Out of the Blue by Carol Schoder

“Carol Schoder is a visual artist whose poetry is imagistic and experimental, and at the same time grounded in a love of the ordinary. In Out of the Blue, I especially enjoy her chiseled images, her honoring of what we have here and now, and her laid-back sense of humor.”

— Barbara Henning, Author of Girlfriend

“Aided by Schoder’s curious intelligence, Out of the Blue is an investigation of ordinary thoughts fallen through the trap door of her playfully meandering muse. In this short work, she leaves us floating in a surreal-like cloud of senses unmoored from the gravity of a ‘burnt root of a soul/held so tightly in ground.’ One is left charmed—if not uprooted and elevated—by her imagistic, sonic, and visual aplomb.”

— Barbara A. Perry, Poet

“I found Out of the Blue relaxing and felt nostalgic while reading. It made me want to slow down and notice all the details that life throws at me.”

— Ann Myrna, Acrostar Films

About the Author:

Carol Schoder is a Chicago-area writer and visual artist who trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work is featured in Beyond Words, Persimmon Tree, Poetry Superhighway, Sonic Boom, and Streetcake Magazine. Her flash fiction has earned four Bridport recognitions, including a 2025 shortlist. Alongside writing, she continues to paint, photograph, and create one-of-a-kind artist books.