Leading writers join Alt-Write
I am delighted to join Ben Okri, Carol Ann Duffy and Frank Cottrell Boyce as contributors to Alt-Write, a new collection of writing from major authors intended to "debunk xenophobic myths and … help [readers] discover the natural human quality of empathy".
Okri is contributing his poem Grenfell Tower, June 2017, written after the disaster, Cottrell Boyce has written a "fable about the lost", The Burning Bush, and Duffy is donating her poem History to the anthology. Aimed at young adults, with all profits to go to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the anthology, subtitled "Creative reactions to uncertain times", will feature work from 50 authors and illustrators who also include Benjamin Zephaniah,Michael Rosen, Chris Riddell, Sarah McIntyre, Celia Rees, Philip Ardagh, Alex Wheatle and Jackie Kay.
The past year has delivered a tumultuous series of world events that has left people reeling. Authors and illustrators asked themselves what they could do to help and the answer was to do what we do best, to write and draw and create. When you don't like the story the world is telling, tell a different story," said editors Mary Hoffman and Rhiannon Lassiter, who are looking to crowdfund publication of the anthology on IndieGogo. "This collection, to be published in spring 2018, is an outpouring of those emotions, an appeal to reason and a way for us to contribute to those in need of help."
"In 2003, we did a first anthology, Lines in the Sand – Iraq was about to be invaded, and we thought what could we do," said Hoffman, a children's author and publisher. "I thought in February – we have to do this all over again. We are really living through terrible times."
It's a privilege to be part of such an inspiring project,
To help crowdfund the book, please click here.
Tags:Alt-Write/Chris Riddle