Narcissus by Róisín O'Grady – The Milk House Since she stopped attending mass, Kitty’s mother has taken to haunting her. But only on Sundays, the smug bitch. It was a hard decision to stop attending mass as Kitty’s contribution is duly needed in...

This week on The Milk House:

A haunting turns problematic, in the short story "Narcissus" by Róisín O'Grady.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/narcissus-by...

We're excited to announce that @minnesotawill.bsky.social is the judge of the 2026 #BestinRuralWriting Contest.

Will is the author of Sweet Land and Red Earth, White Earth (both turned into films), as well as many more great books.

Learn more about Will here:
www.themilkhouse.org/2026-best-in...

A Snake Named Snake by Daragh Fleming – The Milk House Daragh Fleming writes about an unusual pet and how it helped him understand his youth in the essay "A Snake Named Snake."

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

A boy tries to make sense of his unusual pet in the essay "A Snake Named Snake" by Daragh Fleming.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/a-snake-name...

Wild Strawberries by William Gary Cole – The Milk House In the essay "Wild Strawberries" by William Gary Cole, a boy and his mother help each other negotiate the world around them.

This week on The Milk House:

A young man on the verge of change gets valuable advice from his mother, in William Gary Cole's essay "Wild Strawberries."

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/wild-strawbe...

Rained Off by Michael Fitzgerald – The Milk House A fatal accident leaves a quiet man with plenty to think about in the short story "Rained Off" by Michael Fitzgerald.

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

An Irish man has to decide how an unfortunate incidence is going to shape him, in the short story "Rained Off" by Michael Fitzgerald.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/rained-off-b...

Fields and Streams by Sara Fleming – The Milk House Sarah Fleming finds a moment of piece away from the responsibilities she has suddenly been tasked with, in her excerpt "Field and Streams."

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

After tasked with a serious responsibility, @sarafleming.bsky.social takes a moment to rest and reflect, in her excerpt "Fields and Streams."

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/fields-and-s...

American Testament by Michael Lundy – The Milk House A community comes together to take care of one of its biggest problems, in Michael Lundy's short story "American Testament."

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

Rural community resilience takes on a new meaning, in the short story "American Testament" by Michael Lundy.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/american-tes...

I'm proud of what Samantha Rogers, Alma Antón, Madelyn Pendry and I put together. There are some amazing rural voices in this collection.

If you want to support #TheMilkHouse and get to read some memorable writing, get your copy here:

www.themilkhouse.org/product/2026...

Winter on the Farm: A Memoir by Tom Milburn – The Milk House Tom Milburn reflects on the season and his childhood growing up in snow in his essay "Winter on the Farm: A Memoir."

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

A childhood in snow is pondered in Tom Milburn's essay "Winter on the Farm: A Memoir."

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/winter-on-th...

From Dairy Farm to Author: The Story Behind Ryan Dennis's The Milk House YouTube video by Successful Farming

The editor of The Milk House, @penofryandennis.bsky.social, talks about what the journal has been up to, as well as his memoir #BarnGothic in this interview with Successful Farming.

Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TN-...

Pour Three Fingers and Grab me a Beer by Dan Tamblyn – The Milk House In "Pour Me Three Fingers and Grab me a Beer" by Dan Tamblyn, a father and son make the most of the time they have left together.

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

A father and son's final moments together recounts their familial past, in Dan Tamblyn's short story "Pour Three Fingers and Grab Me a Beer."

www.themilkhouse.org/pour-three-f...

In Long Exhale and Other Poetry by Nancy Huxtable Mohr – The Milk House "Our farm in long exhale—heat beats harder / on these acres. Fickle rain. Dormant acres / of wild grass..." Nancy Huxtable Mohr.

In July, a rush to get dry harvest in the barn
before a summer storm, our family of girls
pirouetted from housework to hay wagons...

This week on #TheMilkHouse: "In Long Exhale and Other Poetry" by Nancy Huxtable Mohr.

www.themilkhouse.org/in-long-exha...

Congratulations to @williamburtch.bsky.social on an excellent collection of rural short stories, titled #OtherwiseWretched.

Available from Sunbury Press: www.sunburypress.com/collections/...

Nameless by Daniel Heila – The Milk House Young boys are forced to confront serious matters sooner than they expected, in the short story "Nameless" by Daniel Heila.

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

Two young boys are forced to reckon with adult matters, in the short story "Nameless" by Daniel Heila.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/nameless-by-...

Made in Milk and Other Poems by James Walton – The Milk House "The cattle have grazed through the wait / anxious at the gate getting noisy..." Enjoy three poems by James Walton.

"The cattle have grazed through the wait
anxious at the gate getting noisy..."

This week on #TheMilkHouse: Made in Milk and Other Poems by James Walton.

Read them here: www.themilkhouse.org/made-in-milk...

Rats in the Corncrib By Brian Reisinger – The Milk House They sure didn’t need her there—Beulah knew that without being told. Hunched over the steering wheel of her Buick, peering through the haze as the wipers whisked the snow from her windshield, she coul...

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

A farming family contends with a changing world, in Brian Reisinger's short story "Rats in the Corncrib."

Read it here:

www.themilkhouse.org/rats-in-the-...

Photo of a computer keyboard, a ballpoint pen, and a copy of the 2026 Best in Rural Writing, including Don Stewart's essay "Rebounders" about city dwellers returning to the country

I made the cut! (Not a bad way to start the new year.)
#MilkHouse #BestInRuralWriting #Anthology #Rebounders
www.themilkhouse.org/anthology @themilkhouse.bsky.social

The results of the 2025 Best in Rural Writing Contest are in.

Who has won the grand prize and title of overall Best in Rural Writing, presented by #TheMilkHouse and @dailyyonder.bsky.social?

www.themilkhouse.org/2025-best-in...

2025 Rural Writing Contest Best Essay: 'God, Guns, and Baseball' | The Daily Yonder Editor’s note: The third annual “Best in Rural Writing Contest” was presented by the rural literary journal The Milk House with promotional support from

We're grateful to @dailyyonder.bsky.social for publishing the finalists of the #BestinRuralWriting Contest. Vote for overall winner on #TheMilkHouse's contest page.

Read the nomination for Best Essay, "God, Guns, and Baseball" by Lena (Sunada-Matsumura) Newlin.

dailyyonder.com/2025-rural-w...

2025 Rural Writing Contest Best Short Story: 'The Escapee’s Lover' | The Daily Yonder Editor’s note: The third annual “Best in Rural Writing Contest” was presented by the rural literary journal The Milk House with promotional support from

Thanks to @dailyyonder.bsky.social for publishing the finalists of the #BestinRuralWriting Contest. Vote for overall winner on The Milk House's contest page.

Read the judge's choice for Best Short Story, "The Escapee's Lover" by Dennis McFadden:

dailyyonder.com/2025-rural-w...

On Killing by Andrew Sharp – The Milk House Andrew Sharp approaches death on both the conceptual and practical level, trying to negotiate its necessity in modern life.

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

Andrew Sharp (@asharpwriter.bsky.social) teases apart a delicate but universal issue, in his essay "On killing."

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/on-killing-b...

Announcement!

We can now share which entries @jamesgwriter.bsky.social has selected as Best Essay and Best Short Story in the 2025 #BestinRuralWriting Contest.

Visit themilkhouse.org to read or listen to both entries and lend your vote for the overall prize of $500!

A Good Visit Home by Dan Tamblyn – The Milk House A return to the past brings back some unresolved business, in Dan Tamblyn's short story "A Good Visit Home."

This week on #TheMilkHouse: a man returns to where he grew up with unsettled business on his mind.

Enjoy "A Good Visit Home" by @dantamblyn.bsky.social.

www.themilkhouse.org/a-good-visit...

His mostly bald head bobbled as he talked
and the halting words waited like the holes
to be threaded...

This week on #TheMilkHouse: "Baling Hay with Glen" by Joseph Powell.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/baling-hay-w...

Bug by John Whittier Treat – The Milk House An annual camping trip causes one brother to start thinking about what lies ahead of them, in "Bug" by John Whittier Treat.

This week on #TheMilkHouse:

a hunting trip for brothers turns into a comment on mortality, in the short story "Bug" by John Whittier Treat.

Read it here: www.themilkhouse.org/bug-by-john-...

Every so many years I stumble onto a poetry collection that makes me excited about the possibilities of language again.

#ThisMuchVery by @hiramlarew.bsky.social has surprising turns, a unique voice, and is a celebration without a hint of sentimentality.

Highly recommended.

Cover Reveal Alert!

The Milk House is delighted to unveil the cover of its latest project – the 2026 Best in Rural Writing Anthology.

Coming this winter!

2025 Best in Rural Writing Contest: Shortlist – The Milk House The 2025 Best in Rural Writing Shortlist includes five essays and five short stories by writers from around the world.

The shortlists for the 2025 #BestinRuralWriting Contest is live!

Congrats to the 10 shortlisted authors selected by @jamesgwriter.bsky.social. He had tough choices to make!

And thanks to everyone who submitted. You deserve credit for lifting the rural voice.

www.themilkhouse.org/2025-best-in...

Announcement:

Tuesday, October 15th (tomorrow) the 2025 #BestinRuralWriting Contest shortlist, as chosen by judge @jamesgwriter.bsky.social, will be announced on The Milk House website at 1pm GMT/ 8am EST.

Stop by for the results!

Your Fall Reading List for a Better Food Future Covering everything from soil to supper, these 26 inspiring books on food, farming, and climate are must-reads this fall.

It's great to see that #BarnGothic, my upcoming memoir about the dairy industry (November 13th), is listed in @foodtank.bsky.social's Fall Recommended Reads!

foodtank.com/news/2025/10...