V12 Book of Lived

The Book of Lived — Volume 12

Published by MAPublisher | Penny Authors

The Book of Lived — Volume 12 is a collection of poetry shaped by lived experience, memory, emotion and the many ways people make sense of the world around them.

Bringing together writers from different generations, cultures, countries and circumstances, this volume continues the Penny Authors tradition of giving writers an opportunity to see their words published and preserved.

Some contributors have been writing for decades. Others are publishing for the first time. Some have returned to Penny Authors year after year; others are new voices discovering the project for the first time.

The poems explore love, loss, identity, belonging, grief, resilience, hope, relationships, culture, memory and everyday life. Some are intimate and reflective; others are humorous, political, challenging or celebratory.

At the heart of the anthology is the Penny Authors philosophy:

The Poem Before the Poet

Readers are encouraged to encounter the poem before being influenced by the reputation, background or identity of its author. Established and emerging writers stand together, allowing the words themselves to create the first connection.

But The Book of Lived is more than a collection of poems.

It is part of an ongoing archive of human experience and the continuing story of Penny Authors as it approaches its tenth year.

Volume 12 looks back with gratitude, celebrates those who have contributed to the journey, and looks forward to a new chapter — one built around connection, participation, encouragement and the belief that writers can help open doors for one another.

Every voice matters.
Every poem leaves something behind.

Read the poem. Discover the voice. Meet the poet.

The Book of Lived — Volume 12

Penny Authors | Published by MAPublisher
Publication date: 12 September 2026