The Institute of Caribbean Studies: Book Festival

The Institute of Caribbean Studies is having its annual Book Festival in celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month, in June. We have fought very hard in order to have this month to acknowledge the influence of Caribbean culture on an international scale. As writers, we know how difficult it is to get our work recognized, and as authors of work influenced by the Caribbean it is that much harder. This Festival seeks to share and celebrate the work of upcoming Caribbean writers, as well as established ones. It will be a platform for us to support each others' work and to highlight the influence we have had on other cultures.

We are seeking submissions of literature, fiction or non-fiction, from anyone who wants to be a part of this celebration. Caribbean writers have a unique voice and ICS would like to highlight the great stories and poetry that reflect those roots. In honour of Caribbean American Heritage Month, we would like to focus on integration of Caribbean nationals into foreign cultures, so our theme this year will be: Losing and Rediscovering Caribbean Identity Abroad. 

Applications are due by April 13. Five pieces will be chosen for showcasing on our website and at our book reading on June 11 at the PORTICO Book Store in Washington, D.C. You may submit two poems or one short story. The short story should be no more than 3,000 words, and the poem no more than 500 words each. The author should also include a short bio with their submission.  


All submissions or questions should be sent to Shanza Lewis at cahm.bookfestival@gmail.com.

You may view the events for June on our website: caribbeanamericanmonth.org 

Call for Submissions: Tough Times in America

Call for Submissions

There are millions of Americans from all walks of life who are going through a tough time. Many have been severely affected by the economic recession and can neither pay their bills, nor afford the basics such as food and medicine. Our anthology, Tough Times in America, aims to provide a platform for telling these stories. 

We will accept true stories, as well as “fictionalized” versions of real life events.  This collection aims to preserve and document narrative accounts of the anger, fear and frustration that most Americans are feeling due to the recession which has resulted in massive job losses, loss of homes, loss of healthcare, reduced retirement benefits, etc. 

We also hope to document the hope and gratitude that bloom even in the midst of despair—true testaments to the tenacity of the human spirit.  Significantly, we would like this collection to reflect the diversity of America in the 21^st century, and so we welcome submissions from people from all ethnicities, racial, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Submissions for Flash fiction should be between 1200 and 1500 words, and traditional stories must be between 10000 and 15000 words in length, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman or similar sized font (12 point), and more).

Stories must be previously unpublished in any form, including print, web etc. Each story should be identified within the geographic location/landmark of the city in which it is set. We want to show that these experiences are common to many Americans, regardless of race and ethnicity, so the cultural component is vital. We welcome established as well as unpublished writers who would like to represent their experiences or the experiences of their friends and loved ones. Deadline for submissions is August 29, 2013.

Please send your submissions to: Max Freesney Pierre: (prrmax@yahoo.com) Donna Aza Weir-Soley: (weirsole@yahoo.com) (weirsole@fiu.edu).

Donna Aza Weir Soley is an Associate Professor of English at Florida International University. Dr. Weir-Soley is the author of First Rain, a poetry collection, Eroticism, Spirituality, and Resistance in Black Women’s Writings, and co-editor of Caribbean Erotic. 

Max Freesney Pierre is a former Administrator and College Adjunct Professor of Education at Miami-Dade College. Pierre is a poet/writer/journalist, the author of Tambours de la Mêlée, Fée Caraïbe, Soul Traveler and Le chant de l’apaisement.