Authored by Emily Dalgo, 2016
Our Mission
BleakHouse Publishing is an independent, not-for-profit press devoted to social justice. We aim to shed a humane light on those entangled in the criminal justice system.
Our creative writers and artists, many of them current or former prisoners, explore a range of topics, including addiction, incarceration, and the existential challenges of everyday life. Seeing persons who commit crime through a softer, more person-centered lens, the works we publish raise questions about our system’s harshest punishments.
The press, founded in 2006 by Robert Johnson, a professor of justice, law, and criminology, is primarily staffed by American University students and alumni. As publisher, Johnson oversees our staff and publications.
What We Do
AWARDS The BleakHouse fellowship is awarded to someone whose writing or scholarship best exemplifies the press’s mission. The fellow works with our publisher, Robert Johnson, on special projects during the year. The press also awards the Victor Hassine Memorial Scholarship. Generously sponsored by Hassine’s family, this $500 stipend recognizes someone who—like imprisoned author Victor Hassine—uses art or writing to educate others about pressing issues in our justice system.
MEDIA RELATIONS We feature partner organizations on our website. If your organization would like to be a BleakHouse partner, please contact us at bleakhousepublishing@gmail.com.
For more information on BleakHouse, continue to visit this site as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages.
BOOKS We typically release a book of poetry once a year. You can explore our publications here. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Our superb editors make our poetry collections the heart and soul of BleakHouse.
TACENDA MAGAZINE Another annual undertaking, Tacenda Literary Magazine features prose and poetry about incarceration and the criminal justice system. We accept submissions on a rolling basis. You can find submission guidelines here.
ART GALLERY Our online art gallery features illustrations and photography that express BleakHouse’s belief in the beauty and grace inherent to every person. Some art is curated for Tacenda Literary Magazine. For art submission guidelines, click here.
Who We Are
Art Director
Benjamin Feder
Benjamin Feder is an honors graduate of American University, holding Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Art History with a focus on Humanism and the Italian Renaissance. His experiences as both an artist and a student of art history are what initially compelled him to start a career in the art industry. Benjamin has worked in museums and galleries in both New York City and Washington D.C, and is currently working at one of D.C’s top art advisory firms. As an artist, Benjamin works mainly in sculpture, creating works that interrogate the complex relationship between humankind and the environment.
Chief Operating Officer
Norah Nasser
Norah Nasser is a current undergraduate student at American University. She is pursuing a B.A. in justice and law with a concentration in criminal justice. Norah is extremely passionate about prison reform and other social justice issues and is very excited to work for BleakHouse Publishing.
Chief Communications officer
Jackson Gold
Jackson Gold is a current undergraduate at American University, originally from Philadelphia, PA. He is currently pursuing a degree in Justice, Law and Criminology. In addition, he is a member of the School of Public Affairs leadership program and is extremely passionate about social justice and prison reform.
PUBLISHER
Robert Johnson
Johnson is a professor of Justice, Law, and Society at American University and a widely published author of fiction and nonfiction dealing with crime and punishment. His short story, "The Practice of Killing," won the Wild Violet Fiction Contest in 2003. Several of his works have been adapted for the stage. His best known work of social science, Death Work: A Study of the Modern Execution Process, won the Outstanding Book Award of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Book Editor
Kat Bodrie
Kat Bodrie is a professional writer and editor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her editorial credits include Inside: Voices from Death Row, Interface: Poems, Bone Orchard: Reflections on Life under Sentence of Death, and Concussion Discussions: Vol. 2. Her poetry has appeared in North Meridian Review, Poetry South, West Texas Literary Review, Rat’s Ass Review, and elsewhere. She is currently president of Winston-Salem Writers and host city coordinator for Poetry in Plain Sight. A recovering community college instructor, Kat has her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English Literature. She often collaborates with poet George T. Wilkerson, who lives on Death Row in North Carolina. Read their writing at katbodrie.com.
Editor & columnist
Stella Adams
Stella Adams is an honors student and rising senior in Justice, Law and Criminology at American University, where she also serves as the treasurer of Students for a Just Society. An editor with BleakHouse Publishing, Adams is passionate about rehabilitating the prison system.
Tacenda Magazine
editor-in-chief
Katie Owens-Murphy
Katie Owens-Murphy is Associate Professor of English and Graduate Coordinator of the MA English program at the University of North Alabama. She also serves as PI for the Restorative Justice Lab and as the state coordinator for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. Her work with people in prison has appeared in Humanities, Critical Criminology, Mississippi Quarterly, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her most recent book, Ghosts Over the Boiler: Voices from Alabama’s Death Row, was published by Vanderbilt UP in 2023.
Chief Editorial Officer
Ginger Finigan
Ginger Finigan is an undergraduate student and writer at American University where she is studying Political Science with an emphasis in prison reform.
Chief technology Officer
Moriah Sharpe
Moriah is a doctoral student in Justice, Law, and Criminology at American University. She is interested in issues of intersectional inequality and human dignity in the criminal justice system.
editor
Bethany Howard
Bethany Howard will graduate in December 2024 with her master’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Alabama, where she was also the 2023-2024 Adams-Nordin Research Assistant. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Ole Miss in Secondary Education. She lives in Florence, Alabama, with her husband Dan and her Chihuahuas, Romeo and Hermia.
editorial intern
Manuela Ludolf
Manuela Ludolf is a Brazilian English Professional Writing Major and Project Management Minor at the University of North Alabama, where she also works as the Flor-Ala newspaper’s Sports Editor, Lights and Shadows literary magazine’s Submissions Editor, and a Resident Advisor. Manuela is passionate about the written word and its malleability.
managing editor
Emily Uhlman
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in English, Minor in Journalism from the University of North Alabama. Emily is currently a graduate student at UNA studying English Literature. Emily is a fervent supporter of social justice and reforming American prison systems. She is excited to join the Tacenda team and continue to learn about different experiences surrounding incarceration.
editorial intern
Katelee Smith
Katelee Smith is a student at the University of North Alabama, where she will be graduating with a major in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing. Katelee is an advocate for Restorative Justice and programs, such as Inside Out at UNA. Katelee believes in the power of creativity alongside the work of restorative programs to better the lives of people who are incarcerated.
managing editor
Raegan Babb
Raegan Babb is a graduate student and teaching assistant at the University of North Alabama, where she is pursuing her master’s degree in English literature. She joined Tacenda Magazine as an editorial intern in July 2023 and has since advanced to the role of Managing Editor.
editorial intern
Rachel Smith
Rachel Smith is a graduate student at the University of North Alabama studying English Literature. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in English and Legal Studies. She lives in Muscle Shoals with her two pets, Rhett and Rainey. She is very excited to join the Tacenda team!