Voices from the American Land

About Us

1. A Short History of Voices
Voices from the American Land was founded in 2008 by a group of writers, editors, and graphic designers who had worked together for some years on a quite successful series of local poetry readings in Placitas, New Mexico, taking place every Winter Solstice. Admission to the readings, which featured environmental concerns, was free, although a donation (unspecified) was requested to defray expenses. At the end of the reading, those attending were each given a chapbook containing the poems read. As it turned out, the donations were sufficient to cover the cost of the readings and printing the chapbooks.

Given this experience, the organizers met with poets and editors from New York, Virginia, Colorado, California, and other parts of the country to discuss whether the idea of a national program of chapbook publication, and readings, could make its way. The idea of single-author chapbooks was the key feature of the program, since they could be less expensive to produce, and could concentrate on a single landscape or locale needful of conservation.

To kick off this literary experiment, all the editors and advisors were asked to contribute a “Rolodex” list to whom we would send an announcement of the program, in the form of a four-page, full-color newsletter. And in September, 2008, off it went. A healthy core group of members joined, and our volunteer editors dug deep to augment that income. We managed to get our four chapbooks out for the first volume year, and by the end of that year to double our readership. Since then, with the help of gifts from charitable foundations, private individuals, and the ungoing support of our members, we were able to publish six more chapbooks.

To celebrate the launch of two chapbooks, we sponsored free, regional festivals focused on the landscape they addressed (the Rio Grande corridor and the Great Smoky Mountains.) At these festivals, the chapbooks containing the author's work was distributed at no cost. We hoped to draw attention to the conservation issues relevant to that landscape, and to reach readers who might not otherwise have access to the work.

Throughout the life of Voices from the American Land, we have been honored to publish a diverse and extraordinary group of writers. Working with them, and with the artists whose work also graces the pages, has been a tremendous privilege. We are grateful to each one.

2. Where We Are Now
 In September 2021, Voices from the American Land will close its figurative doors. We honor and support others who continue the mission to “bring the prestige and imaginary power of contemporary poetry, both spoken and in print, to bear on the defense of significant lands and landscapes of North America,” and we’re heartened to know that there are plenty of you out there. All it takes is a quick Google search to find not only the names of our contributing poets, but a bevy of new writers, many of them Black or Indigenous People of Color, whose work emerges from a rich and complex connection to the land. These voices have never been more needed.

If you're able, we urge you to consider a donation to a group working toward landscape conservation and environmental justice. You may want to explore the McKenzie River Trust (https://mckenzieriver.org/), Amigos Bravos (https://www.amigosbravos.org/), Healthy Gulf (https://www.healthygulf.org), Honor the Earth (https://www.stopline3.org/take-action), or a local organization focused on a landscape that is precious to you.

All but a few of our poets’ chapbooks are still available for purchase through September. If you're interested in placing a bulk order, please reach out directly to summer@voicesfromtheamericanland.org.

3. The Group
Since our founding in early 2008, several of our volunteer editors have moved on and new ones have taken their place. We miss James Burbank, Anthony Hunt, and Jane Sprague. Rest in peace and power: Voices founder Charles Little (focus of the chapbook "Remembering Charles); E.A. “Tony” Mares (former board member and author of the chapbook “Rio del Corazon”); Voices poets Joanne Kyger and Patricia Monahan; and our final Voices author, Barry Lopez.   

Editorial Board:
Summer Wood
Renny Golden
Dorothy B. Bowen

Advisory Council:
Darlene Chandler Bassett
Wendell Berry
J. B. Bryan
Gary Snyder
George F. Thompson

For background on our editors, please click here for a photo and brief bio.