Edited by Chris Green, a senior professional lecturer in the Department of English, and students in the Master's in Writing & Publishing program, “DePaul's Blue Book: Best of Illinois High School Writing 2020" is now available online. The university will host a virtual launch of the anthology, featuring seven of its writers, on Friday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m.
DePaul values the written voice, and the Department of English aims to honor and encourage young writers. From more than 50 high school literary magazines submitted from across Illinois, Green and his graduate students selected 45 pieces of poetry, fiction and nonfiction for the latest anthology. This is the second volume of their annual tribute to the state's best young creative writers and their schools' literary magazines.
DePaul's Blue Book is the latest imprint by the Department of English, which fosters work in literature, creative writing and publishing. Established in 2019, DePaul's Publishing Institute brings together the student literary magazine, “Crook & Folly;" the long-standing poetry journal, “Poetry East;" the urban prose journal, “Slag Glass City;" and Big Shoulders Books, a press that gives voice to unique communities and important issues in Chicago.