Stories from the Heartland

Stories from the Heartland is the fifth installment in the Nebraska Writers Guild's Voices from the Plains anthology series. The collection features poetry, short stories, flash fiction, memoirs, essays, excerpts from novels, and other nonfiction and is an eclectic mix of genres, styles, and voices.

This volume of the series, like the four that came before it, exclusively features members of the Nebraska Writers Guild who mostly live in Nebraska but can also be found in Arizona, Colorado, California, and many other states. The Nebraska Writers Guild, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the country. The Guild strives to support its members through workshops, community, and publishing opportunities. And that's just the start.

The Voices from the Plains anthology series is an annual publication that started in 2017 with the inaugural Voices from the Plains. Three volumes of the same name followed in 2018, 2019, and 2020. For the fifth volume, the Guild decided to use a unique name, which was suggested and chosen by Guild members.

Stories from the Heartland showcases some of the best offerings from mostly emerging authors across Nebraska and beyond. Without a specific theme, the collection is able to include all kinds of subject matter ranging from a Seussical poem about childhood to a gut-wrenching look at suicide (trigger warning included). While the collection as a whole is geared toward adults, everyone can find something to pique their interest, challenge their thinking, or tickle their funny bone.

For anyone who loves poetry or short fiction and nonfiction, Stories from the Heartland is a must.