The voices of the Four Corners are coming together once again. Four Corners Voices: Volume II, a new anthology featuring fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by regional writers, has just been released — continuing a growing literary tradition that celebrates the people, places, and stories of the Southwest.
The collection follows the success of the first Four Corners Voices anthology, which won a Colorado Book Award for Best Anthology. This new volume brings together a mix of emerging and established writers from across Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah — all writing either from or about the region.
The anthology was edited by three local writers: KSJD journalist and author Gail Binkly, poet Sarah Carr, and novelist Chuck Greaves. Together, they selected 13 nonfiction pieces, 13 works of fiction, and a collection of poems that capture the diversity and spirit of the Four Corners.
Binkly said the editorial process was both challenging and inspiring. The nonfiction category alone received more than three dozen submissions, narrowed down to 13. She noted that the variety of writing — from stories about rafting through canyon country to personal reflections on local wildlife — made the selection process tough because “there weren’t really any bad ones.”
She added that the editors aimed to preserve each writer’s unique voice, keeping changes to a minimum beyond correcting typos or formatting.
To celebrate the release, a public reading event will take place at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez, where selected authors will share their work. Binkly said hearing the pieces performed brings them to life in a new way, especially with poetry, which carries its own rhythm and sound when spoken aloud.
The editors hope the anthology helps strengthen the region’s literary community and encourages more people to tell their own stories. The Four Corners has long been a crossroads of cultures, landscapes, and histories — and Four Corners Voices: Volume II aims to reflect that blend.
Copies of the new anthology are now available online and in local retailers.
