The Stone of Language

Anya Achtenberg is a fiction writer and poet whose publications include the novel Blue Earth, and novella The Stories of Devil-Girl; poetry collections The Stone of Language, and I Know What the Small Girl Knew; and individual works in many literary magazines, including Harvard Review; Gargoyle Magazine; Mizna; Hinchas de poesía, Tupelo Quarterly; Poet Lore; Taos International Journal; Malpais Review. Awards in fiction have come from Coppola’s Zoetrope: All-Story, New Letters, the Asheville Fiction Workshop, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and more; with poetry awards including first prizes from Southern Poetry Review and Another Chicago Magazine. Prior to publication, the manuscript of The Stone of Language was finalist in five competitions: Philip Levine Poetry Contest; Hayden Carruth Award (Copper Canyon Press); May Swenson Award from Utah State University Press, Cleveland State University’s Poetry Center Prize, and Alice James Book Award. Soon completed are the poetry collection, Watch the Rising; and novel long-in-progress, History Artist, with an ensemble of characters connected to three genocides and their aftermaths, and centered around a young Cambodian woman born with the U.S. bombing of Cambodia. Anya consults with writers individually, and teaches three series of fiction/creative nonfiction/multi-genre creative writing courses: 1) Writing for Social Change: Re-Dream a Just World; 2) The Disobedient Writer Workshops; and, 3) Say it! Digalo! A series of standalone multi-genre workshops. More at anya-achtenberg.com and Anya’s fiction, poetry and writing on craft at Writing in Upheaval, here: anyaachtenberg.substack.com'Achtenberg is a poet of lyrical intensity... interested in detail for the wealth of revelation and music it will yield up.' - Luis H. Francia, The Village Voice'Anya Achtenberg’s visionary workshops on writing for social change have received national acclaim. With this book of poetry, she practices what she preaches--redreaming a just world--in a way that is simply breathtaking.' - Demetria Martinez, author of Mother Tongue'Stunning and original! Powerful ’make it new’ language.' - Stratis Haviaras, founder and former editor of Harvard ReviewFrom Modern History Press