“With this marvelous collection of short stories, Nicole Rivas places her finger on that pressure point, where adventure and danger intersect, where fantasy and reality cross wires, and where desire ebbs and flows to the delight—or chagrin—of her female protagonists.

           For their thought-provoking denouements and skillful use of compression, the stories of Nicole Rivas beg comparisons to the celebrated stories of the surrealist painter Leonora Carrington. For their arresting strangeness, readers of Latin American literature will recall the stories of Clarice Lispector. But for their edginess and fearless wit, a more contemporary sister is Carmen Maria Machado. Yet Rivas will thrive on her own terms. A Bright and Pleading Dagger is truly a compelling and unforgettable journey into the dark but poignant experiences of women.”    —Chapbook Contest Judge Rigoberto González

A Bright and Pleading Dagger, winner of the Twelfth Annual Rose Metal Press Short Short Chapbook Contest, is now available for preorder (Aug. 8 release). Reserve your copy of this limited edition chapbook with letterpress covers now!