Help our Young Poets Anthology Go Global
It's already a big deal; you can help us make it bigger
On June 23, 1455 books — the new publishing imprint of 1455 Literary Arts — releases its first anthology: 177 young poets, ages 10 to 21, writing on a single theme: HOPE.
They come from 36 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 9 countries. The introduction is by Richard Blanco, the fifth U.S. presidential inaugural poet. The youngest contributor is a fourth grader from Boulder.
We did the hard part. Hundreds of submissions reviewed. 177 poets selected. Free to enter, no fees of any kind, every contributor retains ownership of their work. The manuscript is finished. The distribution is locked: Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark for libraries. The launch is in motion.
We need help making it travel.
This is a genuinely national story, with local angles in 36 states and voices from 8 countries. A presidential inaugural poet is introducing young writers whose first published work will share a binding with his name.
A 14-year-old in Addis Ababa. A 17-year-old in New Orleans. Rural communities, major cities, overlooked regions, and global capitals — young writers from places that rarely sit together inside the same literary project.
They wrote about hope — not the bumper-sticker version, but the honest, complicated, hard-won kind.
“Unflinching, searching, and alive, these poems redefine hope for a new generation.” — Sean Murphy, Executive Director, 1455 Literary Arts
The full press release, media kit, poet bios, and cover art are at 1455litarts.org/ypa.
This anthology is the most ambitious thing we’ve done. We’d like to grow it and give it the momentum it deserves—and your tax-free support will make all the difference.
Need some additional inspiration? Check out our Young Poets Award reading and celebration!