Underneath The Juniper Tree | Children's Literature

What's The Big Announcement? A NEW WEBSITE!

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

You heard rightly, poppets. Underneath The Juniper Tree has moved to a bigger cemetery and we want you to join us. We are celebrating our brand new site with a giveaway, but you have to mosey on over to our new site to find out the details and how to enter. The prize is worth its weight in toes, I assure you.

See you all there! Click here to be swept over to our new abyss.

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Don't forget to check out our August Issue!

Blast from the Past - Rats Edition Winner!

2011-08-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Due to our AMAZING ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow and our GIVEAWAY!!!! We are announcing the winner today.

We got in some gruesomely gory submissions for you, chatz, and we were so impressed. Thank you for your inspiration!

Now. Our winner of our Blast from the Past: Rats Edition contest is......

Tonja Drecker! With her submission Invasion of the Rats. Aptly named, Tonja! And congratulations. Below is an excerpt from her creepily creative story:

We never saw them at all. They were much, much too sly. They stuck to the shadows, but we saw their bright eyes. And at night, after Mom had tucked me in bed, I could hear them scratching over my head.

To read the rest of this taunting tale you'll have to come back and check out our September Issue.

Just a reminder that we are accepting short story (2000 word max), poetry, limerick and art submissions all the time. Feeling creative? Send it our way! And don't forget to read all about our Submissions & Guidelines. Send us your creepiest, crawliest tales to junipertreelit@gmail.com

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Sunday Poetry: The Old Man of the Cape - Edward Lear & Ken Lamug

2011-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

There was an Old Man of the Cape,

Who possessed a large Barbary Ape;

Till the Ape one dark night, set the house on a light,

Which burned that Old Man of the Cape.

The Old Man of the Cape

Written by Edward Lear

Illustrated by Ken Lamug

Would you like to see your limerick or poem up on Sunday Poetry? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "Sunday Poetry" in the subject line.

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New Challenge - 11 Word Story

2011-08-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

We really want to challenge you this time. Write us a story, something haunting, creepy, scary, spooky, slithering. But you can only use 11 words. Do not distress! You can do this.

The girl tried to stand, but her leg wasn't there anymore.
Being invisible was the best thing of all, until it wasn't.
While eating the pages, Tex didn't see the 'T' with teeth.

Guidelines

The story must be 11 words in length, no more, no fewer. Not eleventy, not eleventeen, 11 words. ELEVEN!!!

Please send your entries to junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "11 Word Story" in the subject line or else your email will be eaten by the Spamster and never found again.

Deadline for submissions is Saturday, August 20. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 22.

For the name of your document please put your story/artwork name, underscore and your name. Ex: ToesForEating_MarjorieMerle.doc

You can submit your work as a Word document or stick it directly in the email to junipertreelit@gmail.com and please forgive us in advance if we don't write back to you immediately. Tex is fairly anal about reading and viewing everything we get. With your submission please tell us a little bit about yourself and please send us your website if you have one. If you don't have one, get one. They are free, you know.

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submissions & Guidelines page.

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Drill - Evan Heasman

2011-08-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

There was a young girl from seville
Who would run around with a drill
People would say
"She just wants to play"
Unaware her intent is to kill

Drill
Written & illustrated by Evan Heasman

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Blast from the Past: Rats Edition - TWO DAYS LEFT!

2011-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I can hear your pens scratching away. Two days until the deadline. Quickly, poppets, quickly!

In under 500 words, write us a piece inspired by this photo. Your piece can be poetry or a short story as long as it is under 500 words. If you can think of other creative ways to be inspired by this photo, go ahead and surprise us! The winner (or winners) of the challenge will be featured in the September issue!

Deadline for submission: Saturday, August 6. The winners will be announced Monday, August 8.

With your submission please put in the subject line "Blast from the Past - Rats Edition".

For the name of your document please put your story/artwork name, underscore and your name. Ex: ToesForEating_MarjorieMerle.doc

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submissions & Guidelines page.

We look forward to your creative mind-doodles!

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Toe Eaters - Ken Lamug

2011-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Friends. This is what will happen to you if you do not get your submissions in on time. Don't say I didn't warn you.

When it’s dark, all the little kids wonder
For the critters, they go out and plunder
They seek out at night, to have a good bite
All The toes that stick out of their covers

Toe Eaters
Written & illustrated by Ken Lamug

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August Issue

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's been a flurry of activity getting everyone's pieces clothed, brushed, fed and shoved into our August issue but we did it. Thank you to all the lovely people who put all their sweat and mostly blood into this issue. Thank you again to our Murder of Editors for taking their time to dissect each word. Thanks Tex for restraining of scaring off any contributors with your unappetizing diet.

My pleasure, darling.

Drum roll please!

Drrrrrrrummm roooollllllllllll

The August issue!

Open publication - Free publishing - More dark

UPDATE: To download a PDF of the issue, visit our bookshelf at http://issuu.com/underneaththejunipertree. Open the publication and underneath the issue is an option to download or print the issue.

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Sunday Poetry: The Cannibal and His Dog - Dawn Pisturino

2011-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Cannibal and His Dog

Written by Dawn Pisturino

Would you like to see your limerick or poem up on Sunday Poetry? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "Sunday Poetry" in the subject line.

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August issue comes out tomorrow!

A THRILLING Contest in Collaboration with Literary Asylum and Walden Pond Press!

2011-07-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

Ahh, my lovely, fleshy, ripe for the taking friends...

Marjorie is taking a nap so I snuck down from the attic to try this blogging thing for myself. Nom Nom! I like it so far!

So you want something exciting? Something more exciting than we've already given you over the past few months? You greedy toe suckers! That's alright. I'm right there with you. So here you go:

Our devilish friend D.M. Cunningham over at Literary Asylum, in cahoots with Walden Pond Press and yours truly, is hosting a thrilling contest to die for!

Here's the low down: In celebration of the upcoming release of Walden Pond Press' Guys Read: THRILLER (Aug 2011), we want YOU to give us your best opening paragraph (or two) of the most thrilling, terrifying, spooky, creepy, and crazy MG/YA story you can muster.

Contest Rules

1) Submit your best work up to two paragraphs. Anything beyond that will not be read and taken out of the running.

2) Send your submissions in the BODY of the email, not attachments (they will not be opened) to the following emails (either or - no need to do both) LiteraryAsylum@hotmail.com OR junipertreelit@gmail.com.

3) Be sure to put THRILLER contest submission in the RE: Line or it may get overlooked.

4) Deadline is OCTOBER 13th (why? because we like that number) at MIDNIGHT

5) Follow our blogs (links above) and join us on Twitter

@WaldenPondPress
@UndertheJuniper
@JuniperTreeLit
@LiteraryAsylum

6) Most of all, have fun and keep the kids in mind. Let's give them stories that will keep them reading late at night!

Prizes? You ask? Greedy...I like it!

The top writer will receive a copy of GR:THRILLER signed by the ambassador of Children's Lit himself Jon Scieszka. And, your paragraph(s) will appear in an upcoming issue of UTJT.

WAIT, there is more! The winning writer will be interviewed on the Literary Asylum blog to celebrate your thrilling job well done. Now those are some gruesome prizes!

So hop to it.

Tex? What are you doing on my computer?

Ummm... researching... exploding brains? OOPS GOTTA GO!

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Blast from the Past: Rats Edition - ONE WEEK LEFT!

2011-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

You heard right, headless pumpkins, you have only one week to enter your submission for the Blast from the Past: Rats Edition challenge. Haste, friends, haste!

Deadline for submission: Saturday, August 6. The winners will be announced Monday, August 8.

With your submission please put in the subject line "Blast from the Past - Rats Edition".

For the name of your document please put your story/artwork name, underscore and your name. Ex: ToesForEating_MarjorieMerle.doc

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submissions & Guidelines page.

We look forward to your creative mind-doodles!

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August Issue Sneak Peek: The Unforgiving Tree

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Don't miss our tragic take on Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. It will sadden you, yes, but it will also throw you from your chair and pull a cry of victory from your mouth. Join us on August 1st to read this tantalizing tale of turmoil and triumph!

The tree was so angry!

The tree was distraught!

The little boy ought to be caught!

And then tied into a granny knot.

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August Issue Sneak Peek: The Cover

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Friends. We are twitching with excitement over here at Underneath The Juniper Tree. Tex hasn't eaten a toe in days, he's so antsy.

It all tastes of bogweed, mind, when something so thrilling is on its way.

I wholeheartedly agree. So far, each monthly issue has surpassed the last. Yes, we've only had two issues, but that just proves my point. The August issue will certainly be a blast of delight. Sound the trumpets, all!

Here is a sneaky peeky at the cover for the August issue illustrated by Ken Lamug. Would you like to illustrate our next cover? Send us some examples of your work to junipertreelit@gmail.com and tell us a little bit about yourself. Don't be shy, Tex only bites what moves.

Keep sending in the general submissions, friends, our September issue is already a quarter full!

Need to something to keep you busy while you await the August issue? Check out our July issue!

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Two Gloomy Twins - Byron Bill & Evan Heasman

2011-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

There were two gloomy twins

Who liked to go for swims

They went for a dip

In a lake of arsenic

Now they're only toothy grins

Two Gloomy Twins

Written by Byron Bill

Illustrated by Evan Heasman

Would you like to see your limerick, poem or short story up on Underneath The Juniper Tree? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "General Submission" in the subject line. You can also check out our Submissions & Guidelines page for more information.

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Zombiemart - JL Martin

2011-07-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Zombiemart

Written by JL Martin

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The Choose Your Own Mystery Winner!

2011-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

It was a fine, fine challenge this week with a great turnout. Tex and I had to scramble our brains to choose only one person whose piece rose above the rest.

Creme de la creme! Blood de la blood!

So the winner of the Choose Your Own Mystery challenge and the next person heading into fame and victory in the August issue is....

Samantha Kymmelle-Harvey!!!! With her piece Because of Brussels Sprouts. Here is a snippet from her extraordinary piece:

“Greedy girl!” said a little wisp of white. It pulled her to the ground, raining scarlet droplets on her face. “You can’t make me share! I’ll eat you next if you try!”

You'll have to come back August 1st to catch the rest.

Thank you all for sending in your creative babies and good luck with the Blast from the Past - Rats Edition. We await your genius at our inbox.

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Sunday Poetry: Young Lady of Claire - Edward Lear & Ken Lamug

2011-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

There was a Young Lady of Claire,

Who was madly pursued by a bear;

When she found she was tired, she abruptly expired,

Oh Young Lady your life is unfair.

Young Lady of Claire

Written by Edward Lear

Illustrated by Ken Lamug

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New Challenge - Blast from the Past: Rats Edition

2011-07-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Good Saturday, poppets! Today is your deadline for the Choose You Own Mystery challenge. You have until midnight tonight (Pacific time) to get your entries in. Entries that are late will be tossed in the incinerator and made into ornaments.

Now on to bigger and more different similar things!

A shortage of toes!

Quite, poppets, Tex has been rationing his toe snacks. Please donate more toes.

Yes, the plumpish ones are best.

Now – our New Challenge!

Blast from the Past: Rats Edition

Deadline for submissions has changed. We are now giving you TWO WEEKS to submit your piece so they better be good!

Deadline for submission: Saturday, August 6. The winners will be announced Monday, August 8.

With your submission please put in the subject line "Blast from the Past - Rats Edition".

For the name of your document please put your story/artwork name, underscore and your name. Ex: ToesForEating_MarjorieMerle.doc

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submissions & Guidelines page.

We look forward to your creative mind-doodles!

And remember that your Time Travel submission deadline is in TWO DAYS!!!!! The winner will be featured in our August issue so let's hear your stories.

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Suppen Kaspar - Martin Thoburn

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jason Smith recently sent us a few tales to read from the book Struwwelpeter. We were partial to the naughty boy Augustus who would not eat his soup. Things do not end well for August. Children, eat your soup, mind.

I shall have mine with toes upon crumpets.

So you shall. Enjoy.

Suppen Kaspar
Created by Martin Thoburn

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Deadline Reminder - Choose Your Own Mystery Challenge

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder for all you writerly artisticals out there:

TWO DAYS LEFT for the Choose Your Own Mystery Challenge!!!!

I get to munch one toe for every day that your submission is late.

That's right. Deadline is Saturday, July 23. Don't be late! Winners will be announced on Monday, July 25.

Good luck all you deviously daring drumlets.

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The Mailbox Monster - Ken Lamug

2011-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Little Annalise did not like to go get the daily mail. She begged her brothers to go for her. She saved her allowance to pay the neighbor to go. She pretended to go and came back saying Oh, there wasn't any mail today, Papa.

Truth be told, Annalise knew something no one else knew: the mailbox was alive.

Don't be ridiculous, her father laughed, and don't come back until you get the mail! and slammed the door at her heels. Poor Annalise didn't know what to do.

"If I get the mail," she mumbled to herself through bitten nails, "I will surely be eaten!" She looked back at the house only to see her brother's sneering at her from the window. Annalise's eyebrows dove into a frown, "I will go. I will show those brothers of mine how brave I can be."

She walked down the street and around the corner.

"I will go. I am brave."

She climbed through the forest and down a long, steep hill.

"I will go. I am brave."

She wound her way up the next hill and found herself face to face with the mailbox.

"I am brave. I am brave. I am brave."

The mailbox stood tall and regal on top of the hill, gleaming in the afternoon sun. From this distance, it looked like an ordinary mailbox. Annalise crept closer. The crisp, metal edges of the mailbox flashed a glint of sunshine in her eyes, blinding her momentarily.

When the red spots faded from her eyelids she noticed the mailbox had changed.

"I am brave," she said again with less enthusiasm.

"I am..."

But as she spoke this time, the sharp corners of the mailbox pulled back to reveal row after row of gruesome teeth sharp and jagged as broken glass. Two black, evil eyes snapped open.

"...br-br-br..."

Now, glowering over her, so close to her face she could see bits of envelopes stuck in its teeth, was the Mailbox Monster. She knew it was real, not just a figment of her imagination! But the victory of being right was short lived as the Mailbox Monster's rancid breath was breathing down into her face; strings of drool dangled from its mouth.

Quick as a whistle Annalise grabbed what mail she could see in its jaws and darted away down the winding hill. She snuck a look over her shoulder to see if the Mailbox Monster was behind her. Close on her heels was the metalic horror that haunted her. Harder and harder she pushed her legs nearly tripping over her own feet.

She reached the bottom of the hill and started up the second hill. Her legs burned! She could hear the snarling growl of the Mailbox Monster chasing her. Faster! she chanted to herself. Faster!

She thought her lungs were going to explode when she finally made it to the top of the hill. The forest wavered in front of her eyes as ink blots formed in her sight. She pushed on.

Through the forest she dodged around trees hoping to lose the Mailbox Monster. She looked over her shoulder again and it was a little further away. A seed of hope blossomed. Twigs scratched at Annalise's legs and stung her face but she pushed on.

She was back on the sidewalk and heard the Mailbox Monster close behind her again. Just a little further, she thought. It was so hard to hold the mail while running for her life. A few envelopes slithered from her fingers and fluttered away behind her. The Mailbox Monster stopped to eat them up. Yes! she cheered and let go of another envelope to distract the monster.

Annalise flew around the corner and saw her house in sight. The Mailbox Monster was gaining on her and she only had one envelope left. She couldn't come home without any mail. She had to keep this one. She could feel the hot breath of the monster on her neck. She thought her legs would give out any minute. If only she could just make it up the steps to the house. But the door! The Mailbox Monster would surely eat her as she tried to open the door!

Good fortune shined on Annalise that day. As she zoomed up the front steps, one of her brothers opened the door. Annalise dove into her brother, grabbing the knob behind her and pulling the door shut. She stood up panting but victorious.

Her Papa walked in and looked at Annalise with a frown. Between heaving breaths she held up the envelope and said, "Papa! I....I got...the mail!"

Still frowning, his eyes wandered to the window where surely he must see the Mailbox Monster.

"Yes, but you forgot the newspaper."

The Mailbox Monster
Written by Martin Shorn
Illustrated by Ken Lamug

You can see more of this duo in the upcoming August issue where they take on The Unforgiving Tree. Don't miss it!

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The Devil Can't Help You Here - Mark Boliek

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Darlinks! Dearestlinks! Poppets!

Here at Underneath The Juniper Tree we are open to all sorts of spooky mayhem in all sorts of mediums. Mark Boliek sent us a song, chatz, called "The Devil Can't Help You Here". And it goes along with his book. Is there no end to the creativity? Here is the cover for his book The Mahogany Door for which the music was written. Look, listen and enjoy.

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Sunday Poetry: Dirty Donald - Dawn Pisturino & Jason Smith

2011-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dirty Donald!

His hair, full of lice,

Grows down to his shoulders,

A haven for mice.

His teeth are all rotten,

Mildewed and black,

His tongue is so long,

He could pass for a yak.

His breath stinks of corpses

Dug fresh from their graves,

A delicate morsel

He constantly craves.

He glares at the ravens,

Surrounding his head,

With murderous eyes,

Pronouncing them dead.

Then yanks out their feathers

And nibbles their toes,

Lining them up

In neat little rows.

His clothes are so tattered,

The buzzards all say,

“What a fine looking fellow!

Let’s eat him today!”

Dirty Donald

Written by Dawn Pisturino

Illustrated by Jason Smith

Would you like to see your limerick or poem up on Sunday Poetry? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "Sunday Poetry" in the subject line.

Don't forget to check out our July issue

The Man from Brazil - Dawn Pisturino

2011-07-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Man From Brazil

Written by Dawn Pisturino

Don't forget to check out our July issue

Choose Your Own Mystery - One Week To Go!

2011-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder for all you writerly artisticals out there:

ONE WEEK LEFT for the Choose Your Own Mystery Challenge!!!!

I get to munch one toe for every day that your submission is late.

That's right. Deadline is Saturday, July 23. Don't be late! Winners will be announced on Monday, July 25.

Good luck all you deviously daring drumlets.

And come back later today to read Dawn Pisturino's lively limerick The Man From Brazil. You might want to be sitting when you read it.

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Contest Reminder

2011-07-15T06:00:00.001-07:00

Illustrated by Jason Smith
jsmithillustration.weebly.com

Yes, it's already the middle of the month. I hope you've all been delving into your futuristic worlds and spouting to your scribe (because we all have one) your wonderful words.

Do not delay, leaflets, you only have 10 more days left to submit your monthly contest entry AND if you win, your piece will be featured in the August issue. Haste!

Guidelines
Stories and drawings/paintings/doodles must be about time travel. However you think time travel should be done, let us know in short story form (2000 words or fewer) or an image (one image per artist). It must also fit our guidelines in our Submit Work page. Submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered so read carefully!!!!! If you aren't sure as to what we accept, thumb through our June and July issues or scan the site to see what we're all about.

Only the most curious and imaginative pieces will be chosen and featured in the August issue of Underneath The Juniper Tree. If your pieces doesn't win but we're terribly keen on it (and Tex is in a good mood that day), we'll feature it on the site. The winning images will also be featured in Featured Artists located on the right sidebar.

When emailing us, please put "Time Travel" in the subject line.

With your submission, please include a short bio (50 - 75 words) about yourself written in third person with your name (or alias) and your website if you have one.

Email your story or artistic rendering to junipertreelit@gmail.com
Submission deadline: July 25, 2011
The winners will be announced in the August 2011 online issue which is free for all eager eyes to nom on.

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Be one of our Contributors

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Being one of our contributors is hard work. Having to write scary stories until they cry,

eating toes to keep invigorated,

running into dark forests to find the fantastically ferocious creatures that inspire their stories; it's really something to be in awe about.

Do you think you could do what our contributors do? Why don't you give it a shot: we are accepting general submissions of short stories (2000 word maximum), poetry, limericks, doodles, drawings, paintings, ghost rants, robot rhymes,

severed toes,

(please send those to Tex only) and any sort of rambunctious and stupendous stanza you might have secretly stowed away in that brain of yours.

Tell your friends. Your neighbors. Deceased ancestors.

Don't forget to check out our July issue

In The Street - Dorothy Livesay & Evan Heasman

2011-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

In rainy weather

Who can tell

Whether we weep

Or not?

I dread the sun

For his fierce honesty.

In The Street

Written by Dorothy Livesay

Illustrated by Evan Heasman

Don't forget to check out our July issue

The Man in Galloway Bay - Dawn Pisturino

2011-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

A man lost in Galloway Bay,

Cried out in a very loud bray,

"Please come rescue me,

hungry sharks can't agree,

Am I breakfast or dinner entree?"

The Man in Galloway Bay

Written by Dawn Pisturino

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

The Crooked Man: Animated Short - Dries Bastiaensen

2011-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our lovely friend and contributor Ken Lamug revealed this gem to us the other day and we wanted to share it with you. It was all I could do to get it out of Tex's greedy little grabby hands.

My eyes saw it first. I was only going to add it to my...selection of...delectables.

We hope you enjoy this animated short before Tex eats it all up.

The Crooked Man
Animation by Dries Bastiaensen

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Beware Sleeping Kittens - Cheryl Coville

2011-07-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Innocent kittens

Asleep in their cots

Helpless and harmless

How peaceful their thoughts.

But from the depths of

Their slumber, they dream

Murderous scenes filled

With ear-piercing screams.

Visions of slaughter

Of blood and of gore

Torment and terror.

Ferocious! They roar!

They hunger for prey

They catch on the sly.

Crunchy bird dinners

Snatched down from the sky.

They pounce on goldfish

And throw up the bones.

Then tease the dog who’s

Tied up at his home.

Animal ambush.

Mousey mass murder.

Kings of the jungle

Stalk the intruder.

They snarl and they slash.

They flash their fierce fangs.

Merciless mayhem

Is all that remains.

Such are the dreams of

The average kitten.

Better not wake him

Lest you get bitten.

Beware Sleeping Kittens

Written and illustrated by Cheryl Coville

To see more of this calibre or macabre, check out our July Issue.
Would you like to see your limerick or poem up on Sunday Poetry? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "Sunday Poetry" in the subject line.

Edward Gorey Challenge Chapter 2 Winner! And a new Challenge: Choose Your Own Mystery

2011-07-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

The winner of our Edward Gorey challenge is.....

*Druummmmmm*

Madeline Daniel! Madeline was able to fit a barrage of imagery and thought into three incredible sentences. Below is just a hint of what's in store for the August issue where you get to read Madeline's full piece:

“Oh, that is terrible,” said the oak tree sympathetically.

Thank you to everyone who submitted work! It was one of our best turn-outs yet. If you'd like to keep up to date with our challenges, contests and giveaways, just subscribe to Underneath The Juniper Tree on the right side of the screen. Now for our next challenge...

Choose Your Own Mystery

This week's challenge is an array of amusements. We will give you character, place and action options and you will create the story. You must choose one character, one place and one action from the list on which to base your story or artwork. So you will have chosen three options altogether. Capiche? Remember that choosing obvious choices will not get you anywhere. Please choose as creatively as possible, as random as possible, as unheard of as possible! Here are your choices:

Character

1) Wendigo

2) Ghost of an angry child

3) Cockroaches

Place

1) Decaying castle in Wales

2) Backwoods of Kentucky

3) Deserted hospital

Action

1) Whispering the words "we all fall down"

2) Eating flesh

3) Head spinning 360 degrees

Guidelines

With your submission please put in the subject line "Choose Your Own Mystery Challenge".

Artists

Only One image can be submitted per person. Please check the Submit Work page under "Dimensions" to see how you should submit your image. With your submission please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Writers

Your piece must be under 500 words and containing your three choices. Be as creative as possible with what you've picked. When submitting your piece, please list your three choices. If you don't, I will be emailing you back and telling you that you are terrible at reading guidelines. And then you will probably not win. You can submit your work as a word document or paste it directly in the email to junipertreelit@gmail.com and please forgive us in advance if we don't write back to you immediately. Tex is fairly anal about reading and viewing everything we get.

Deadline for submissions has changed. We are now giving you TWO WEEKS to submit your piece so they better be good!

Deadline for submission: Saturday, July 23. The winners will be announced Monday, July 25.

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submit Work page.

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

The Wait - Wyatt Willis & Evan Heasman

2011-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Adèle sat in the highest bough of the red eucalyptus tree with her tiny, white hands folded in her lap. Below sat the Wolf running its tongue along its pearly, sharp teeth that glinted in the moonlight every time Adèle looked down. The Wolf’s lips curled back into a wicked grin.

I can wait, child. For years I can wait. You will grow weary and I will be here.

Adèle found herself slouching from exhaustion and pulled her back up straight to help keep alert. How long had it been, now? Three hours? Three days? Time cannot not be measured when the moon never moves and the sun never returns. She rubbed her toes that were beginning to tingle from the lack of blood.

She lay back into the rustling leaves of the tree. They gave off a red glow on her skin. Like blood, she thought. She looked up into the black sky that seemed so near for all its darkness. She had to put a hand in front of her face to remind her that her eyes were still open.

“I cannot fall asleep,” she thought, “or I will fall through these thin branches and be eaten, surely.” But her lids were heavy like stones and with each blink her body said, yes, yes it is nice to sleep, isn’t it?

Whether it was a sound or a movement that woke her, Adèle sat up with a start. She was already slipping through the arms of the tree.

Do not worry, precious gem, the Wolf hissed below, I am still here when you fall.

Not ‘if’ but ‘when’. Adèle shivered at the sweetness of the Wolf’s call. She would not close her eyes again.

She looked out over the land that was dotted with murky figures; forests spread out in clumps. She could only imagine what sort of horrors lived in those trees when something so terrible as the Wolf lived out in the open. She could barely distinguish the land from the sky; the varying black shapes seeped into each other. Off in the distance, little dots of light winked. She couldn’t tell if they were a village or the stars.

Adèle looked up into the velvety sky trying to get the image of the Wolf out of her mind but all she could see was its razorback fur and its haunting red eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut but could not get rid of the image. She rolled over and rested her head against the leaves.

“I’ll only lay here a moment and then,” her mouth stretched into a yawn, “I’ll figure out what to do.”

I will be here, child.

It wasn’t long after Adèle drifted off that she realized there were two red eyes looking directly at her. And then four eyes. And then hundreds of red eyes glowed around her. Every way she turned there were red eyes bearing down into hers.

“No!” She screamed. “No! NO NO NO-NO-NO!”

But it was too late.

Adèle’s tiny body slipped through the sparse twigs of the red eucalyptus tree and fell down, down, down into darkness and pearly, sharp teeth.

The Wait

Written by Wyatt Willis

Illustrated by Evan Heasman

Monthly Contest - Time Travel

2011-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here at UTJT, we not only sneak into dark forests and romp in swamps, we also slip through space in our marvelously metal time machine!

This month's contest is all about time travel. Perhaps your characters glide through time with a jet pack not unlike this image to the left here. Or maybe they use giant, glossy baubles? Or maybe they don't need a time machine at all, instead flying through time by entering a cave guarded by savage crocodile beasts with scales so sharp they cut through bone with the slightest bit of pressure.

Guidelines
Stories and drawings/paintings/doodles must be about time travel. However you think time travel should be done, let us know in short story form (2000 words or fewer) or an image (one image per artist). It must also fit our guidelines in our Submit Work page. Submissions that do not adhere to the requirements will not be considered so read carefully!!!!! If you aren't sure as to what we accept, thumb through our June and July issues or scan the site to see what we're all about.

Only the most curious and imaginative pieces will be chosen and featured in the August issue of Underneath The Juniper Tree. If your pieces doesn't win but we're terribly keen on it (and Tex is in a good mood that day), we'll feature it on the site. The winning images will also be featured in Featured Artists located on the right sidebar.

When emailing us, please put "Time Travel" in the subject line.

With your submission, please include a short bio (50 - 75 words) about yourself written in third person with your name (or alias) and your website if you have one.

Email your story or artistic rendering to junipertreelit@gmail.com
Submission deadline: July 25, 2011
The winners will be announced in the August 2011 online issue which is free for all eager eyes to nom on.

We look forward to reading all your submissions and potentially eating a few. Good luck to everyone!

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

The Boogeyman's Rhyme - Laura Garrison

2011-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

My parents are shadows that lurk in your closet;

My very first word was an old man's last breath.

I watched from the wings on the night you were frightened

By blood on the white hands of Lady Macbeth.

My laugh is the scuttle of leaves on the sidewalk;

The weeds on your grandmother's grave are my hair.

My friends are the slime-trails that slugs leave behind them,

And I can freeze toads or melt stones with my stare.

My sigh is the hot wind that withers the foxglove;

My heart is the black rat that drowned in your well.

That dust layer under your bed is my dandruff;

The drain in your shower is ripe with my smell.

I might slip a fat spider into your slipper

Or give you an itch in a place you can't scratch.

While you're off at school, I leave lumps in your pillow

(In three or four days they'll be ready to hatch).

I chew on your boogers and old toenail clippings

At bedtime, when serpents and centipedes creep.

Next time you're alone in the darkness, remember:

My children are nightmares that poison your sleep.

The Boogeyman's Rhyme

Laura Garrison

Come back later today to learn about our contest for this month!

'ime'! 'ravel'!

Exactly, Tex. Good show!

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Friendly Reminder - Edward Gorey Chapter II PLUS winner of Tex's book!

2011-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that your Edward Gorey Chapter II submission deadline is TOMORROW!!!

The horror.

Quite. SO! You have until midnight tomorrow night to send them in.

junipertreelit@gmail.com

Now, to more important things: who won Tex's book?

Whose toes did I find the tastiest?

Tex! You didn't tell me you were taking bribes! You bad armadillian. Now, for the winners of the free books...

I drool at the thought...

Tex, they are your books! And the winners are...

Raych and Amanda are our glorious winners of this giveaway! Congratulations on your free books! Email to collect your book booty!

Thanks everyone for helping out and referring your friends and strangers to Underneath The Juniper Tree. And feel free to continue to refer your friends and family and writer friends and friends that doodle. We are always looking for new, great work!

And come back tomorrow for our monthly contest announcement. I'll give you a clue on what it's about–

Toes!

No.

Fingers!

No!

Brains?

It begins with 't' and ends with 'ime' 'ravel'. Until tomorrow!

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is Tex's favorite time of year. You can catch glimpses of him scurrying from house to house nibbling on all the fingers that have been, how you might put, detached from their owners during the fireworks. In fact, he is off busying himself with preparations for tonight's grand events. He sends you all his slimy, slithery love.

Due to the felicitations, there will be no weekly challenge. Consider yourselves off the hook (or on it, if you prefer).

Come back tomorrow to find out who won one of Tex's books! Could it be you? It might be.

Now, go eat until you explode and happy Fourth of July!

Don't forget to check out our July issue.

Sunday Poetry: The Fairy Gothmother - Jenn Preston Chushcoff

2011-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Fairy Gothmother haunts children’s dark dreams.

She tends closet monsters that delight at their screams.

She’s queen of the creepies that hide under beds,

commander of crawlies that little ones dread.

She summons her ravens, beasts and black bats

to trouble bad children, like bullies and brats.

If you’re on The Good List there’s nothing to fear,

but if you’re on the Bad you’d better stay clear

of alleys, old mansions and dank moldy cellars,

since that’s where she keeps her shadowy dwellers.

She’s even made pacts with the kind fairy folk.

They get their flowers while she dons poison oak.

You’ll find her brooding with hands on her hips

in forgotten graveyards and sinking old ships.

Call her by name and she’ll help get you through.

You’ll see she’s not mean, just moody and blue.

But don’t ask for a carriage made from a gourd,

life-threatening shoes or a magical sword.

The Fairy Gothmother stirs grief for your foes.

They trip on their shoes and shoot milk through their nose.

She conjures strange sounds with odd bumps in the night,

seeds minds with bleak nightmares to give them a fright.

So if you’re in a jam and a tyrant’s the cause,

call on your FG and she’ll lay down her laws.

She’ll call upon Justice to even the score

since crooked wrongdoers is what she abhors.

There’s just one more thing I think I should say.

“Justice” is her pet and he brings Judgment Day!

Fairy Gothmother

Written by Jenn Preston Chushcoff

Illustrated by M. Stagi

To see more of this calibre or macabre, check out our July Issue!

Would you like to see your limerick or poem up on Sunday Poetry? Email it to us at junipertreelit@gmail.com and put "Sunday Poetry" in the subject line.

Blast from the Past - Fox Edition Winners!

2011-07-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

The entries were nothing short of horribly creative and terrifying terrific! Thank you to everyone who entered. Your creativity and constant rhythm of words never fails to amaze us.

The toe bribes help as well.

Oh, too true, Tex, too true.

Now – the winner of the Fox Edition is......

Jenn Preston Chushchoff with her piece Now He Has None. The piece will be featured in the August issue of Underneath The Juniper Tree.

I hate waiting, you know.

Don't we all Tex, don't we all! So below is her lovely written ditty with a sea shanty tune we can all sing along to in our minds while we toil away at the day. Let it begin, Jenn!

Charles and Victoria booed and hissed as Johnny sang a favorite sea chantey. The song was in poor taste considering the prior evening’s event.

Away, away, get the anchor aweigh!

Our ship must set sail on the bonny sea.

Goodbye, farewell. Give a heave, get it done.

We’re homeward bound, we’re leaving.

If you don’t pull, you’ll walk the plank

or have your head nailed to one.

To be fair, Charles had a weak upper body.

Now he has none.

And just a friendly reminder that your Edward Gorey - Chapter II submission deadline is on Tuesday!

The horror.

Quite. SO! Stop procrastinating and get it done and sent it in. You'll feel better about it in the morning.
junipertreelit@gmail.com

July Issue

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yes! Another issue has arrived for your grabby little hands to twist and turn. Gobble up the words with your eyes, devour the images.

So much to nibble on, so little time.

Thank you to all our contributors and our Murder of Editors for working so diligently on this masterpiece of musings.

We are currently working on a collection of bios and websites of our contributors so stay tuned to find out more about the insanity and genius that is the melting pot of Underneath The Juniper Tree.

Now, before Tex eats his own hands, I present to you the July Issue!

July Issue

Would you like to contribute to the unbearably beautiful work that graces the pages of Underneath The Juniper Tree? Check out our Contests, Challenges & Giveaways page. Or head over to our Submissions page to see what we accept. If you're feeling particularly bold–

That I always am.

Then send your work directly to junipertreelit@gmail.com and we'll tell you if it fits in our boat of monsters.

Last Chance for FREE BOOKS!.

2011-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

That's right. You have until tonight to subscribe to this amazing magazine and you, my darling toe-pie will be entered into our contest to win one of Tex's recommendations.

Oh please, oh pick me. Oh yes, oh yes me!

Tex, these are your books. You already own them.

I LOVE CONTESTS.

Collect all your friends and family, get them to subscribe to our feed and then tell us you did that! So easy. Tell us on here (anywhere on here!), Facebook, Twitter or even mail us a letter and we will enter you into the contest. Winner to be announced tomorrow July 1st with the July issue! You don't want to miss out. It's new, improved, decorated and anticipated.

See you there, if you dare...

The Zoo - Tanya Andrious (sneak peek)

2011-06-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

She looked up at the sky. In all her time living in England, Elizabeth could not recall the sky ever looking like Hell was about to break loose. The once slightly moody sky gave way to an intense concoction of red and black.

The wind steadily picked up speed and the rain turned to a wall of sleet causing the temperature to drop significantly. Elizabeth considered herself grown up; she thought she was mature for her age, what with being 13 and all. Still, slithers of fear began to creep across her body. Then a drumming of hail pelted the path and for the first time Elizabeth conceded the notion that she might never leave the London Zoo.

The Zoo
Tanya Andrious
lifesdenouement.blogspot.com

For the rest of The Zoo plus many more exciting and horrifying tales and art, come back tomorrow for the July issue!

And don't forget to enter our contest by telling a friend about Underneath The Juniper Tree. You could win one of Tex's favourite books!

Edward Gorey Challenge Chapter 2

2011-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

First off, don't forget about our Friendly Contest! We want to give you free books. It's easy to enter and anyone can enter as many times (as many friends) as they have/want! Please pay attention to what you have to do or else you won't be entered and we want you to win. So.

Good luck!

Since the unprecedented popularity of the original Edward Gorey Challenge, we have decided that this needs to be a common thing (the Gorey Challenge, not the unprecedented-ness).

We, Tex and I, are hereby instating a monthly Edward Gorey Challenge to honor the murky and mysterious illustrator and Creator of Eerie-ness. All those in favor say "I".

I.

I've already counted you. That is two Yays and zero Nays and so here we are. Welcome to the Edward Gorey Challenge Chapter 2.

For this challenge we want to you look very, very hard at the image below. Good. Now write us three sentences inspired by, describing or relating in any other way to this image. And your three sentences MUST HAVE A TITLE (the title is not considered part of your three sentences so feel free to be as creative as you want)!

Artists, your challenge is to illustrate one image that portrays what you see when you read the sentence below:

"Dreadful, dreadful, DREADFUL. He must be mad to go on enduring the unexquisite agony of writing when it all turns out drivel. Mad. Why didn't he become a spy?"

One image can be submitted per person. Please check the Submit Work page under "Dimensions" to see how you should submit your image.

Deadline for submissions: Monday, July 4. The winners will be announced Friday, July 8.

With your submission please put in the subject line "Edward Gorey Challenge - Chapter 2".

You can submit your work as a word document or directly in the email to junipertreelit@gmail.com and please forgive us in advance if we don't write back to you immediately. Tex is fairly anal about reading and viewing everything we get. With your submission please tell us a little bit about yourself.

For the rest of the guidelines and what should not be submitted, go to our Submit Work page.

Blast from the Past - Fox Edition: Deadline

2011-06-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that your Blast from the Past - Fox Edition submission deadline is TOMORROW!!!

The horror.

Quite. SO! You have until midnight tomorrow night to send them in.

junipertreelit@gmail.com

A Special Guest on a Belated Sunday Poetry: Tim Burton - Vincent

2011-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

And don't forget about our Friendly Contest ! We want to give you free books. It's easy to enter and anyone can enter as many times (as many friends) as they have/want! Please pay attention to what you have to do or else you won't be entered and we want you to win. So.

Good luck!

July Issue - Sneak Peek

2011-06-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

In next month's issue I will be touching on something very near and dear to me.

Me?

The Beast. Most of you don't know about the animal that haunts the shadows in my house. Find out in the July Issue. Come back July 1st for the whole tale as I dive into the story that has become legend of The Beast and I.

The Beast and I – Part I:

I watched him gallop around, exploring the world with his teeth. Laying down, he was already as tall as I was standing up.

It wasn’t long before they were after us. Get that monster out of here, they hissed.

Now you can keep up to date with our weekly challenges, monthly contests and giveaways! They are all on the right side of the screen.

And don't forget about our Friendly Contest! We want to give you free books. It's easy to enter and anyone can enter as many times (as many friends) as they have/want! Please pay attention to what you have to do or else you won't be entered and we want you to win. So.

Good luck!

Alliteration Obliteration Winner!

2011-06-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

And the winner is –

NOM-yom-yom-yom...YOM-nom-nom...

Tex, please. Chew more quietly.

Nim-nim-nim-nim...

Thank you. And the winner is...

Sam McKenzie! Congratulations on a job well done. Sam submitted a limerick to us that was not only filled with astonishing alliteration but it rhymed! No small feat, Sam.

Good show.

Thank you to everyone who entered! And please remember there is still time to submit your piece for the Blast from the Past - Fox Edition challenge!! Don't be late or I'll send Tex out to hunt you down and chew on your fingernails. Now, without further ado, here is Sam McKenzie's piece for the Alliteration Obliteration challenge:

How the War Began

I tramped through the trees in Tramine

And tore off the twigs the whole time

My dress made of tulle

Was was ate by the stool

As revenge for my troublin' crime.

Friendly Contest Reminder

2011-06-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello poppets. Remember all those free books you want? Don't forget to tell your friends to sign up and have them let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments section of any post on this site. Just let us know!

They subscribe just to the right of this post under the "Follow your curiosity" text in that neat little rectangular space.

Subscribing to our feed not only puts you in the running for your choice of the books below, it also will keep you company while you drink your tea at four in the morning. We all need a little company.

Deadline is June 30, 2011.

Good luck everyone!

July Issue Sneak Peek

2011-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

For our July issue we conjured up the horrific and painfully beautiful artwork of Jason Smith. The contest during the month of June was Robots Need Love Too and Jason has taken that concept and ran off with it.

July's cover features the endearing edibility of our very own Texillian Armadillion. Take a bow, Tex.

I can't, I'm made of armor plates.

Then just do the Queen's wave.

Come back July 1st to see the whole thing, lightning and all!

Blast from the Past Challenge - Fox Edition

2011-06-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello toe-stuffed dumplings. We have a new series of challenges for you.

I will eat all the challenges.

NOT YET TEX. So – Tex and I were up in The Attic the other day pilfering through a dusty, old trunk looking for moth-eaten scarves when we came across a rusty tin box and in that tin box there lay a bundle of photos tied with a string. Tex quickly snipped the string with his sharp beak and we began looking through what was to become our inspiration for some new challenges.

Yes, readers/writers/artists, we have something shiny and new for you.

The Sailor, the fox and the cat - a mighty trio

In under 500 words write us a piece inspired by this photo. Your piece can be poetry or a story as long as it is under 500 words.

Plus some extra words for me to nibble on.

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, June 29th. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 4.

With your submission please put in the subject line "Blast from the Past - Fox Edition".

For the name of your document please put your story/artwork name, underscore and your name. Ex: ToesForEating_MarjorieMerle.doc

We look forward to your creative mind-doodles!

Contest Time! Free Things!

2011-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

You asked and we listened.

I don't have ears, poppet.

I listened, then. You want prizes, dumplings?

A trough of goodies for the piglets!

Tex, please. Anyways, prizes.

Goodies.

Goodies. We want to give you goodies but you have to work for it.

Shall I get the carrot and the string?

Not now, Tex. Here is what we want you to do. We want you to successfully encourage –

Forcefully insist –

Oh yes, I like that better. Forcefully insist three (or more!) of your friends/family –

Playful strangers.

To subscribe to Underneath The Juniper Tree.

But how will they do it, Dear Marjorie?

Easy, Tex.

The referrees click in the box below "FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY TO RECEIVE EMAILS ON WEEKLY CHALLENGES, CONTESTS AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE!" on the right hand side of the screen.
They put their email address in it. Voila! Subscribed!
THEN the person who just subscribed has to tell us either on our Facebook page or on ANY POST at Underneath The Juniper Tree in the comments section that they did this. We will pick FOUR winners. That is TWO referrers and TWO referrees. Each person gets to pick a goody.

And what will those goodies be, Tex?

Well, Marjorie, each winner gets to choose a book from MY library to have as their own.

And how much will this cost them, Texillian?

Nothing, dear. Just two minutes of their time to subscribe to Underneath The Juniper Tree.

Brilliant.

So what are you waiting for? Get to it! The more people you blabber on about Underneath The Juniper Tree to, the more chances you have of winning. You can refer as many people as you like but they must subscribe to the site and let us know about it in order to win.

Deadline is June 30, 2011

Here are the books!!

Tex's Library:

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

The Graveyard Book

Something Wicked This Way Comes

The Horrors of Oakendale Abbey

The Juniper Tree: And Other Tales from Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm

The Halloween Tree

Good luck to everyone!

Alliteration Obliteration - Deadline

2011-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that your Alliteration Obliteration submission deadline is TOMORROW!!!

The horror.

Quite. SO! You have until midnight tomorrow night to send them in.

junipertreelit@gmail.com

The Walrus and The Carpenter - Lewis Carroll

2011-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might:

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright --

And this was odd, because it was

The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there

After the day was done --

"It's very rude of him," she said,

"To come and spoil the fun."

The sea was wet as wet could be,

The sands were dry as dry.

You could not see a cloud, because

No cloud was in the sky:

No birds were flying overhead --

There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Were walking close at hand;

They wept like anything to see

Such quantities of sand:

`If this were only cleared away,'

They said, `it would be grand!'

`If seven maids with seven mops

Swept it for half a year,

Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,

`That they could get it clear?'

`I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,

And shed a bitter tear.

`O Oysters, come and walk with us!'

The Walrus did beseech.

`A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,

Along the briny beach:

We cannot do with more than four,

To give a hand to each.'

The eldest Oyster looked at him,

But never a word he said:

The eldest Oyster winked his eye,

And shook his heavy head --

Meaning to say he did not choose

To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,

All eager for the treat:

Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,

Their shoes were clean and neat --

And this was odd, because, you know,

They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,

And yet another four;

And thick and fast they came at last,

And more, and more, and more --

All hopping through the frothy waves,

And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Walked on a mile or so,

And then they rested on a rock

Conveniently low:

And all the little Oysters stood

And waited in a row.

`The time has come,' the Walrus said,

`To talk of many things:

Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax --

Of cabbages -- and kings --

And why the sea is boiling hot --

And whether pigs have wings.'

`But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,

`Before we have our chat;

For some of us are out of breath,

And all of us are fat!'

`No hurry!' said the Carpenter.

They thanked him much for that.

`A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,

`Is what we chiefly need:

Pepper and vinegar besides

Are very good indeed --

Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,

We can begin to feed.'

`But not on us!' the Oysters cried,

Turning a little blue.

`After such kindness, that would be

A dismal thing to do!'

`The night is fine,' the Walrus said.

`Do you admire the view?

`It was so kind of you to come!

And you are very nice!'

The Carpenter said nothing but

`Cut us another slice:

I wish you were not quite so deaf --

I've had to ask you twice!'

`It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,

`To play them such a trick,

After we've brought them out so far,

And made them trot so quick!'

The Carpenter said nothing but

`The butter's spread too thick!'

`I weep for you,' the Walrus said:

`I deeply sympathize.'

With sobs and tears he sorted out

Those of the largest size,

Holding his pocket-handkerchief

Before his streaming eyes.

`O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,

`You've had a pleasant run!

Shall we be trotting home again?'

But answer came there none --

And this was scarcely odd, because

They'd eaten every one.

Mysteries of Juniper Tree Winner!

2011-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

This was a FANTASTIC outcome of submissions. There were so many to chose from and even though we couldn't pick every single one, we will show them all off in our July issue so check back July 1st to read all the submissions.

Onward and upward. The winner (or should I say winners) of the Mysteries of Juniper Tree challenge are....

....are.....

.....are.....

The anticipation is making my skin shed prematurely!

Are DM Cunningham:

Zoe's new book was made from recycled creeping ivy and tonight it would return to its deadly form.

and Alice Fanchiang:

Each night, the words germinated as he slept, drinking up his twisting dreams and soaking in the dark.

Congratulations to both of you for being so incredibly visual in so few words. And thank you to everyone who submitted. You are all my darlings.

I thought I was your darling.

Always, Tex, always.

Want to keep up to date with the weekly challenges, winners and wonderful writing and art here at Underneath The Juniper Tree? You can sign up with your email in the right bar under Follow Your Curiosity. Don't miss out on the next eerie, hairsplitting, nail-chewing piece of writing. IT MIGHT BE YOURS!

The Mouse - Madeline Daniel

2011-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This piece is from our youngest contributer who is a stately 9 years old. Thank you Madeline for submitting such a horribly wonderful piece of writing AND artwork!

The Mouse

“P-U!” yells Izzy as she runs down the hallway. “You’re SO gross! Having you as a sister is like living in a roach-infested dumpster!"

I am just trying to show her a dead mouse I found on our front walkway. I saw it being ripped apart last night by the owls that live in the nest next to my house.

Izzy is in the fifth grade and thinks she is better than me because I’m only in the third grade. She and her friends think I’m weird, but I bet I could melt them with the poisonous potion I’m making. It’s made of dog food and mushrooms I found outside.

Anyway, I decide to have a funeral for the mouse. I go upstairs and take a piece of red and yellow striped origami paper out of my desk drawer. On my windowsill I notice what is probably left over mouse guts. I think I’ll use these later in my poisonous potion. I start folding the paper and keep on folding until I have a box. I lay the mouse carcass inside the box and grab a red marker to bring with me downstairs.

Outside, I look for just the right place. I decide on a spot under our cherry tree. I choose this spot because it is where I buried a dead bird that I found a few weeks ago. I start digging with my hands. It is hard work because I have to dig a hole deep enough for the box, but I power through it anyway. I put the origami box inside the hole I’ve made and cover it back up with dirt. Then, I recite my speech that I came up with during all my work.

“That mouse was a good creature. His family probably misses him, but it’s definitely too late to save him now I didn’t have much time to spend with him, but I know at the bottom of my heart he was an owl’s dinner. This is good and bad. The good part is since the owl ate its meal, it will stop hooting so loudly. The bad thing is that mouse is dead. Amen.”

After that, I search for a good size rock. I find one and, using my red marker, I write:

The last thing you heard was an owl "hoo"
Too bad he had to disembowel you

Monthly Contest Reminder

2011-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to submit your piece for Robots Need Love Too.

Their toes are so...metallic.

Need some inspiration? Watch this video with pen in hand.

Guidelines

Stories must be about robots. It must also fit into our guidelines in our Submissions Page. Submissions that do not fit the requirements will not be considered so read carefully! If you aren't sure as to what we accept, thumb through our June Issue or scan our site and see what we're all about.

Only the most curious and imaginative pieces will be chosen. Winning images and stories will be featured in the July issue of the Underneath The Juniper Tree. The winning images will also be featured in Featured Artists on the side bar.

When emailing us, please put in the subject line "Robots Need Love Too Contest Submission".

With your submission, please send us a little blurb about yourself, your name (or alias) and your website.

Email your story or artistic piece to junipertreelit@gmail.com

Submission Deadline: June 25, 2011.

Winner will be announced in the July 1, 2011 monthly online issue.

Cover Artists Wanted - Apply Within

2011-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Do you have an eye for illustration? Do you doodle in your dreams? Do words sometimes not make sense so you cut them up and mash them all together until they form the shadow monsters in your mind?

Do you have toes to spare? Maybe even a few f-f-f-FINGERS or–

Settle down Tex. If you are any of the things above, then we want YOU. We want your dark, children's fairytale-inspired art. We want your creative genius splayed on the table under the hot lamp. We want to paint the town red with your art.

So...very...red...

Underneath The Juniper Tree is currently looking for artists to fill it's white, ravenous pages with your work. It can be color, it can be black and white, it can be collage or photos or drawings.

Think you have what we want to gobble up? Email us some low res examples of your work to junipertreelit@gmail.com.

Can't figure out our style? Check out our June Issue and see for yourself what we're into.

Deadline for cover submissions is Monday, June 20.

In the subject line for your submission please put, "Cover Artists Wanted - Apply Within".