Charles Cooper, III and Stella Samuel join forces to bring writing treasures to the world in the Elizabeth River Press Annual. A place where writers belong, feel welcome, and can build their foundation, no matter where their writing career takes them, this year's Annual celebrates writers from all over the world. The Elizabeth River Writers is a well-versed tribe of prose writers and poets.

When Stella Samuel heard complaints of new writers submitting and hearing no constantly, she discovered not a lack of skill in writing, but a lack of publishers who would take on the influx of writing. After years of publishing experience, she asked Charles Cooper from Elizabeth River Press to partner with her and help build a tribe of writers to uplift and support each other as they travel their personal and professional journeys into the world of publishing. We hope you enjoy these pieces from thirty-four authors, this year's Elizabeth River Writers, in the 2020 Annual, a compilation of life through words.

DEDICATION - iv

CONTENTS - v

FOREWORD - viii

ANDREW LEAKE - 2

One Summer - 3

MOLLY NEELY - 4

There's Value In Vigilance - 5

ANISSA SBOUI - 8

August 17th - 9

VAL MULLER - 11

Angel In The Pod - 12

ARIANNA SEBO - 34

THE ACTRESS WITH THE RED HAIR - 35

MOODY GIRL - 36

REELING - 37

C. MARRY HULTMAN - 38

IF YOU SEE ME WAVE - 39

SIMA GREENFIELD - 48

Haunted House - 49

BOBBI SINHA-MOREY - 50

No Bright Star - 51

Sara - 52

On The Fourth Day - 53

KASISI HARRIS - 54

Can't Take It Back: A Coming Out Story - 55

BRUCE MCRAE - 59

Actual Event - 60

Crow And The Songbirds - 61

Forgetful - 62

EDWARD LEE - 63

Fool - 64

CAMILLE ZIEGENHAGEN - 82

The Eccedentesiast - 83

A Global Friendship - 92

EDUARD SCHMIDT-ZORNER - 97

Life, A Timeless Theatre - 98

CHRISTINE HENNEBURY - 103

Handkerchiefs - 104

DANNY BARBARE - 106

Good Days! - 107

A Janitor's Letter - 107

Growing Up! - 107

DC DIAMONDOPOLOUS - 108

Blonde Noir - 109

LUISA KAY REYES - 123

Inherited History - 124

GERARD SARNAT - 135

Mid-Septuagenarian Explorations - 136

MELISSA L. ST.PIERRE - 137

The Older Man - 138

JAMES SANCHEZ - 145

Ash - 146

Fingerprint - 147

Prayer - 148

DON NOEL - 149

Bonding - 150

PATRICIA WALSH - 166

Exalted Vermin - 167

Passing-Through Phase - 168

Excellent Security - 169

The Credible - 170

Coldly in Love - 171

JAY WAITKUS - 172

THE DEAD BALL - 173

RON TORRENCE - 180

the other side of time - 181

the curvature of knowing - 183

sisyphus now - 185

manifest destiny - 186

quintessence unborn - 187

SANDY STUCKLESS - 188

Fear the Moon - 189

SHELBY WILSON - 205

Thesaurus - 206

(Almost) A New Yorker - 207

English Teacher Pet Peeve #4312 (re:Imagery) - 209

An Execution - 211

Dust and Marathons - 212

TAMMERA L COOPER - 214

A Sea's Secrets - 215

TAMMY L. BREITWEISER - 230

App World - 231

STELLA SAMUEL - 234

Father, Mine and Someone's - 235

CHARLES COOPER IV - 240

Riverside Vigil - 241

Forgotten Queen - 242

KIRA METCALFE - 244

The Golden Statue - 245

TAMMY BIRD - 248

Appalachian Mountain Girl - 249