midnight & indigo is a literary journal dedicated to short stories and narrative essays by Black women writers.
Featuring new short stories by 8 emerging and established Black women storytellers from the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean, our tenth issue weaves together tales of resilience, self-discovery, and the unpredictable nature of the human experience, inviting readers to explore the intricate threads that connect us all.
Contributors include: Michelle Enehiwealu Iruobe, Cieara Estelle, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, Daven McQueen, Sithulisiwe. A. Wabatagore, Joyce Winters-Henderson, Naomi Scherelle and Ariana Tucker
"Soulmate Scouting" by Michelle Enehiwealu Iruobe explores the evolving relationship between Precious and her cousin Cynthia, leading to a transformative journey of self-awareness. Cieara Estelle's "Homecoming" follows Patience as she returns home with her young daughter, only to discover that the life she left behind has drastically changed. And in "Moving On" by Sandra Jackson-Opoku, a writer finds unexpected romance on a Caribbean Island press tour.
But it's not all romance and self-discovery. In "10 Ways to Be Happy, According to Science" by Daven McQueen, a narrator navigates the chaos of her late twenties, from queer dating to workplace woes, as the world around her shifts in strange and unpredictable ways. In "Things Fall Apart" by Sithulisiwe. A. Wabatagore, Tanaka's struggle with self-isolation pushes her to confront her fears and rediscover the outside world.
In Joyce Winters-Henderson's "South Memphis Medusa," the strain that accompanied Cassandra Johnson's position as the minister's wife caused her to commit serious transgressions. She is awakened to the knowledge that few people are completely innocent, and our wrongdoings are rarely completely unforgivable. And in "On Being Claimed" by Naomi Scherelle, a woman embarks on a daring journey to the great river in search of self-discovery amid bags of mysterious items.
Finally, in "A Bird in the Hand" by Ariana Tucker, a young woman healing from a miscarriage finds purpose in nursing an injured bird back to health.
With a diverse range of Black women's voices and powerful storytelling, this issue is not to be missed.