Voices of Today Speaking to Tomorrow: Citizen poems in a time of trouble

 

Call for Submissions: Letters, Poetry, and Quilt Squares

Avella Publishing invites poets, writers, quilters, and citizens from all walks of life to submit poetry quilt squares and letters addressed to future generations, giving voice to the thoughts, emotions, fears, hopes, and hard-earned truths of our time.

We seek work that bears witness to the moment we are living in and speaks forward with honesty, courage, and care.

Selected submissions will be considered for inclusion in upcoming literary projects. Our inaugural volume is a poetry collection titled:

Voices of Today Speaking to Tomorrow: Citizen Poems in a Time of Trouble

Letter Submissions

Letters should be written as if addressed to future generations and should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Maximum length: one page, double-spaced

• Structure: three brief paragraphs, reflecting on:

  1. What we fear

  2. What we hope

  3. What we know

Poetry Submissions

Poems should focus on the emotional landscape of the present moment, grief, resilience, anger, love, uncertainty, resistance, or any truth that feels urgent and real. All poetic forms and voices are welcome.

Quilt Square 

 Quilt Square submissions are being sought. 

Submission Details

• Deadline: April 30, 2026

• Please email: Avella Publishing at avellapublishing@gmail.com

• Written submissions can be mailed to: 

• Please include:

  • Your name

  • Mailing address

  • A note indicating whether you wish your name to be included in the published collection or prefer to remain anonymous

Rights

All authors retain full copyright to their work. Avella Publishing requests first publication rights only for selected pieces.

We believe these words—yours—will matter. They will help future generations understand how it felt to live through this time, and how we chose to speak.

"Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorit Nonprofit: stomp it into the ground and dance on its grave" Press Release

For those who are (or were) (or hope to be) part of a nonprofit, support a nonprofit or simply believe in nonprofits. 

Ever wonder where grant deadline information is?

Want to know how to survive putting the toilet paper on backwards?

Frustrated because the overhead lights are still flickering 8 months after you reported it?

Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit: stomp it into the ground and dance on its grave may have the answers for you!

Distilled from 60+ years of combined experience in nonprofits, this small irreverent book is packed with analysis, stories, laughter and maybe, just maybe, ideas on how to grow thriving nonprofits.

Authors Cherie Kausler and Danae Yurgel created this handbook  to help nonprofits flourish despite the almost insurmountable odds stacked against them.  They write, “We felt that it would have to be nonprofits that now keep our communities livable and our planet inhabitable”.

This slim and ever-so-useful handbook is now available locally at Jax Dog in La Grande Oregon. The book can also be ordered online at www.avellapublishing.com or at the World's Largest Independent Book Store, Lulu Books at www.Lulu.com/shop. The printed actual (hold-in-your-hand and have-fun-with-highlighters) book is $12 plus shipping.  An E-book version is also available for $2.50 at Lulu Books.

Want a signed copy to impress your co-workers?  Just request it via email- no extra charge for 2020 purchases! Nonprofits can get up to 2 E-books free during 2020 … just write to the authors at avellapublishing@gmail.com.   Audiobook version will also be available in 2021.

Final Copy Approved

 The final copy of "Ten Ways to Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit" has been approved!  The book will be made available soon.

Ten Ways to Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit-Update

Ten Ways to Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit has just taken a step forward toward publication.  We are ready for final review.  As a result the old notes are in the shredding process.  Thank you all who have supported the process of writing "Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit". 

Please stay posted on Avella Publishing for publication and distribution information.

Resources for Writers

This post is an effort to gather and consolidate information for authors releasing books during a world wide pandemic.

A Mighty Blaze:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publishing-and-marketing/article/82786-novelists-ignite-a-mighty-blaze-in-response-to-extinguished-book-tours.html

https://www.facebook.com/amightyblaze/  : WRITERS: WE WANT YOU! How are you coping? How are you connecting to others? How are you balancing giving back and self-care?  WHAT TO DO: please send a 1-PARAGRAPH essay idea to jenhaupt1@gmail.com

The Books Shepherd:

https://thebookshepherd.com/book-marketing-during-covid-19-by-judith-briles.html

General Book Promotion Outlines
https://www.yourwriterplatform.com/promote-and-market-your-book/

https://www.writersstore.com/15-do-it-yourself-tools-to-promote-your-book/

Preparing To Release "Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit"

Avella Publishing is preparing to release their first book, "Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit".  Many of our plans for publicizing and marketing are now not possible given the current pandemic realities. We are still moving forward though as we think the messages in our book are particularly timely.

The months ahead will be challenging for nonprofits.  We hope this book will work as a useful resource for nonprofit organizations in these confusing times, as they rebound from funding changes, reduced access to clients, reduction in resources and in social services an increase in clients. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html

Photos from "Ten Ways To Kill Your Favorite Nonprofit" Writers Retreat