The Roots Run Deep: Poems on Family

The Roots Run Deep is a celebration of families everywhere. We invite you to contribute a poem on the special place a family member holds in your life- be it a mother, father, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle or distant relative. 

With special features by acclaimed authors Nandana Dev Sen (daughter of Bengali poet Nabaneeta Sen and grand-daughter of Radharani Devi) and Shruti Chauhan (BBC Presenter and Indian poet living in the UK).

This rich collection of family poems, curated by bestselling editor and poet Saumya Choudhury will spark a love for language and verse that will last a lifetime. Her work at Delhi Poetry Slam has made her aware of the great role poetry can play in the hearts and minds of readers.

With more than one hundred poems, from twenty states, illuminated with sumptuous illustrations, Ms. Choudhury organizes her selections into sections that reflect the peculiar ties shared with family and frames each section with an introduction in her own words.

The book will be proudly displayed at Delhi Poetry Slam headquarters nearby the Indian Parliament and Amazon website. 

Due to be inaugurated in February 2025 in New Delhi, the authors will be invited to attend the ceremony physically or virtually. 

Families are messy. Sometimes the best we can do is remind ourselves is that we're related- for better or worse. 

How will publishing a book help me?

If your chapbook sells numerous copies, it makes your work more interesting for bigger publishers like Harper Collins or Rupa Publications. With the success of the chapbook, you showed that there is a market for your work after all. It can also increase your chances of publishing a complete collection, because poetry editors at both large and small publishers will keep up to date with the new edition and focus on adding new voices to their list.

How many poems should be there in my chapbook?

You don’t have to have a diary filled with your poetry in order to be able to print a chapbook. You can create one with as many as ten poems. 

Application Fee

INR 10,000

This includes a collection of ten of your best poems. You will receive 12 author copies of your chapbook, absolutely free of cost. Shipping is free within India and nominally chargeable for the rest of the world. 

The book will be available on Amazon and Delhi Poetry Slam website for direct sale to customers. Amazing royalty of 25% will be given for each book sold. 

Our bestselling collections are also displayed at fairs, school and university libraries, as well as leading bookstores around the world. Carefully edited and lovingly designed with the help of our expert team, we will make sure your writing stands out artistically. 

 

Can you draw illustrations for my chapbook?

Yes we can! From black and white sketches, to full blown watercolor artworks, we have an ingenious team of collaborating artists who can take your chapbook to the next level. If you want to create an aesthetically pleasing experience for your readers, this is a must have. 

Girlhood (2022) : Written by Eshna Sharma, illustrated by Manisha Naskar and published by Delhi Poetry Slam

Start Your Journey as An Author

We are honored you chose to submit your chapbook for publication consideration with us. Our publications have been bestsellers on many occasions and received critical acclaim from book reviewers around the world. Here are some fun facts about our organization: 

• Our books are available to borrow from local, public, and university libraries.

• We currently reach an audience of over 80,000 readers each week.

• We have published 60 books, including multiple international bestsellers, since our launch in 2013.

• We have published thousands of poets and writers from around the world.

Now, submit any three of your poems to get started with your journey as an author. After you have filled the form below, you will receive an email with a request to schedule a free video consultation and discuss deeper about your manuscript with  distinguished writer, editor and publicist Ms Saumya Choudhury

Before you submit, please make sure that you are the true author and have not engaged in plagiarism or fraud. Submitting below will not affect your rights or ownership of your work. All forms and styles of writing and visual art are eligible for submission.