We are sending acceptance letters as we go. For last-minute submitters like myself, HURRY up. 😀
Calling for Submissions- UNHOUSED anthology
Tag: prolific pulse press
Social Possibilities
Social Possibilities Poetic Voices of Hope is available now on all major book retailers.
My three poems are included in this incredible timely anthology.
Please consider purchasing a copy to read and pass on to others to read to bring hope to our brothers and sisters.
Submissions open UNHOUSED Yearning for Home
Subject on migration, asylum-seeking, illegal-and-legal-immigration, homelessness, and a verge of homelessness.
Calling for submissions of poetry, flash writing, cover art
Lived experience or observation
Submit here or scan QR code below.
Teaser – “Unhoused Yearning for Home” Anthology
The call for submissions is coming up soon…
I am working with Candice Louisa Dequin to co-edit this anthology, and it will be published by Prolific Pulse Press.
UNHOUSED – Yearning for Home shines a light on: Migration, asylum-seeking, illegal-and-legal-immigration, and other factors resulting in being without a home, national-identity, country, or security net. Whether you have immigrated and found yourself isolated and unable to fit into your adopted country’s identity, or lost status in a country you identify with, been out-of-status, living-below-the-radar, a Dreamer or undocumented, or forced to flee your homeland because of discrimination, war or other destabilizing forces, this is your opportunity to share your experiences on the hardships and often invisible struggles so many endure.
Prolific Pulse Press’s background in publishing social justice anthologies, continues with ‘Unhoused – Yearning for Home’ – an anthology of poetry and flash-writing on the current epidemic of unhoused, homeless, stateless, and country-less people and how this lack of safety affects generations. We seek to highlight the writer’s resilience and determination to survive and thrive whilst sharing their truth and experience(s).
‘Unhoused – Yearning for Home’ will be edited by Carrie Yang and Candice Louisa Daquin. Carrie Yang works in the Homelessness and Employment services in Australia and is herself an immigrant. Candice Daquin is also an immigrant, currently in America, and has worked in crisis centers in the US/Europe and Canada. Their combined professional experience, alongside having produced over twenty anthologies, is the pulse behind this project. The editors are fortunate enough to work with Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld, Manager of Prolific Pulse Press LLC. Given Prolific Pulse Press’s history of publishing exceptional anthologies, including Cadence (finalist in the American Writing Awards), Social Justice Inks, Dear Heart, and Heartbeats, our goal is to be a powerful platform for erased voices on this neglected and often inaccurately understood subject.
‘Unhoused – Yearning for Home,’ doesn’t seek to become mired in politics, but rather through the lens of human experience, help others comprehend the unique social and physical challenges surrounding this kind of limbo. Poetry and creative writing is an ideal vessel for this and we welcome all forms of poetry, flash-fiction and accompanying artwork. ‘Unhoused – Yearning for Home’ is scheduled to be published in early 2026.
My Beloved Past
Dear Heart: Expressions from within
How frightened were you when you witnessed your protectors’ laying hands on each other? How helpless were you when you realised you couldn’t defend grandma from grandpa’s beating? How scared were you when your friends were punched and robbed right before your eyes? Violence made you timid and quiet, and your screams came out in all the wrong places. You walked with a hunched back as a teenager because of the weight of suffering in silence.
You loved strangers, they posed less threats than people who were close to you. You preferred distance than intimacy. You felt safe with your loved ones when there was a wall between you. You dared not to let them into your heart otherwise they would break into pieces as history had proven itself. You were filled with longing and yet so alone.
I know you danced alone, sang alone and cried alone. I know the trees knew your sorrow, the river carried your sadness, and the sky held your secrets. Before you met your Maker, you gained life from your Maker’s creation. The wind raised you to be strong as a tree; the rain nourished you to be healthy as a flower; the sun shined upon you to be blessed as the favourite one.
It was your Maker who loved you and granted you the ability to love. You were held by your Maker’s hand and travelled back to those violent memories. You no longer faced them alone with weak knees, instead, you rose in your Master’s strength, with humility and compassion. You came to understand that violence was the outwork of human’s corruption, and there was nothing you did to cause that. You were created in your Master’s image, pure and blameless.
There is so much I want to say to you. There is so much absence I want to make up for. There is so much love I want to express. And yet, without all these, you stand tall and beautiful. What’s there left for me to say except ‘I am so proud of you.’?
Thank you for your existence. Thank you for reuniting with me. Thank you for making us whole again.
Love Always,
Now
Publication – Dear Heart
Sharing my publisher Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld’s words on the launch of “Dear Heart” anthology. I used my real name “Jia-Li YANG” in this anthology because it means so much to me that every word came from the deepest part of my heart.
I still can’t get a copy yet because it’s out of stock (purchase in Australia from the American Amazon website). If you manage to get one please read it for me and leave an honest review. This will mean the world to me and my fellow writers. Thank you!
Get your copy today on Amazon
“Before computers, we wrote letters. My mother’s letters were like little novellas, several pages long. Her family members and friends loved to get her “books.” Letters from mom were heartfelt and brought tears of love. As her pen moved passionately across the pages, sometimes her clear, blue eyes would well up. Letters were her release. They were her way of expressing herself in ways she could not voice. Occasionally, she would write letters to people out of anger and then tear them up. These could have been to politicians, relatives, and those are the ones I knew about. She would express her heart’s desire, open up her soul, and pour out her thoughts.
While I did not have the beautiful penmanship of my mother, I learned that the pen was my power. Some of my letters were releases which I destroyed. At age 15, I even wrote one about the need for a doctor in our little town. The letter and story was published in the newspaper.
As a writer and a poet, I write as if my words are letters to the world, perhaps to express the desires of my heart. Other times I write to simply write.
When we do express our desires within our heart this has a way of stirring up thoughts and even action plans to make things happen. They could be acceptances of things that can’t be changed, but often are steps toward courage to make something happen.
I posed this question and requested to others: What is the desire in your heart? This is my challenge to you. I would like to read about the desires in your heart in the “Dear Heart” anthology of letters, poetry, art, photography, and whatever ways helps you express your passion.
There was a caveat to this. In honor of my mother, the expressions were to be sent to me via good old fashioned snail mail.
Now, it is my pleasure to bring to you these beautiful heartfelt responses via Dear Heart.
Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
Contributirs: Alice Taylor, Chyrel J. Jackson, Danielle Martin, Jia-Li Yang, Jill Sharon Kimmelman, Jodi Lynn Nehring, Karen Monteith, Max H. Tomey, Nanci Arvizu, Pratibha Savani, Rebecca Herz, Richa Dinesh Sharma, Robin Klammer, Sarah Ryan, Shiela Denise Scott, Steve Anc, Terri Michels, and Zaneta Varnado Johns.
Special Shout out to Kay Doiron for the cover art and to Zan Johns for her wonderful editing skills.”
Pushcart Prize Nomination
THE FIRST IS THE LAST
We are the first born of this land
But we are cursed
We are the tail of everything
Our land was robbed
Our blood was tainted
Our children were stolen
Our identity was denied
We bury generations of grief
Into drunken days and nights
Our refuge is the dreaming
Under the watch of our sky father
The only place we are the first
And his favourite
Writer’s notes: This poem is about the Australian First Nation Peoples (the Aboriginal Australians) who continue to suffer from the oppressed and persecuted past.
Social Justice Inks
Greensleeves
This poem made it to Lisa’s Anthology of Poetry Heart Beats and was published by Prolific Pulse Press in March 2021. I was honoured to be included in this anthology along with other very talented poets. Purchase link here
The ocean looks extra boisterous in the middle of a heatwave A sea of vibrant tents, umbrellas and cabanas scattering along the long stretch of beach line Children are screeching in the cascades of white foams Everything is intensifying the scorching sand beneath our feet I pray silently for a break of cool breeze The sound of Greensleeves is approaching like happy footsteps I pause instantly and join in with others swarming towards the ice cream van A new found joy springs up with the anticipation of cool relief The familiar melody reminds me of the forever happy place
Flicker of Thoughts 