New York, NY (January 16, 2024)—The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) is thrilled to announce that FlowerSong Press, based in McAllen, Texas, is the winner of the 2023 Constellation Award. The press will receive $10,000. Three finalists were also selected: the Dominican Writers Association in New York City and DSTL Arts and Kaya Press, both located in Los Angeles, California.
Given to honor an independent literary press that is led by and/or champions the writing of people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian American & Pacific Islander individuals, for excellence in publishing, the Constellation Award was launched in 2021 by CLMP with the support of Penguin Random House, which has underwritten the award for its first three years.
“We celebrate FlowerSong Press for receiving this well-deserved honor through its work in fostering and uplifting essential literature, particularly from marginalized voices,” said Claire von Schilling, EVP, Director, Corporate Communications & Social Responsibility, Penguin Random House. “Independent presses like FlowerSong Press cultivate a literary community rich in culture and diversity, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with CLMP to further fortify this work.”
FlowerSong Press is a small, independent press located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, founded by David Bowles in 2013. Under the creative vision of current publisher Edward Vidaurre, the press now publishes 20 to 30 books of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction, as well as children’s books and anthologies, per year, with a focus on amplifying the lyrical and literary voices of the borderlands and beyond. This year, FlowerSong Press will introduce a new imprint, Brown Ink, curated by Frederick Luis Aldama, which will publish books that blend text with graphics and words with drawings across all genres. Brown Ink is dedicated to sharing stories focusing on Latinx/e/a/o experiences and identities. Additionally, this year FlowerSong Press will publish the recipients of its first Bougainvillea Poetry Prize and The Chicanx Visions Book Award.
“FlowerSong Press is incredibly honored to be recognized with this award and to continue publishing borderland voices,” said Edward Vidaurre, Publisher of FlowerSong Press. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue expanding our reach and readership of borderland writers, whose inspiring stories illustrate the hard work and resiliency of borderland literature and community.”
“The Constellation Award is a unique prize that recognizes the existence and endurance of publishers dedicated to championing literature from diverse voices, and we are thrilled to honor FlowerSong Press for its decade-long commitment to this endeavor,” said CLMP Board Member Beena Kamlani. “The jurying process was challenging not least because there were so many impressive applications, and it gives us joy to acknowledge the fine work of the finalists as well. It is a privilege to be engaged with an award that pays tribute to these keepers of the flame.”
The judges for this year’s award were Jamia Wilson, Vice President/Executive Editor at Penguin Random House, and CLMP Board Members Beena Kamlani, Deborah Paredez, and Clarence Reynolds.
For more information about the Constellation Award, visit www.clmp.org/constellation-award/.
About the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP)
CLMP ensures a vibrant, diverse literary landscape by helping mission-driven independent literary magazines and presses thrive. Since 1967, CLMP has provided publishers with funding and technical assistance; facilitated peer-to-peer learning and group action; served as a dependable, essential hub for best practices, resources, and nurturing community support; and connected publishers with other groups of literary stakeholders, including readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, educators, presenting organizations, and funders. Along with directly serving 1,000+ publishers located in every state in the country, CLMP administers the Lit Mag Adoption program, which provides educators and students with discounted magazine subscriptions; the annual Indie Lit Fair, in partnership with the PEN World Voices Festival; the $10,000 Constellation Award, given to honor an independent literary press that is led by and/or champions the writing of people of color for excellence in publishing; and the Firecracker Awards for Independently Published Literature, which celebrate magazines and books that make a significant contribution to our literary culture, among other programs. Learn more at www.clmp.org.
