The Pushcart Prize honors the incredible work of authors published by small presses and has since 1976. And since then, thousands of writers have been featured in its annual collections—most of whom are new to the series. The Pushcart Prize is a wonderful opportunity for writers of short stories, poetry, and essays to jump further into the literary world and see their work gain recognition and appreciation.
The Prize represents an incredible opportunity for Yellow Arrow to further showcase and support our authors. Our staff is committed to letting our authors shine. Every writer has a story to tell and every story is worth telling. We are so proud of everyone we publish at Yellow Arrow. Without further ado, let’s meet the 2022 Yellow Arrow Pushcart Prize Nominees!
Ute Carson
“Talking and Listening,” Listen
~ Like inhaling and exhaling, /we need both. /By exchanging stories, /we can reach understanding. ~
Ute Carson, a German-born writer from youth, has published two novels, a novella, a volume of stories, four collections of poetry, and numerous essays, here and abroad. Her poetry was twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize before. She resides in Austin, Texas with her husband. They have three daughters, six grandchildren, a horse, and a clowder of cats. Please visit her at utecarson.com.
Ute was featured in Yellow Arrow Journal’s (Re)Formation issue and her .Writers.on.Writing. was added to the Yellow Arrow website August 2021. Ute’s chapbook Listen was just released in the Yellow Arrow bookstore.
María Elena Montero
“Four Quarters,” Yellow Arrow Journal, Vol. VI, No. 2 Anfractuous
~ I was four quarters at peace. The whole of me, sitting there highlighted by streaks of auburns and bronzes. Four quarters at peace with owing an explanation to no one. ~
María Elena Montero is a writer born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. She is AfroLatina of Cuban-Dominican descent and fluent in Spanish, rumbao, and bachata (not necessarily in that order). María Elena’s essays have appeared in The Acentos Review, in the award-winning SankShuned Photography Art Book, the anthology Peínate: Hair Battles Between Latina Mothers and Daughters, and the literary magazine midnight & indigo. When she’s not bird watching, teaching yoga, or writing, you can find María Elena at meechiemail.com and her CNF “Four Quarters” in Yellow Arrow Journal ANFRACTUOUS.
LEAH MYERS
“A Writer Who Can’t Read,” Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. VI, No. 1 Renascence
~ A writer who can’t read is a sorry sight. When I don’t understand a language, I want to skim over it. I want to let my eyes gloss its twists and bends so that I do not have to feel lesser for not understanding. ~
Leah Myers is an Urban Native American writer with roots in Georgia, Arizona, and Washington, and is currently pursuing an MFA in creative nonfiction at the University of New Orleans. Her work has previously appeared in Craft Literary Magazine, High Shelf Press, Newfound, and elsewhere. Leah is a member of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and can be found on Instagram and Twitter @n8v_wordsmith, or at leahmyers.com.
You can learn more about Leah in her Yellow Arrow Journal .W.o.W. from July 2021 and a “Writer Who Can’t Read” in Yellow Arrow Journal RENASCENCE.
Melissa Nunez
“Alight,” EMERGE: Coming Into View
~ I am accustomed to the point of tuning out, at times, the mournful coos of the white-tipped doves, the cackling caws of grackles, mimics of mockingbirds, even the self-announcing great kiskadee; their quotidian shades and shapes quickly perceived and processed, not penetrating past the subliminal. ~
Melissa Nunez is an avid reader, writer, and homeschooling mother of three. She lives in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas—a predominantly Latin@ community. She writes both essays and poetry inspired by observation of the natural world, the dynamics of relationships, and the question of belonging. Her work has been featured in Folio, Yellow Arrow Journal, and others. Melissa has a flash essay, “Je Vois la Vie en Rose,” that came out in Issue 7 of the online magazine eucalyptus & rose while “Regeneration” was published in FEED Issue 2.25 and “Leche y Miel” was included in Issue 2: Día de los Muertos of Alebrijes Review. Her essay “Silent” is forthcoming in Issue 21 of Minerva Rising. You can find her on Twitter @MelissaKNunez.
Melissa contributed her nonfiction piece “What is Mine” to Yellow Arrow Journal’s Vol. VI, No. 1 issue on RENASCENCE. And “Alight” is from EMERGE: Coming Into View. You can find her prerecorded reading of “Alight” on Yellow Arrow’s YouTube channel. You can learn more about Melissa in her November 2021 Yellow Arrow Journal .W.o.W.
Ellen Dooling Reynard
“No Batteries Required,” No Batteries Required
~ I write in pencil, the original computer /of pine wood, graphite, and rubber, /instead of metal, plastic, /and that mysterious something called circuitry. ~
Ellen Dooling Reynard spent her childhood on a cattle ranch in Montana. Raised on myths and fairy tales, the sense of wonder has never left her. A one-time editor of Parabola Magazine, her chapbook, No Batteries Required, was published in April 2021 by Yellow Arrow Publishing. Her poetry has also been published by Lighten Up On Line, Persimmon, Silver Blade, The Ekphrastic Review, and The Muddy River Poetry Review. Now retired, she has relocated to Temecula, California, where she is working on a series of ekphrastic poems based on (and including) the work of her late husband, the French painter Paul Reynard (1927–2005). Follow Ellen on Facebook and connect with her at ellendoolingreynard.com.
Patti Ross
“Indemnity,” St. Paul Street Provocations
~ It was your ancestors who started the fight. /Don't you see the need to make right? ~
Patti Ross graduated from Washington, D.C.’s Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts and The American University. After graduation, several of her journalist pieces were published in the Washington Times and the Rural America newspapers. Retiring from a career in technology Patti has rediscovered her love of writing and shares her voice as the spoken word artist little pi. Her poems are published in the Pen In Hand Journal, PoetryXHunger website, and Oyster River Pages: Composite Dreams Issue. Follow her blog at littlepisuniverse.com.
Her poignant debut chapbook, St. Paul Street Provocations, can be found in the Yellow Arrow bookstore.
If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, please make sure to donate to our Turning the Next Page fundraising campaign. Yellow Arrow is able to share stories of writers who identify as women because of our incredible community of supporters. Your assistance contributes to the publication of our journal as well as our incredible chapbooks and zines.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. Thank you for supporting independent publishing.