Jana Zvibleman

Jana Zvibleman, the Poet Laureate of her own backyard, has collaborated poetically with sculptors, painters, theater types, buskers, and a flugelhornist. She is also a photographer, artist-on-the-loose, and teacher of writing and other life-saving techniques. The Bad Mothers stomped onto the stage in her theatrical adaptation in 2017. In Spring 2024, Jana was a featured performer on The Moth Storytelling Mainstage in Eugene, Oregon. Her poems, essays, stories, and images by Jana Z are available in literary journals, magazines, and other publications. Books by Jana Z include: NEW! IRELAND ish Affection is a theme throughout this travel memoir, as two American “blow-ins” zigzag through the land of redheads. For those who know Ireland, you’ll laugh, sigh, and nod. If you’ve yet to visit, you’ll be inspired to turn over even the quirky stones. If vicarious travel is your thing, these endearing stories will bring you on a journey that is foot-tapping, cliff-hanging, and lumpy-bedded. THE BAD MOTHERS The Milk-and-Cookies Mothers. The Much-Too-Busy Mothers. The Wire-Monkey-Surrogate-Mothers, providing milk but no fur . . . Every kind of mother, no matter how well-meaning, whether gracious or worried or big-hippo-critical, is likely to be blamed at some point for not doing it right. In this, their own story, our world’s so-called Bad Mothers escape the pointing fingers and come into themselves. Here is their long-overdue, hilarious celebration. “All of these bad mothers are me,” some women say. “I’m certainly not a bad mother,” others say. “But, let me tell you about my mother!” The author’s “get it?” musings enhance the important conversation about our stereotypes, expectations, and potential. BRUYOTE TALES Romping stories about the trickster figure Coyote, but in the guise of Bruce-Ote. The modern hero/scoundrel/force-of-nature/fool creates a sports car, cares for a new being, hangs out in a coffee shop, and flumoxes his family and friends in tale after tale. This collection can serve as inspiration for creating your own life fables based on classics. Available through Blurb EVER TAKE THE TRAIN TO NOWHERE? The whimsical, time-bending illustrations by Jana Zvibleman enhance the profound yet deceptively simple story by Phil Rubio. This is banter for all ages. Available through Blurb