I’m excited to announce that Collective Humanity: An LGBTQ+ Anthology of Imaginative Fiction and Poetry was recently published, bringing together a powerful collection of voices exploring identity, connection, and what it means to exist in a shared human world.
In addition to contributing the poem “Charcoal and Chalk,” I also had the honor of designing the book’s cover, helping visually shape the spirit of the anthology.
We celebrated its release at a book launch hosted by Under the Umbrella Bookstore. The evening centered community, storytelling, and thoughtful conversation, creating a space where literature and lived experience could bet met with care and intention.
About Collective Tales Publishing
Collective Humanity was published by Collective Tales Publishing, an independent, Utah‑based press dedicated to amplifying local voices through curated anthologies and collaborative publishing projects. Their work centers community, creativity, and access, creating opportunities for writers and artists to share stories that might otherwise go unheard.
By producing themed anthologies and supporting imaginative risk‑taking, Collective Tales Publishing cultivates spaces where emerging and established authors can contribute meaningful work within a supportive framework. Each project is built around the belief that literature thrives when multiple perspectives are invited into the same conversation.
My Contributions to the Anthology
My poem, “Charcoal and Chalk,” lives within that space of contrast and coexistence. My poem grapples with fragility, permanence, and the marks we leave behind on one another. Writing this piece required restraint and trust. Trust that imagery could hold weight, and trust that readers would bring their own interpretations into the space my poem creates.
This anthology was especially meaningful to me as both a writer and a designer, allowing me to contribute to the anthology’s voice on and off the page. Being included in Collective Humanity both as a writer and cover artist reaffirmed my belief in art as a tool for reflection rather than explanation.
The Book Launch at Under the Umbrella
The book launch at Under the Umbrella Bookstore was intimate and intentional, mirroring the spirit of the anthology itself. It was a celebration not only of the book, but of the community that made it possible. Contributors, readers, and supporters gathered to listen, reflect, and connect through the shared language of story.
Spaces like Under the Umbrella are essential to literary culture. They allow underrepresented voices to be heard, honored, and supported in ways that feel personal and human rather than transactional.
Why Collective Humanity Matters
This anthology stands as a reminder that imaginative writing has the power to bridge differences without flattening them. It does not ask readers to agree or identify with every experience presented. Instead, it asks them to witness.
For me, Collective Humanity represents the kind of creative work I strive to be part of. Work that is thoughtful, inclusive, and delivered with care for both the subject and the reader.
Interested in exploring the anthology? Find the book here.
xoxo,
Michaela Rae
