Virginia G Piper Center for Creative Writing

For Pride Month, we’re revisiting a few books by writers from the Piper and ASU creative writing community:

The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
To Name the Bigger Lie by Sarah Viren

Three very different books - a YA novel, a poetry collection, and a memoir-in-essays - each attentive to questions of identity, intimacy, language, and the stories we inherit.

Have you read any of these yet? Drop your favorite LGBTQ+ reads in the comments so we can keep building our summer TBR list.

https://piper.asu.edu/

Get ready for an unforgettable night! CantoMundo is coming to town—join us at the Piper Writers House or listen ONLINE. A truly coast-to-coast poetry celebration!

Summer isn't just a season; it’s a shift in perspective. ✍️☀️

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Half the battle is writing it.
The other half is hitting send - and doing it again (and again...).

Here are three July deadlines for poetry, fiction, and hybrid work.

Happy submitting!

piper.asu.edu/

We’re thrilled to celebrate Belinda Acosta, Director of CantoMundo, on her selection as a 2026 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow! This immersive weeklong program brings together arts leaders and cultural workers to strengthen nonprofit leadership and build lasting connections. Congratulations, Belinda—your dedication inspires our creative community!

In case you missed our first meeting, the Desert Owl Book Club is just getting warmed up for a summer of deep dives and great conversations. 🦉📖

June 11: Beasts of Carnaval by Rosalia Rodrigo

July 16: Kin by Tayari Jones

August 13: The Ghost Women by Jennifer Murphy

piper.asu.edu/

Happy National Short Story Month! Just a few pages and something shifts. Celebrate with us and find some new favorites.

Here’s a good place to start:
🔗 https://bookriot.com/contemporary-short-story-collections/

Happy reading!

Why wait? Submit soon!

Check out these opportunities for summer. Starting now at Piper. Learn more and sign up for FREE events at the Piper Center at https://piper.asu.edu/upcomingevents. Make this your writing summer!