Prose and poetry by Leen Raats
I used that strange period between the holidays to give my poetry collection "Driftwood – Drijfhout" the finishing touch. In this bilingual collection, every poem is in both English and Dutch. I did all the translations myself, but I did pay a professional, native-speaking translator to proofread the English versions.
Continue reading
What do tangerines and windmills have in common? I wrote about them in two poems that got published in DarkWinter Literary Magazine, a Canadian magazine. My virtual world tour is really coming together. 😉
Continue reading
In the American anthology Darkness Most Fowl, writers from around the world will scare you to death with dark stories about birds. I am one of those writers. The book was officially published on October 31, not coincidentally Halloween. I've had the book on my nightstand for a while now, and I can tell you that it contains some truly gruesome gems!
Continue reading
What an evening! Yesterday, I had the privilege of reading during a magical event, organized by local nature organization Natuurpunt at Kiewit (Hasselt, Belgium). Surrounded by ancient creatures unfurling their almost bare crowns above me. The rain provided a fitting background concert.
Continue reading
“What a better way to understand one another in this world but by the glimmering sparkle that unites us in this lighthouse?”
These are beautiful words from the editors of the Poetry Lighthouse. My poem Asphalt found a wonderful home at this creative writing community.
Continue reading
I'm thrilled to share that my poem, 'Fatherland,' is featured in a special issue of Homeland, a magazine published by Livina Press (Louisiana, USA). This beautiful piece of art contains poetry, creative non-fiction, and essays from writers from all around the world, reflecting on the topic of homeland. All profits go to Palestine refugees.
Continue reading
Something wicked this way comes… This cover just flew right into my mailbox. I’m so thrilled to be a part of this: a collection of short stories, coming out in the US this very Halloween, published by The Godmother of Horror Press.
Continue reading
My poem ‘What the universe wanted’ is part of issue 41 of The Pointed Circle, a magazine run by students and faculty members at Portland Community College.
Continue reading
My short story Trees Die Standing appeared in the first edition of Interweaved Magazine. This brand-new lit mag is based in Trinidad and Tobago.
Continue reading
My poem #Prague was published in Descant, a magazine edited by students from a university in Texas. It’s part of the 63rd edition of this paper magazine. Even more exciting: they nominated my poem for the 2024 Pushcart Prize.
Continue reading
Leen writes 