Pool Party | A Reading Series & Literary Journal

Pool Party is an independent online journal, reading series, and book publisher founded by Ryan-Ashley Anderson and Kevin Maloney—writers and artists who look for well-crafted literary and critical writing that questions reality, evokes nostalgia, explores the uncanny, and interrogates the human condition.

Newly Published

In Memory Of

by Suzanne Johnston
October 20, 2026 | Fiction

"If you are reading these words then, I, Betty Aberdeen Marian Goodfellow, Mayor of the great town of Sandbourg, have officially cryogenically frozen myself in anticipation that Cancergone® will pass its phase-three clinical trial and hit the market in the next couple years..."

Three Poems by Maya Williams

by Maya Williams
September 24, 2026 | Poetry

Three erasure poems by Maya Williams

Pyramiden

by Jac Jemc
September 10, 2026 | Fiction

"She wanted to go there and think deeply about the ways that humans could haunt not just one another, but the world they lived in, other animals, the living sea, the breathing landscape …"

Worse

by Jane Belinda
August 20, 2026 | Poetry

I need to get to the bottom of this nasty pit. / I am leaving the agony of growth / to swim in this stagnant water. / I will not stop until the leeches are all full.

How to Find and Lose a Home

by Adam Shaw
August 5, 2026 | Essays

Order a king-sized bed from a site that sells stylish furniture made of particle board. Move the barnwood headboard to the attic next to the chandelier and the guest room bookshelves.

no one breaks my heart quite like our nation’s health insurance policies.

by Julia Gaskill
July 9, 2026 | Poetry

it’s not to say that I do not fraternize often with the act of putting myself in situations that want to make me cry - often - on the reg - yesterday I looked up all my exes on Instagram

News

+PRE-ORDER Matt Knutson’s book
+Read our August 2026 Newsletter
+RSVP to our August 27 Pop-Up
+Poetry subs closed until Oct. 2026

Submit

+ ~~fiction~~ [subs closed]
+ essay/cnf
+ ~~poetry~~ [subs closed]
+ the deep end

Notes

9.2.2026

by admin
September 4, 2026 | Notes

The Pool Party crew is growing! Peep our Masthead and welcome Mahalea!

8.6.2026

by admin
September 4, 2026 | Notes

Pre-orders live for Matt Knutson's forthcoming story collection! First 100 pre-orders get limited-edition swag: PRE-ORDER NOW!

5.15.2026

by admin
May 15, 2026 | Notes

Conversation between Kerri Schlottman and Ryan-Ashley about new book Daytime Moon live now

December 10 Double-Feature Book Release

Mark your calendars for a double-feature launch of Matt Knutson’s forthcoming story collection, So FarBehind I Thought I Was First, AND our first anthology. Save the date and stay tuned for time/place!

BOOK RELEASE UPDATES

Get notified about the So Far Behind I Thought I Was First release, readings + other news.

MATT KNUTSON’s BIO

Matt Knutson is a graduate of the University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop. He’s been a resident at the Sundress Academy for the Arts, and his work has appeared in Iron Horse Literary Review, Cold Signal, Bat City Review and elsewhere. Originally from San Diego, he now lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and son.

Learn more about Matt here.

MISC. BOOK INFO.

Cover art licensed from Mark Kerckhoff

Cover design + layout by Ryan-Ashley Anderson

A.I. Disclaimer | No A.I. was used by the author or publisher for any reason during the making of this book.

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Newly Published

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