Together, they form the Carolina African-American Writers’ Collective, which celebrated its 25th anniversary with this anthology of works by collective members. It is edited by its founder and poet, Lenard D. Moore. North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green introduces the anthology, which includes works by Carolina Country magazine contributor Bridgette A. Lacy, Crystal Simone Smith, Evie Shockley, Camille T. Dungy, Carole Boston Weatherford, and many others. Individually, these poems, stories, and essays have helped these Carolinians voice their experiences. Gathered together, their chorus amplifies and asks to be heard.

Topics range widely, from works about racism to a poem about the look and feel of an early morning and an essay about the loss of smell. These writers have shaped the modern literary landscape of the Carolinas and will continue to inspire writers for generations to come.

Softcover, 207 pages, $17.95. 919-682-0555