Happy Spring, y’all! We have TONS of exciting news to share with you from Abode.
Quererme En La Luz by Farrah Fang, out 4/15/24
We’re two weeks away from publishing our first chapbook, Quererme En La Luz by Farrah Fang! Here’s what Texas poet Reyes Ramirez has to say about it:
Farrah Fang writes poetry that breaks a subject, voice, or consciousness down before metamorphosing them into flight with rigorous language that dances, dazes, and paces through the brutal, surreal, and fantastic. Quererme En La Luz is a debut that mesmerizes, wrecks, and empowers where lines such as “Yes I am the Goddess / you've always prayed to / No I do not get to be human” and “You are not the anomaly upon the land; the / air is already polluted” can be equally as devastating as they are liberating. I’ve been a fan of Farrah Fang in Houston, and I’m incredibly excited for more and more people to indulge in her work as an indelible emerging voice to follow in arts and literature.
You can check out one of Farrah’s poems from Quererme En La Luz in Raspa Magazine here, plus a new interview with Letras Latinas!
My Sisters Look Like God: A Womanist Manifesto of Poetry by Desiree McCray, out 6/1/24
Pre-orders are officially open for Desiree McCray’s poetry chapbook! We are so thrilled to publish Desiree’s work this summer.
My Sisters Look Like God: A Womanist Manifesto of Poetry embodies a thought-provoking exploration of faith, heritage, self-acceptance, and identity. This collection celebrates the richness of cultural heritage and boldly embraces themes often overlooked like embracing being unapologetically fat and the intricate legacy of the author's grandmother's faith. The narrative weaves ancestral connections that birth a distinctive perspective on the interconnectedness of the past, present, and future. In My Sisters Look Like God, each title serves to inspire and empower through celebrating cultural heritage. The book beautifully captures the essence of being a black woman navigating the intersectional complexities of identity and faith. This collection of poetry serves an invitation to embrace diversity, challenge preconceptions, and find strength in the embracing one’s unique authenticity. My Sisters Look Like God is not just a book; it's a testimony to the vibrant, vivid vocalizing of rich human experience.
We can’t wait to share this collection with you! Grab your copy here.
Abode Virtual Summer Retreat: Applications Open 4/15
Starting June 9th, join Abode Press for our FIRST-EVER virtual retreat experience! We will have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction led by Diamond Braxton, SG Huerta, and aureleo sans. Attendees will also be able to attend 1-2 craft talks and lectures throughout the week.
At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $200 per attendee. Because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from April 15th to April 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in early May. All funds will go towards helping Abode get to AWP in LA in 2025 and towards paying our presenters.
More details can be found here.
Workshops
In addition to our Virtual Retreat, we have an incredible slate of workshops this year! At Abode, we believe offering affordable workshops is important so all writers can have access to writing tools and community engagement. All of our workshops are virtual and are offered on a sliding scale, starting at $10.
Join us for Monster Mash: Towards a Poetics of Radical Monsterhood with CD Eskilson, Sunday April 7 from from 1-2:30pm CST
What are we saying when we call something a “monster?” The word itself is thought to come from the Latin word monstrare, meaning 'to demonstrate'. In this sense, a monster is quite literally demonstrative—it reveals a deeper truth about a society that unsettles or challenges its dominant narratives. The monster is an inverted mirror exposing our warped perceptions, anxieties, and social values. As a result, monstrosity has been applied to dehumanize and vilify perceived Others based on race, gender, ability, and other socio-cultural factors. At the same time, monsterhood offers a powerful means by which we might reject and work beyond the violence of forces like white supremacy, patriarchy, ableism, or heteronormativity.
Huge thank you to Sofía Aguilar for leading a wonderful political poetry workshop last weekend!
Houston Poetry & Arts Festival - 4/27/24
Last but not least, join us for a day of art and literature in Houston. If you see Abode, come say hi and pick up a book or some merch!
Thank you for supporting Abode Press and reading our latest update! We believe art and literature are more important than ever right now, and we’re grateful to be doing what we love down here in Texas. Until next time!