Synkroniciti had a number of wonderful essays submitted for the theme of “Audacity,” several of which will be featured in the issue. The finalists for the contest were two beautifully written memoir pieces. Donna Cameron’s “Sew to Speak” recounts standing up for herself against an authoritarian teacher in Home Economics class and how it enlarged her sense of self and forged a stronger bond with her mother. Martha Ellen Johnson’s “Getting Rid of the Books of a Dead Poseur II,” is a spiraling revelation of dark truth hidden in the book collection of the man who fathered her son during a brief relationship in the free love era of the 1960s. It was a hard decision, but we chose “Getting Rid of the Books of a Dead Poseur II.”
This is a marvelous essay. The form takes its shape from individual books in his collection: how they trigger Martha Ellen’s memory and shape her understanding of this enigmatic man–and how she disposes of them. Some books receive lighter sentences and are left where people who might enjoy them can find them, others (especially the philosophy and psychology texts), perceived as excusing his narcissism, are subjected to harsher treatment. The true plot of the story isn’t revealed at the onset but tumbles out as we rummage through the books. We don’t understand the depth of the darkness until the epilogue, although Martha Ellen provides veiled clues throughout. The experimental form and the way it spirals, cutting ever closer to the truth, makes “Getting Rid of the Books of a Dead Poseur II” a masterpiece. I’ll have more in her Artist Feature later this spring, including an excerpt.
Pre-order your copy of Synkroniciti’s “Audacity” issue, debuting online on March 15, 2026 here: Purchase Individual Issues – synkroniciti.
Martha Ellen Johnson is a retired social worker living in an old Victorian house on a hill on the Oregon coast. She has an MFA from Portland State University. Her poems and prose are published in various journals and online forums. She is thrilled to have survived her wild life and she writes all about it.