LIA HAGEN

"Dawn with arms of roses" is an anthology dedicated to queer joy. The name comes from one of Sappho's fragments, and the project is all about appreciating and honoring the lives of queer folk. The fact is, this world is not safe for queer people. It's mean, and it's nasty, and it often doesn't want us to celebrate ourselves. But our community has always succeeded in finding joy despite, and this anthology is all about spreading that joy.

Over the course of six weeks, I collected more than 100 submissions of poetry, prose, and visual art. I ultimately selected the work of 24 artists from 7 countries. The next month was spent designing the 74 page project. I wanted the anthology to be an object worth owning, a work of art in and of itself, and I designed it with the theme and content in mind. Using bright, cheerful pastels and color blocks, I was able to create a visually interesting book that matched the amazing art others provided.

The anthology was released in September of 2017, and print copies can be purchased here. All proceeds are donated to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which is a non-profit organization that aims to increase the political voice of trans people who are low-income and/or people of color. Since the release of the anthology, I have sold Dawn With Arms of Roses online and at several small-press festivals. This October, Medium named "Dawn With Arms of Roses" one of its top-10 books to watch out for.