, become engines of meaning. Middle-Earth, Star Wars, the Dark Tower, the Cthulhu Mythos, Lord Dunsany’s Pegana, the Hamish Cycle, the various multiverses of superhero comics, and more all achieve a dense self-referentiality and complexity that allows us to derive new meaning from them that we can then apply to our lives and worlds, much the way myths and religions do. While mythopoeia is a function commonly understood in fantasy (thank you, John Ronald Rouel!), it is found just as often in science fiction, horror, slipstream, magical realism, and other forms of speculative literature. Let’s talk about mythopoeia beyond the obvious: our favorite (and sometimes unrecognized!) examples, how to achieve it, and what we can do with it.
Emily L. Flummox (M) , Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) Introduction to Interactive Literature
5 Jul 2024, Friday 14:45 – 16:00, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)The roots of interactive literature well predate the internet, starting in the 30s and 60s, and became mainstream in the 80s with the Choose Your Own Adventure books and the gamebook genre they inspired. With the explosion of interactive forms (such as TTRPGs) and interactive technologies (including videogames, the internet, and more), the genre has only exploded in the last fifty years. We will introduce you to the rich history, possibilities, and current examples of interactive literature!Emily L. Flummox, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) Imaginary Lovers: When Fantasy Intersects With Romance6 Jul 2024, Saturday 20:30 – 21:45, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)Fantasy and romance are distinct genres but from high fantasies like GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire to contemporary urban fantasies like LA Bank’s Vampire Huntress Series, couples like Aragorn and Arwen (Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings) play an important role in the telling of the story. Some of readers favorite romantic love interests come from the realm of fantasy and often aren’t human at all. What is that makes elves, vampires, werewolves, and otherkin so popular as romantic figures in literature?Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press), Emily L. Flummox, Emerian Rich (Self and HorrorAddicts) , Jean Martin (Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild)
Horror in TTRPGs6 Jul 2024, Saturday 22:00 – 23:15, Monterey (Santa Clara Marriott)TTRPGs have always included horror, and the genre has driven much of the innovation we have seen in the last five decades of TTRPGs, from Call of Cthulhu’s innovation of personality mechanics to Vampire: the Masquerade championing LARP play to Dread using Jenga as its task resolution mechanic. However, many find evoking it an elusive skill, whether at the table or in a game’s mechanics. In addition, it is one of the three genres of TTRPG most in need of robust bravery, consent, and safety practices. This panel will approach all of this and more!Eric “in the Elevator” Z Zuckerman (Kosher Ham Studios) , Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press), Emily L. Flummox
BoF Urban Fantasy4 Jul 2024, Thursday 16:15 – 17:30, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)Birds of a Feather gathering for fans of the Urban Fantasy genre.Julie, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
Which Dystopia Are We In?4 Jul 2024, Thursday 17:45 – 19:00, Sierra (Santa Clara Marriott)Many say that 1984 came true, with constant surveillance…and an end to fact-checking as well! Likewise, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 was written about the decline in literacy, which has certainly arrived. Futurama even showed Amazon taking over the universe, but life going on just as before. Which other predictions have become much too real? And which are we escaping—at least, so far?Valerie Estelle Frankel (Silicon Valley Authors), Steve Frankel, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) , Peter N. Glaskowsky
Speed Friending Format: Event (usually Main Stage)4 Jul 2024, Thursday 22:00 – 23:15, Main Stage (Santa Clara Marriott)There’s no expectation of setting up a date for anyone; this is just about getting to know a bunch of people one person at a time.Gregg Castro (Association of Ramaytush Ohlone), Julie , Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
Writing Beyond Trauma
5 Jul 2024, Friday 10:30 – 11:45, Writer’s Workshop (Santa Clara Marriott)These are perilous times for many of us. As survivors or the loved ones of survivors, how has our experience affected us as writers? How do our stories transcend and heal? Escape? Educate our audience? Are there times when the pain is so great, the words simply will not come–what do we do when we have lost our voice and how do we use writing to regain it? In this panel, we will strive to listen respectfully and to leave time between each speaker to absorb more deeply what they have said.Deborah Ross (M) L.M. Kate , Gregg Castro (Association of Ramaytush Ohlone), Maya Bohnhoff, Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
A World of Pure Imagination: Mythopoeia Across Genres Format: Talk Show5 Jul 2024, Friday 12:00 – 13:15, Monterey (Santa Clara Marriott)Some stories, some worlds, become engines of meaning. Middle-Earth, Star Wars, the Dark Tower, the Cthulhu Mythos, Lord Dunsany’s Pegana, the Hamish Cycle, the various multiverses of superhero comics, and more all achieve a dense self-referentiality and complexity that allows us to derive new meaning from them that we can then apply to our lives and worlds, much the way myths and religions do. While mythopoeia is a function commonly understood in fantasy (thank you, John Ronald Rouel!), it is found just as often in science fiction, horror, slipstream, magical realism, and other forms of speculative literature. Let’s talk about mythopoeia beyond the obvious: our favorite (and sometimes unrecognized!) examples, how to achieve it, and what we can do with it.Emily L. Flummox (M) , Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press)
Introduction to Interactive Literature5 Jul 2024, Friday 14:45 – 16:00, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)The roots of interactive literature well predate the internet, starting in the 30s and 60s, and became mainstream in the 80s with the Choose Your Own Adventure books and the gamebook genre they inspired. With the explosion of interactive forms (such as TTRPGs) and interactive technologies (including videogames, the internet, and more), the genre has only exploded in the last fifty years. We will introduce you to the rich history, possibilities, and current examples of interactive literature!Emily L. Flummox , Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) Imaginary Lovers: When Fantasy Intersects With Romance6 Jul 2024, Saturday 20:30 – 21:45, Ponderosa (Santa Clara Marriott)Fantasy and romance are distinct genres but from high fantasies like GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire to contemporary urban fantasies like LA Bank’s Vampire Huntress Series, couples like Aragorn and Arwen (Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings) play an important role in the telling of the story. Some of readers favorite romantic love interests come from the realm of fantasy and often aren’t human at all. What is that makes elves, vampires, werewolves, and otherkin so popular as romantic figures in literature?Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) (sumikoska@yahoo.com), Emily L. Flummox (werd2thenerd@yahoo.com), Emerian Rich (Self and HorrorAddicts) (emzbox13@gmail.com), Jean Martin (Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild) (jean_p_martin@yahoo.com)Horror in TTRPGs6 Jul 2024, Saturday 22:00 – 23:15, Monterey (Santa Clara Marriott)TTRPGs have always included horror, and the genre has driven much of the innovation we have seen in the last five decades of TTRPGs, from Call of Cthulhu’s innovation of personality mechanics to Vampire: the Masquerade championing LARP play to Dread using Jenga as its task resolution mechanic. However, many find evoking it an elusive skill, whether at the table or in a game’s mechanics. In addition, it is one of the three genres of TTRPG most in need of robust bravery, consent, and safety practices. This panel will approach all of this and more!Eric “in the Elevator” Z Zuckerman (Kosher Ham Studios) (zuckermann@gmail.com), Sumiko Saulson (Mocha Memoirs Press) (sumikoska@yahoo.com), Emily L. Flummox (werd2thenerd@yahoo.com)
January 6, 2024
The Doormouse is Dreaming
Dark clouds settled around
the Hansen home
Frightened children ran up to their rooms.
Grandma barked out commands
to the older ones,
her shaky vibrato
rumbling with authority
“Lock the windows”
“Close the doors”
“Set the sugarbowl out in the foyer.”
The Doormouse peeped out
from under the sugar bowl lid
Where his dreamer’s gear
Was entirely hid
Blankets and pillows
All covered with down
Then he pulled his lid over
And gave way to dreaming
Over the garden,
The mighty clouds wept
While in the dreamhouse
The Doormouse slept
Building worlds with
His tiny mind
On handknit doilies
In sleep reclined
Little minds are quietly scheming
In the hidden world of sleep
You can’t erase the Doormouse dreaming
Of worlds and concepts thimble-deep
Grandma locks up her cupboards tight
And grips her cane with knuckles white
Prevent ye incursions of deeper meaning
Doormouse keep us safe tonight
In shallow waters puddle-wide
Safe from the full moon’s pull of tide
Face snuggled in his soft-fur hide
December 31, 2023
2023 in Writing, Sumiko Saulson
2023 in writing:
-THE RAT KING: A Book of Dark Poetry was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, and Elgin Award
-“Survivor,” a poem from THE RAT KING: A Book of Dark Poetry, tied for third place for the Dwarf Stars poetry award
– I was Toastmaster at MileHighCon and received a Toastmaster Award (my first GOH Appearance anywhere!)
– 160 BLACK WOMEN IN HORROR was released with the assistance of the incredible Kenya Moss-Dyme
– BLACK WOMEN IN HORROR MAGAZINE was released with the assistance of Kenya Moss-Dyme
– a BLACK WOMEN IN HORROR panel took place at StokerCon, and one took place at AfroComicCon
-“All Hail the Queen” a short story was published in HorrorZine’s Book of Monsters.
– “The Denounment of Freeze Dried Coffee” a short story was published in We’re Here: An Anthology of LGBT Horror
– “The Ballad of Faerie Garcia,” short story, In Trouble (Omnium Gatherum) edited by EF Schraeder and Elaine Schleiffer
– “A Confusion of the Gods,” a short story, was published Blackened Roots edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz and Tonia Ransom
– “The Dessicated Heart” was published in “Manor of Frights” edited by Emerian Rich
– the poems “The Queen of Death, Perplexed”. “Syndrome of the Impostor” and “Mercurial Creature” were published in The Horror Zine, November 2023 issue
– the comic zine AND WE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO BURY OUR DEAD was published on Dooky Zines
– the comic zine GHOST CAT IS BEST CAT was published on Dooky Zines
– the comic zine THE DRAIN MONSTER was published on Dooky Zines
