“I want to do something splendid . . . I think I shall write books . . . .”

-Jo March, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, 1868

For generations, children around the world have come of age with Louisa May Alcott’s March girls. Their escapades and trials punctuated our own childhoods—maybe we weren’t victims of “lime-shaming,” like Amy, and we probably didn’t chop off our locks for the cause, like Jo, but Alcott’s messages of society and independence, family love, and sacrifice resonate over a century later. 2018 marks the 150^th anniversary of Little Women, published to wide acclaim in 1868.

Pink Umbrella Books is pleased to honor the beloved children’s classic with an original anthology. We invite writers around the world to submit their best previously unpublished creative nonfiction inspired by Alcott’s novel (memoir, essay, literary journalism and everything in between) for consideration. We welcome pieces between 500 – 7,000 words that speak to the life and legacy of Little Women. Have you made a pilgrimage to Orchard House? Are you turning into your Marmee? Did you jilt a “perfect” (Italian and musical) suitor? Maybe you met the modern Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—but in a Karachi slum. Perhaps you’re a nurse with a Beth story, or you just want to—literarily, rather than literally—wrench the clothespin off Amy’s upturned nose. Whatever the story, we want to hear from you.

We’ll be accepting your Little Women-inspired submissions at submissions@pinkumbrellabooks.com through April 9th, 2018. Please include a brief bio of no more than 200 words along with your work. Multiple submissions are accepted, and entry is free and open to all. Authors selected for inclusion will receive 2 copies of the anthology upon publication. Nonfiction in any style is welcome—however, we value authentic, vivid work, and, just like Jo, we prefer “good strong words that mean something,”

We look forward to reading your entries!