For Kids
In 2016, Willow Springs Books developed the idea for a twelve-part poetry anthology series aligning with the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac. The first anthology was “Heart of the Rat,” which was followed by “Hair of the Dog.” The next anthology will take the theme: “Year of the Pig.”
Spokane has a strong community of established and emerging writers, as well as new voices yet to be discovered. For this upcoming anthology, Willow Springs will continue and improve upon their mission of publishing and discovering local and regional poets and creating a platform for their voices to be heard.
Toward the goal of creating an interesting, diverse, and high-quality chapbook that connects nationally-recognized writers with local and underrepresented voices, Willow Springs will solicit work from both inside and outside the Spokane community. The press will partner with Writers in the Community, a sister organization that trains MFA students at the Inland Northwest Center for Writers to lead writing workshops in alternative schools, nursing homes, Airway Heights correctional facility, and other locations. Willow Springs will include poems from these workshops in the anthology in addition to reaching out to Spokane’s writing and slam communities.
This year, with SAGA support, Willow Springs will include Spokane visual artists in the anthology as well, making the “Year of the Pig” the first art and poetry anthology in the series.