Legacy Thriving: februaries by Michele Evans
Yellow Arrow Publishing announces the release of our first chapbook of 2026, februaries by Michele Evans. Since its establishment in 2016, Yellow Arrow has devoted its efforts to advocate for all women writers through inclusion in the biannual Yellow Arrow Journal as well as single-author publications and Yellow Arrow Vignette, and by providing strong author support, writing workshops, and volunteering opportunities. We at Yellow Arrow are excited to continue our mission by supporting Michele in all her writing and publishing endeavors.
Photo K. Evans (Instagram @snapsbykee44)
Michele Evans, the author of the poetry collection purl, returns with februaries—a chapbook of poems inspired by her participation in the National African American Read-In (AARI) founded by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Chronicling and preserving the achievements and contributions of ancestors Harriet Tubman, Billie Holiday, Maya Angelou, and others, februaries, a museum constructed of poignant poems diverse in form, reminds readers: Black History is American History, and it should be “celebrated, appreciated, and narrated” well beyond the annual 28-day observance.
Inspired by the literary tradition established by an assembly of living legends from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, such as Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin and E. Ethelbert Miller, Evans, a fifth-generation Washingtonian (D.C.) and English teacher, revisits significant and complicated moments from America’s past to spark necessary and challenging conversations about the future of humanity.
The cover and interior art were created by Evans’ son, Harrison. According to Evans, “Because februaries pays homage to the literary contributions from DMV creatives, I asked Harrison to include something that represents the region. After reading the poems penned for my school’s Black History Month annual event, Harrison drew a landscape of the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Hovering above the buildings in the skyline is a rendering of Aquarius—the water bearer, the zodiac sign for people born from January 21 to February 19 and the figure often associated with intellect and independence, the one pouring knowledge and ideas into the world.”
Paperback and PDF versions februaries are now available from the Yellow Arrow bookstore. If interested in purchasing more than one paperback copy for friends and family, check out our discounted wholesale prices here. You can also search for februaries wherever you purchase your books including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. To learn more about Evans and februaries, check out our recent interview with her.
You can find Evans on her website at awordsmithie.com and follow her on Instagram @awordsmithie and connect with Yellow Arrow on Facebook and Instagram, to share some love for this chapbook. You can also share a review to any of the major distributors or by emailing editor@yellowarrowpublishing.com. We’d love to hear from you.
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Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we LUMINATE a path for women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook or Instagram, or subscribing to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.