Corpus Christi Writers 2021 is available in hardback, paperback, and Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, it is available to you there. You don't have to own a Kindle to read a Kindle book. You can download the free Kindle reading app on desktop, tablet, or phone. BUY NOW
The series, Corpus Christi Writers, strives to present diverse views and perspectives that, taken as a whole, reflect what people in this community are thinking. Many writers from previous anthologies return to this fourth book in the series, and many new writers join them. Youthful exuberance coexists with polished style. Chupacabras reappear. Talking animals take a hiatus, but the chatty squirrel will not be denied. People who live on the edge share time and space with those who support traditional values. Surprisingly, there are no stories of a dystopian future, but the search for love and meaning remains universal—and elusive. Some strive for sexual identity; others find passion in unexpected places; a few accept isolation and self-reliance. Sometimes, a harsh physical environment tests one’s mettle and underscores internal conflict.
Visuals play an essential role in this book, sometimes as annotations to the writing, sometimes integrated into the works. Standalone images illustrate the writing process.
This anthology features a group project. While seemingly silly, it touches on serious topics such as fake news and the spoofing of websites.
You can find more information about the writers at MaysPublishing.com. You will also find many other stories and poems from writers from around the world. We urge you to submit your work. MaysPublishing.com also features galleries of the artists and photographers who contribute to our projects.
Thanks to all who participated. We feel there is great talent here, and we appreciate the opportunity to showcase it BUY NOW
Dr. Manuel FloresTexana Reads
There is a line in the recently released “2021 Corpus Christi Writers Anthology” that speaks volumes about the work of a writer, any writer from the seasoned novelist to the café scribbler and the nighttime dreamer.
The line asks, “What makes good writing?” It’s in a poem by Theresa Garcia-Ruiz, one of 50 Corpus Christi area writers who have pieces in this year’s anthology edited by Bill Mays from the Del Mar College White Library. Ruiz ponders, “Does it turn from green to red when its ready – like an apple?” Or, she continues, “Does it have to reach a certain temperature – like steel?”
Whatever good writing is, its meaning and can be found in Mays' latest edition of “Corpus Christi Writers Anthology.” Poetry, essays, short stories and countless narratives from novice and established writers grace the pages of the unassuming book that is really a treasure-trove of thoughts, ideas and a myriad of feelings. The writers wax poetic about life experiences, visions of sadness and glory and dreams of what is and what should be.
A plus in the book is eclectic art and illustrations the design of which is relevant to some stories but really tells the vision of the editor and his quest to show the talent in Corpus Christi. From the start, you will be searching for your favorite piece (the cover displaying a briallian pen is mine) of art and of course, writing.
Garcia-Ruiz’s selections were among my favorites. She also had a poem titled “Coahuila y Tejas” which peers into her Spanish and indigenous roots and mesmerizes readers with her imagery. Here’s a sample (the translation is in English underneath the verse in parentheses in this review):
“Yo soy carne y hueso
(I am meat and bone)
Sangre y luz
(Blood and light)
Soy de aquí
(I am from here)
Y allá
(and there)
Mismos”
(the same).
Coahuilla y Texas was a state of Mexico after its independence from Spain and before the Battle of San Jacinto. The Spanish words add clarity to the verses as the writer struggles with identity to try to define her existence. Another verse clears up the confusion and perhaps points to the ambiguity of her writing.
“I don’t dream in Spanish
I’m not quite there, yet. But, I can see
In Spanish . . . “
This and many other offerings by talented local writers make Mays’ latest anthology one for the books. It will keep readers enticed and interested as they meander through a sea of stories, art and poetry that offers surprises page-by-page.
The offerings are listed in alphabetical order, but that’s the only thing that is normal in the book. You will find it thrilling, exciting, melancholy, and poignant.
The writers are too numerous to single out one-by-one, but I will point some who caught my attention with their work.
Alan Becerra’s cryptic poetry is the first offering in the book. Becerra has three poems which seem dark and mysterious but are just visions of life. Allyson Larkin offers a story titled “Chupacabra.” I swear I know where it happened. The reportorial style of her writing makes it read more like a news item on “20/20” or another TV news show. Brenda Elaine Riojas wrote “Broken” after her fellow students and professor at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi encouraged her to tell the story. It is touching and relevant.
Your stories live here.Fuel your hometown passion and plug into the stories that define it.Create Account
Christopher Ashworth wrote an ironic “reverse poem” titled “I am not broken (a reverse poem)" that’ll have you wondering if he is referring to you -- the reader. Charles Etheridge has one of the most pertinent poems in book titled “Porch Prom.” It’s about how the recent pandemic impacts the life of high school students. Visualize it. I did, it was moving and, may I say, beautiful. It made me tear up.
Some writers like Cinthia Giery take everyday occurrences in their lives and bring them to life. Giery writes about her walks over Corpus Christi’s Harbor Bridge. In her narrative are words that make you feel solitude, happiness, and relaxation. Most of us in the Corpus Christi area have driven over the bridge, but have you taken a walk and then visited the marina to experience nature in its most pristine stage?
I think I’ll do it now. . . .
Donna Lee Anderson featured excepts from her book “Saving Hummie” and serves well as a prelude to her writing. Patricia Alaniz, Robert Dohse. Robin Carstensen, and Sarah Lenz have some of the most beautiful poetry in the book. Their writing is full of words and imagery that will linger in your mind.
S. Matt Read writes about his hiking experiences. His offering involves a “perimeter hiker” who has to pick up some packages at the post office in a desolate West Texas town by the Guadalupe. The story is full of imagery, and it leaves the reader wanting more. For a brief moment, there is the sense of Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” as the story unfolds.
And so it is with all the offerings. The short and brief offerings are only a glimpse of the talent Bill Mays has found in Corpus Christi. It leaves the reader yearning for more. From the look of things, Bill Mays will provide them.
Corpus Christi Writers 2021 Anthology
Edited by Bill Mays
More than 50 contributions by authors
Mays Publishing, Corpus Christi, Texas, 2021
ISBN 9798521210107
Available at Mayspublishng.com
This weekly column focuses on new and old books about Texas or related to Texas. It includes fiction and nonfiction books, reports on political and sports books as well as cultural or historical works. The common thread among these books is their relationship to Texas, specifically South Texas.
ALAN BERECKA
ALISA HOPE WAGNER
ALLYSON LARKIN
ALYANNA MENA
BRENDA ELAINE RIOJAS
CAROL MAYS
CATIE BARBER
CHRISTOPHER ASHWORTH
CHARLES ETHERIDGE
CHRISTIAN GARDUNO
CRYSTAL GARCIA
CYNTHIA BREEDING
CYNTHIA GIERY
DAVID CARPENTER
DEVORAH FOX
DONNA HUDDLESTON
DONNA LEA ANDERSON
DYLAN LOPEZ
ESTHER BONILLA READ
GERALD BECKMAN
HEATHER TWARDOWSKI
JASON BOND
JAVIER VILLARREAL
JIMMY WILLDEN
JOANN SANDERSON
JOEL ORTIZ
JOSEPH WILSON
JOHN MEZA
JOHN PETTIGROVE
JOSHUA BRIDGWATER HAMILTON
JUAN PEREZ
KAREN CLINE TARDIFF
KRISTOPHER CISNEROS
SISTER LOU ELLA HICKMAN
MALIA A. PEREZ
MANDY ASHCRAFT
MATT ROSAS
MICHELLE ECCELLENTE STEVENSON
MIKE MERCER
MONA SCHROEDER
MULTIPLE WRITERS
PATRICIA ALANIZ
ROBERTA DOHSE
ROBIN CARSTENSEN
SARAH K. LENZ
S. MATT READ
SARA KAPLAN
SUSAN DAUBENSPECK
THERESA GARCIA-RUIZ
TOM MURPHY
WILLIAM J. CHRISS
WILLIAM MAYS
WILLIAM WALTON
ZER
Greetings, writers.
Health and safety is our top priority, and as we've seen the increase of Covid cases - even among vaccinated individuals - it was clear that we needed to make a change to our Anthology launch party.
We are going to hold a drive-thru Anthology Launch Party on Thursday, September 16 from 7pm - 8pm at Captain Falcon Park. Click here for directions. We have attached a picture of the park for reference.
This contact-free event will be safe & fun (yes, that combination exists!). We will direct you to the starting point and you will drive through stations: a station to pick up your complimentary Anthology copy and purchase additional copies, a station to do a reading (if you choose), and a photo op station.
For this special event, we will hold the readings from your car. We will broadcast them on Facebook live. Alexis Mays Harborth (my daughter and Marketing director for the CCW Anthology) will be conducting the filming. She's going to have the equipment set up and you'll just drive up and read from your vehicle.
We are reserving 3 - 4 minutes for each person to read. We'll be sticking closely to that time window to ensure everyone has the chance to read.
Remember - this event is your opportunity to get your free copy of the Anthology, and also your chance to purchase additional copies at the one-time discounted rate of $10 per book. We accept cash and cards.
Event: Corpus Christi Writers 2021 Anthology Drive-Thru Launch Party
When: Thursday, September 16 from 7pm - 8pm at Captain Falcon Park
Location: Captain Falcon Park, 4718 Oso Pkwy, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 (Click here for directions via Google Maps)
The 4th annual Corpus Christi Writers Anthology is a showcase of the diverse and talented authors and artists of the Coastal Bend. Each year, we invite our community to submit work in our open call for submissions.
Be sure to visit our BOOKS page to view the 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions.
Corpus Christi Writers 2021 was open for submissions from December 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. The deadline has passed.
The anthology will be available in the fall of 2021. It will be available in print and e-book formats. Any resident or native of Corpus Christi, Texas or the surrounding areas may submit. Submissions, up to 3000 words are eligible. Any style or genre is acceptable. Poetry, fiction, memoirs, essays, and creative non-fiction are acceptable. Excerpts from longer works are considered. Diverse viewpoints are encouraged. Experimental work is encouraged. Interesting social media posts are acceptable. Submissions that appear to be social media posts are encouraged. Submit to williammays21@gmail.com.
Anthology is open to natives and/or residents of the the six county Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice combined statistical area. This includes towns such as Rockport, Port Aransas, and Refugio. It is also open to those whose books are available through Mays Publishing.
WORD COUNT/PAGE COUNT. Prose submissions must be shorter than 3000 words. Poetry must be shorter than 10 pages in 6 X 9 format. If you wish to create in the 6 X 9 format, I'll email you a template.
Prose or poetry is accepted.
Excerpts from longer works are acceptable
Fiction or non-fiction is accepted.
Black and white images that go along with the selection will be considered.
A blend of words and images will be considered
Diverse viewpoints are encouraged.
You may submit more than 1 work. If you submit a "longer" work (2000 words or 7 pages), you might consider submitting a shorter work too. We like works that are between 1 - 3 pages, but will certainly include longer works
There is no submission fee. You will retain all rights to your works. You may be asked to revise sections of your work
Send your submission in a Word document to books@MaysPublishing.com with YOUR NAME and CCW2021 SUBMISSION in the subject line. Alternately, you can send it to williammays21@gmail.com
1st Page of your submission must include a cover page with title of your work, the author’s name as you wish it to appear in publication, author’s name (if different than publication name), contact information (email address)
Communication is via email. Make sure you provide an email address that will be valid throughout 2021. If you have to change email addresses, please let us know. If we can't reach you, we may have to drop your selection from the anthology.
Please include a short biography. Also include a photo if possible. The selection can be published in CCW2021 without a photo, but a photo is required if you are to be featured in social media promotions and if you are to be headlined on MaysPublishing.com
The anthology will be available on Amazon, both in trade paperback and Kindle. It may also be available in other formats.
As compensation, you will receive a free copy of the anthology, promotion of your work, and an invitation to read at the launch party. You receive a section on MaysPublishing.com if you are included. This functions like a website. It can include links to your Amazon buy pages. You will also have the opportunity to buy additional anthology copies at a discounted rate.
Notifications of acceptance will start to go out in mid-March. However, you should receive notification that your submission has been received within a few days of you sending it. If you haven't received notification of receipt of submission, please let me know
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