ADONIS DESIGNS PRESS


NAVIGATING THE MAZE 2023
COME CELEBRATE OUR 25TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION



We publish the best of all poems, art and photography submitted by teens during the past year. A free copy of the book is mailed to those whose work is selected. The paperback book is published each spring in partnership with Springfield Poets and Writers, an Illinois nonprofit literary organization. Of artwork submitted, one piece is chosen for that year's cover.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
SUBMIT YOUR WORK
BUY A BOOK
NAVIGATING THE MAZE HISTORY
EDITOR ANITA STIENSTRA



DEADLINE FOR THE 2023 NAVIGATING THE MAZE IS MARCH 3, 2023.



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guidelines





01



Open to TEENS in 8th to 12th grades.



02



FREE TO ENTER and contributors get a free book.



03



Email 1-3 POEMS and/or 1-3 PHOTOS a year.


(Yes, that means you can send up to 3 poems AND up to 3 photos of your artwork.)



04



Submissions are ACCEPTED ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.


(If you email us, we will acknowledge receiving your work immediately. Then in March or April, we will let you know whether or not your work is accepted for that year's book.)



05



DEADLINE is either the last week of February or first week of March each year.



06



We DO NOT accept simultaneous submissions.



07



Include in your email your NAME and the STATE in which you live.


(To receive a free book, email your mailing address after your work is accepted. OR you can buy the book at any bookstore online.)



08



Poems attached as WORD documents are strongly preferred OR put them in the body of your email.



09



Artwork should include the TITLE of the piece and what MEDIA and SURFACE was used. For example: "The Willow Tree," pencil on paper and be in tif or jpeg format. (300 dpi resolution or higher preferred.)



10



PHOTOGRAPHY should include a title.



11



Poems must be TYPED and in ENGLISH.



12



TEACHERS: We appreciate entries all in one Word document. Note: If you encourage students to submit their work individually, remind them to make note of that in their submission, along with your name and school name, so we can mail you a free book too.


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MAZE BOOKS





ISBN 978-0-9979873-x-x


2022 coming soon.

BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9979873-4-8


Cover photograph by Melissa Horowitz.

BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9979873-3-1


Cover photograph is a cement sculpture made by 22 students of st. Loucas lyceum in cyprus. "fallen angels" was an art project under the direction of award-winning teacher popi nikolaus.

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ISBN 978-0-9979873-2-4



Cover art by Connie Gong.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-997987310-7



Cover art is "multiple sides to one story" by Chris kim.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9979873-0-0



cOVER pHOTO "cRY TO FREEDOM" BY hAEMARU CHUNG.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-692-70658-9



cOVER ART IS "uNDER PRESSURE" BY STEFY LORET DE MOLA.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-692-44264-7



Cover art by aly beckham.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-615-1759-8



cOVER PHOTO BY yANA mEADOWS.


BUY IT



ISBN 978-0-9819750-9-2



Cover art by Momo manalang.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9819750-8-5



Cover art by Guannan liu.


BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9819750-6-1



Cover photograph "Youth" by peter laBerge.

BUY IT

ISBN 978-0-9819750-2-3



COVER ART BY CLARE ARENZEN.



ISBN 978-0-9819750-0-9



COVER ART BY CLARA FANNJIANG DAVIS.



cOVER ART BY PAIGE.mANNING.



COVER ART BY LINDSAY GRAWEY.



cOVER ART BY BETHANY MANNING.



COVER ART BY BRETT.



COVER ART BY BRETT.



cOVER ART BY BRETT.



nO PHOTO AVAILABLE FOR 2002 BOOK. PUBLISHED THIS YEAR THANKS TO spw mEMBER dAVID PITCHFORD.



2001 COVER ART BY KELLY CRAVENS.



2000 COVER ART BY CAREY SMITH.



fIRST PUBLISHED NTM IN 1999.


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Send your submission to:




mazepoetrybook@gmail.com

Our story





In 1997, the board of the Poets and Writers Literary Forum of Springfield, now the Springfield Poets and Writers, was approached by member Anita Stienstra with the idea of a teen poetry anthology. All agreed to the project and the first book was published in 1999. In addition to an annual book, contributors were invited to a poetry reading and reception at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, and later at the Hoogland Center for the Arts and Illinois State Museum. Springfield Poets and Writers, The Vachel Lindsay Association and other sponsors have made this program possible. If you would like to contribute to the success of NTM, visit www.springfieldpoetsandwriters.com.



Our editor





NTM is edited by award-winning poet Anita Stienstra. With a master's degree in publication and poetry, not only did Stienstra publish numerous poems, was president of a literary org, she also taught poetry and writing as an adjunct at two colleges. In addition she studied early childhood and elementary education, subbed in grades kindergarten through high school, and managed the PBS Kids Ready To Learn program to deliver free books to kids in central Illinois.



Our vision





The Navigating the Maze book and program began with the intent to encourage and inspire a love of poetry in our youth.


Free books have always been given out to contributors as a way to educate and motivate them to continue the journey of reading, writing, or reciting poetry.


Free books are also given to teachers and schools for their libraries if they submit their students' work to NTM.


Because many poets are also photographers and artists, we added more artwork to the book as the years went passed. We hope this too supports and encourages the creative spirit.




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ADONIS DESIGNS PRESS



info@adonisdesignspress.com