From Northern New Mexico College (NNMC):

ESPAÑOLA — Calling All New Mexico Writers & Artists! 

Trickster 2023 will focus on work about animals—how they change us, move us, surprise us, and how they function as our own personal Tricksters. In the Land of Enchantment, we have unique animals that bring to mind our coyotes, rabbits, ravens, roadrunners, spiders and snakes. Tricksters make us think of rule breakers, trick players and shape shifters—all bringing about wisdom in surprising ways. We think of the jack rabbits and road runners that explore our yards for seeds and berries. We think of coyotes and rattlesnakes hiding just beyond sight in our forests and deserts.

But some of our tricksters are tame! Think of our pet chihuahuas seeking attention, distracting us from our cats who are clawing the new furniture (admittedly they look cute doing it). They are our family, best friends, neighbors, guides, and a part of who we are.

Our wild and tame animals have always been a part of our New Mexican beliefs, traditions and culture. From our shelters, where animals we rescue wait for their forever homes, to our vast wilderness, where wild animals wander and occasionally appear to us—our animals shape us all.

Like our animal tricksters, we’re looking for work that moves, surprises us and even changes shape before our eyes. We want what we aren’t expecting. So, sneak up on us like a mountain lion or bear, and pounce—we dare you!

Submission deadline is Friday, March 24, 2023.

Trickster 2022 is hot off the presses! Copies are $8 each. Email trickster@nnmc.edu to order now.

Trickster 2023 Guidelines:

•  Limit prose to 5,000 words;
• You can submit up to five poems;
• Send multiple submissions in one document and please number your pages;
• Email your work as a .doc or .rtf file to: trickster@nnmc.edu;
• Attach your artwork as a high-res (300ppi) jpg, tif, or pdf;
• Please include a 50-word bio separately, in third-person voice;
• All submissions are read anonymously. Include your name, address, and title of work(s) only in the body of the email. No identifying information should appear on the manuscript; and
• Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know immediately if work is accepted elsewhere.