If you have not seen Ember: a journal of luminous things yet, you should order a copy or peruse their website immediately. This amazing work of art is administered and published by the Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation, which is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Brian Lewis is the editor-in-chief.
Ember is published semiannually with a primary focus on writing for and by readers aged 10 to 18. Fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction can be submitted by authors aged ten and above. I have both the issues that have currently been published, and absolutely can't wait for more. I devoured both issues in less than two hours. I simply could not put them down. The journal is divided into two sections: one for younger readers and one for young adult readers, but every piece of writing will be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of all ages. If you are running out of material for story time with your children, grab this publication at once. It would also make wonderful reading for a classroom at any grade level. The illustrations are beautiful pieces of art and make the stories and poems even more pleasurable to read. Certain pieces are also available for purchase.
I find the writing creative, beautiful, inspiring, and surprising. The stories range from amusing to poignant to enthralling. The spectrum of writing I have seen in the two issues I have received has been exceptional. Truly, there is something in this journal for everyone of any age, probably more than one something.
I am always searching for material that can be placed in my classroom library, but the wonderful thing about Ember is that I can also use it to encourage the writers among my students. Since Ember accepts submissions from anyone aged ten and above, it is my hope that some of my more talented authors/students will be enticed to submit their finished pieces for publication. Ember pays authors for submissions they publish, another enticement. I will also be contacting our school librarian to see about purchasing a subscription for the school library.
Information on submission guidelines and procedures can be found on the website or in the back of the journal. Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation also sponsors a scholarship for high-school-aged writers to allow them to improve their craft. It is a full annual scholarship to the California State Summer School for the Arts Creative Writing Program.
If you love Ember as much as I do, and you will, please consider supporting their mission. Their website lists several ways to do this, including crowdfunding, patreon, and one-time donations, which you can ear-mark for author payment, the scholarship fund, or as needed.
I don't normally use my blog to advertise, but this journal is truly an exceptional piece of art and deserves to be supported, subscribed to, and read by everyone. It is truly a place where "luminous things" can be found, and those places are becoming increasingly hard to locate. I will be telling everyone I know about Ember, and hope you will all do the same.
