Why Support?

Ten Piscataqua Writers 2024 is one way for the regional arts community to regularly discover, explore, and celebrate outstanding writers right among us. We intend to publish this anthology of regional writers on an biennial basis. It’s not an anthology solely of short stories, or one of essays, or just poetry, our goal is to present an eclectic mix from established and emerging writers in the region on an yearly basis. These are writers we think you should know about.

• A regular arts platform for writers. Our Call for Entries for the next edition goes out as soon as the last edition is published. Writers living in the Piscataqua River watershed are invited to send our guest editors a chapter (15–30 ms pages) of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or anything in between,  from which they select the ten writers they think belong in the anthology.  of what we knew already, that our region is blessed with incredible literary talent, both established and emerging, and working in all kinds of genres. Most folks who belong to that community become aware of each other through local writers’ groups, readings, book signing events, and hoots. But what’s missing is a way to discovering these talents, or at least a sampling a group of them, in print. Many magazine publications have come and gone, publishing is a cutthroat business, especially for publications dependent on advertising. Book publishing too is in a state of upheaval, but one that offers new opportunities and business models. Our model is to build on community at all levels, not just folks who want back a good read for $20, but for those who can recognize and support a good community idea. 

• Arts community building. Our books recognize a larger arts community than any individual city or town. They celebrate the arts community of a larger region—the Piscataqua River watershed straddling the southern NH &ME border and all the tributaries that feed into it. We feel strongly that the more a community is aware of and supports its local genius, the more grounded and sustainable that community is. Members of the writing community have come together in this book in various ways: the writers who’ve offered us their visions; creative professionals who invested their time and talent to produce and market the book, readers who back us when collecting or gifting copies of it, and art patrons (businesses, organizations, and individuals) who support the effort with generous donations because they recognize the larger community benefits.

• Supporting local writers! Support local where ever you can but support significant achievements among local writers especially. Every dollar we can raise beyond our crowdfunding target to get the book on press starts putting money directly into the pockets of not only the ten painters contributing in the book, but the creative professionals who have also invested time and talents to produce and market the book.

• An ongoing series. We are building on our success with our coffee table books that showcase local visual artists, Ten Piscataqua Photographers, and Ten Piscataqua Painters. If we can achieve similar modest success with Ten Piscataqua Writers 2022, then it’s all the more likely we’ll be announcing a “Call for Entries” for a 2023 edition this coming summer.

• An educational tool. This book opens a window into the worlds of ten different storytellers. It teaches what regional writers are up to. It teaches that good writing is not just about decoration, good writing has things to say. These writers have things to tell us. A book in your hand is an intimate way to take the time to explore, and see, as well as listen to what they’re saying.

• An historical document. The Piscataqua region has a rich history of writers, and Ten Piscataqua Writers 2022 presents a snapshot of writing in the region today.

The ten chapters of the book have all been written, selected, edited, designed, and paged and are just about ready to go on press. What we need now is to raise the money with pre-orders from readers in the community, along with more generous donations from patrons. Please use the Donate Now button above to pre-order your copy with as large a donation as you can.

To follow our progress by email as our crowdfunding campaign gets underway, please be sure to  Subscribe to Ten Piscataqua News!