Retired after nearly 38 years as a STEM production editor, trainer, and team leader for a local printer/publisher, I now have the time and energy to pursue my love of writing, music, and other arts. My writing is primarily in the form of essays, book and film reviews, and poems. I am also a musician---a vocalist who plays piano, organ, guitar, and flutes. My music can be found on this page, as well as on Facebook and YouTube.
A LOVELY PLACE, A FIGHTING PLACE, A CHARMER: THE BALTIMORE ANTHOLOGY I am excited to announce that for the first time ever, I will be a “contributor” to this forthcoming book (June 2022), edited by Gary M. Almeter and Rafael Alvarez. How fitting that this book is about all things Baltimore—my hometown, and the source … More New Publication Announcement
Publishing & Editing Sessions The three Sessions covered distinct aspects of the publishing and editing process: finding an agent, submitting work to literary magazines, and revising your writing. The approaches to these topics were also very different but enlightening. Shedding Light on the Agent Hunt – Elle E. Ire & Jose Iriarte Married authors Elle … More 25th Annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference – Part II
On Saturday, March 5, 2022, I had the honor and pleasure of attending this annual writers’ conference for the first time. In fact, it was the first writers conference I’ve ever attended. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association (ESWA), the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference (BTO) brings together writers spanning the Delmarva region, at … More 25th Annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference – Part I
This year marks the 8th year of Black History Month posts on this site. When I first began this annual feature, I introduced it with a post about the origins of this special month [https://baltimoreblackwoman.com/2015/02/02/the-origins-of-black-history-month/], as much for my edification as for you, the readers, who may question why this celebration even exists. But the … More Black History Month 2022
Honoring Dr. King: The Enduring Relevance of ‘Letter From a Birmingham Jail’ On Sunday, January 16, 2022, I, along with more than 150 other people, attended this Zoom MLK event, sponsored by Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) and Repair the World. As an ally and friend of the Jewish community, I was excited about both … More Martin Luther King Day 2022
Thanks to everyone who read and commented on the original post. The following updates have been made to the format: Order of entries changed to descending order – latest publication first. Full links provided for each publication. (“Short” links, which seem to be preferred by some platforms, do not always work.) Updates to the list … More Published Works by Jackie Oldham – UPDATED
One year ago today, we witnessed the battering of our American Democracy by an Insurrection orchestrated by a defeated but defiant ex-President and abetted by his followers – both private citizens and members of Congress. Incredibly, the horror of that day has been overshadowed by so many more insults and onslaughts against our country: the … More January 6 – A Day That SHOULD Live in Infamy
Baltimore Sons By Dean Bartoli Smith StillHouse Press, Fairfax, Virginia 128 pages Baltimore Sons, a book of poems by Dean Bartoli Smith, is a masterpiece, blending memoir, history, detached observation, poignant vignettes, and craft to tell … More Book Review: Baltimore Sons
December 26, 2021 (Spoiler Alert: It has only taken me 5 and a half weeks to put this post together!) Though I have not been posting on the blog much, this year, that’s what I’ve been doing—keeping my nose to the grindstone, aka working hard continuously. On a lot of things, many of which are … More Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone
Originally posted on Global Poemic:
by Jackie Oldham May 23, 20219:05am Sunday morning, 9amand already 79 degrees. Silence brokenby the one-note symphonyof cicadas singing from trees. But there’s a soloistwhose song rises above the rest—an urgent fifth – F to B flat Waaay-oh, repeating at steady intervals. Is this the lucky cicadawho found his mate?…
baltimoreblackwoman 