Writers Hope to Kickstart Montauk Prose and Poetry Anthology

A pair of Montauk writers have collected pieces of prose and poetry about Montauk from 50 wordsmiths and hope to publish a volume with the help of a Kickstarter campaign.

With 19 days to go, editors Céline Keating and Ed Johann have raised $1,330 toward their $4,000 Kickstarter goal to make Montauk Anthology a reality. In their first phase of fundraising, they successfully crowdfunded more than $3,000 using the website Pubslush, which aims to help get books published.

Keating, a Concerned Citizens of Montauk board member, has two published novels, 2011’s Layla and 2015’s Play for Me. Johann is active with the Montauk Writers’ Group and is on the board of Third House Nature Center.

In a note explaining the motivation behind the anthology, the editors state, “Montauk is rich in beauty, history, biodiversity, and culture, yet there exists no journal of writing that celebrates this bounty. We decided it was high time that the work of so many talented writers be showcased.”

The diverse stories in the collection concern topics such as surfing, fishing, history, and flora and fauna.

The Kickstarter project offers a number of rewards for backers. For a $35 pledge, backers receive a copy of the anthology, a personal thank-you note and an invitation to an anthology reading event.

Profits will be donated to Concerned Citizens of Montauk and Third House Nature Center.