Anthologies are hot right now, and I have a couple of pieces appearing in two that will appeal to both YA and adult readers.
One that you’ll want to order now in preparation for Banned Books Week 2021 (supply chain problems being what they are) is You Can’t Say That: Writers for Young People Talk About Censorship, Free Expression, and the Stories They Have to Tell, edited by Leonard Marcus (Candlewick Press, July 2021.)
There are few children’s literature historians with Leonard Marcus’s credentials, and in this starred collection of interviews with more than a dozen contemporary authors, he delves into society’s impulse to censor what’s unfamiliar or uncomfortable – all in the name of protecting children. You’ll find personal stories shared by people like Angie Thomas, R.L. Stine, David Levithan, and Robie H. Harris, to name just a few. We all had the chance to talk about why we wade into difficult terrain and how that has looked for each of us. I’ll be discussing the book this week with Leonard through the American Writer’s Museum on August 12, 7:30 pm EST/ 6:30 CT. Hope you can tune in and get a taste for what’s in store.
The second anthology is Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora, edited by Saraciea Fennell (September 14, 2021, Flatiron), whom you may know from her many accomplishments as the founder of the Bronx Book Festival and as part of the leadership at Latinx in Publishing.
The collection is garnering lots of attention and was just named the Kids’ Indie Next Pick for September and October. I can tell you that it took me a minute to feel comfortable writing a personal essay about how machismo, love, and tragedy merged in my family. But in the end, I just wrote the truth (with names changed,) and now, there it all is on the page.
In the coming months, you’ll see many of the contributors talking about the collection. These will include new voices that I hope you’ll start tracking in your reading life. I’m slated for the Texas Book Festival in October, and will keep you updated when the details are announced.
OK, friends, the summer is winding down. I hope you’re enjoying the last days of it. Stay cool!
*UPDATE AUG 24:
The publication dates for both these anthologies has been changed, mostly due to the impact of the pandemic on shipping and availability. New pub date for You Can’t Say That is Sept 7, 2021. The new pub date for Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed is Nov 2, 2021.
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Check out Meg’s work in other anthologies.
Teachers, writers: Are you following Meg’s 1-minute Writing Tips series on Instagram? Check it out!
