Episode Title: REFUGE Anthology Open for Submissions: Writers and Artists Respond to Turbulent Times
Episode Description: In this episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a compelling submission opportunity from her student Cathy Krizik, an award-winning magazine designer and graphic artist. Laura discusses the REFUGE anthology—a full-color, beautifully designed collection seeking creative responses about courage and resilience in today's world—and reveals submission guidelines for writers, poets, essayists, and visual artists. Laura also introduces her transformative 14-day Write, Travel, Transform retreat in Cuba (April 2026), where writers experience cultural immersion in a society that celebrates storytellers as national treasures.
Episode Highlights & Submission Guidelines for Refuge:
Laura introduces Cathy Krizik, her long-time student and accomplished magazine designer, graphic artist, and writer who is currently workshopping her third book in Laura's evening feedback class
REFUGE: Voices of Courage and Resilience in a World Gone Mad will be a full-color, beautifully designed anthology featuring essays, poetry, interviews, laments, prayers, paintings, drawings, printmaking, sculptures, and collages responding to today's turbulent times
Cathy's goal is for readers to open the anthology and find comfort, community, solace, rejuvenation, hope, and inspiration during these challenging times.
Writers can submit pieces up to 1,500 words or a maximum of three poems; previously published Substack pieces are welcome with proper attribution noted.
Artists should submit PDF images for initial review, with final accepted work requiring high-resolution, 300dpi, CMYK print-ready formats in .jpg, .tif, or PDF.
The submission deadline is November 30, 2025, with all work sent to refugesubmission@gmail.com
Cathy welcomes questions at the same email address.
If you are not sure what to submit:
Here are some prompts that might spark your imagination.
How does it feel to be alive right now?
What is breaking your heart today?
What is mending your heart?
What are you doing to stay sane and grounded?
What do you reach for when the world overwhelms you?
Where do you find solace?
What does resistance look like to you?
What worries you the most?
Who inspires you and why?
Is there a prayer you'd like to offer?
What does the world you want to see look like?
If you like to see some samples of the artwork in Refuge, you can see the Substack post here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/f05b7b6a-451f-4ce0-a0d2-891fda5d6cd0
About Host Laura Davis
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through their creative journeys. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the BookLife Prize in 2021, cementing her reputation as both a masterful storyteller and expert writing instructor.
Laura leads transformative writing workshops, classes, and international retreats, helping writers of all levels find their authentic voices and bring their stories to the page. Through her Substack publication "The Writer's Journey," Laura shares essays on craft, curated poetry, nature photography, and insights on living a creative life. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes community, courage, and the power of personal narrative to create connection and meaning.
You can sign up for the info session for her trip to Cuba here: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/#signup
You can learn about the trip here: https://lauradavis.net/cuba/
The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.
You can subscribe here:https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/
