Meet the 2021 Yellow Arrow Publishing Pushcart Prize Nominees!
The Pushcart Prize honors the incredible work of authors published by small presses and has since 1976. And since then, thousands of writers have been featured in its annual collections—most of whom are new to the series. The Pushcart Prize is a wonderful opportunity for writers of short stories, poetry, and essays to jump further into the literary world and see their work gain recognition and appreciation.
The Prize represents an incredible opportunity for Yellow Arrow to further showcase and support our authors. Our staff is committed to letting our authors shine. Every writer has a story to tell and every story is worth telling. We are so proud of everyone we publish at Yellow Arrow. Without further ado, let’s meet the 2021 Yellow Arrow Pushcart Prize Nominees!
Linda M. Crate
“i will never give this up,” the samurai
~when i first recalled her, i remembered who i truly was; a fierce, courageous fighter~
Linda M. Crate is a Pennsylvanian born in Pittsburgh but raised in Conneautville. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, both online and in print. She is the author of six poetry chapbooks, the latest two which are the samurai (October 2020) and More Than Bone Music (March 2019). She also is the author of the novel Phoenix Tears (June 2018) and two micropoetry collections. Recently, she has published two full-length poetry collections, Vampire Daughter (February 2020) and The Sweetest Blood (February 2020). Linda is also a past Pushcart nominee. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
You can learn more about Linda from her July 2019 Yellow Arrow Journal .W.o.W. or by reading her written words in Yellow Arrow Journal’s COURAGE and FREEDOM, or in the samurai.
Courtney Essary Messenbaugh
“Our Hearth,” Yellow Arrow Journal, Vol. V, No. 2 HOME
~Engorging itself to inspire / Howling monsters, thick with legend, while / Awaiting its next set of footprints.~
Courtney Essary Messenbaugh is a practiced dilettante and has been everything from a waitress to a political fundraiser to a bond analyst. She has climbed a big mountain in Tanzania, lived in Switzerland, New York, and Chicago, and loves to laugh and try new things. She currently lives in Colorado and delights in the blanket of neon blue sky there. She is mother to three wildling children, wife to one husband, and best friend to one Muppet-looking dog. Her work has appeared in FERAL: A Journal of Poetry and Art, at Motherwell, and of course, Yellow Arrow Journal.
Deja Ryland
“Sand,” Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. V, No. 3 (Re)Formation
~The sand reminds me that there are compositions—imperishable histories—that will always align our stories together.~
Deja Ryland is an emerging writer who has recently graduated with her BS in English from Towson University. With boundless curiosity, she writes to ask questions, reflect on experiences, and start conversations. She loves adventure which sparks her love for reading, writing, traveling, and eating. She currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.
Taína
“Killing Ty,” Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. V, No. 1 RESILIENCE
~I’m killing her. Right here. Right now. This string of words is her final dagger. The Smithsonian calls it Paper Genocide, the destruction of my name.~
Taína is a Baltimore-based Higuaygua Taíno writer, on a mission to write the Taíno culture into existence the same way the colonizers have attempted to erase it: one word, one Taíno at a time. Find out more at TainaWrites.com.
You can learn more about Taína in her May 2020 Yellow Arrow Journal .W.o.W. or through VIRTUAL Voces Latinas.
Roz Weaver
“Smoke the Peace Pipe,” Smoke the Peace Pipe
~We, wild spirits, being all at once / in this one lifetime, / found here like some long lost siblings, / our everything alive.~
Roz Weaver is a spoken-word performer and internationally published poet living in West Yorkshire, England. She has been published in a number of journals, zines, and anthologies, including most recently with The Resilience of Being, Disquiet Arts, and Token Magazine. Her work has been on exhibit with Chicago based Awakenings Art Gallery and London Design Festival, and she has performed at Leeds International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her first poetry collection, Smoke the Peace Pipe, was released by Yellow Arrow in August 2020.
You can learn more about Roz by reading her written words in Yellow Arrow Journal’s COURAGE, DOUBT, and FREEDOM, or in Smoke the Peace Pipe. Roz also taught a sold-out class for Yellow Arrow called Poetry as Therapy.
Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. To learn more about publishing, volunteering, or donating, visit yellowarrowpublishing.com.
