Darwin's Children, 2002: Poetry Anthology Archive

Darwin's Children (Anthology)

What is Darwin’s Children, Comb-bound Anthology of Poetry and Art, published September 2002? Darwin’s Children was a collaboration of five coeditors: Stephen M. Wilson, Kristen N. Wiles, Roger E. Naylor, Marie J. Ross, and Donald R. Anderson, six other poets, one cover artist Keith Marston, and some public domain illustrations. The five co-editors and some of the poets invested their money into printing up 200 copies (with choice of three to five cover colors) of the book through S.J.D.C. who at the time was generously allowing publication through their print shop to Delta students. They even printed extra copies of the book! The book project was worked on countless hours and sessions at Manny’s on Pacific Avenue and at The Caffeine Den, after which the poets deemed themselves “The Caffeine DeniZens,” also due to the fact that that was where they had all met at the Open Mic nights hosted by Joe Brundidge and had taken in Donald’s offer to set them up with printing at Delta similar to the poetry class at Delta’s semesterly publication. The effort involved a lot of joined decision making, a group intro poem, chapter titles, the book title (by first a brainstorming of any possible title in all that we could think of, then a voting elimination process by the coeditors,) an organization to the order of these chapters into a storyline/chronology of life, a back review by each coeditor attributed to a dead poet’s name, working on pasting together public domain illustrations that came from copies of old library books onto a paper version of hard copy after the poems had been printed out, and creative biographies. The poets had an option to decide on the color(s) of the cover card stock of the books which they paid for. Greg was very accommodating and we very much appreciate all the help he had in this past project. The books were sold by word of mouth and at The Caffeine Den (where the Amarean Cafe is now located) and Harding Way Newsstand (also out of business now) on consignment. Donald Anderson gave one copy to the woman he had just met, Nikki Quismondo, which led to their eventual marriage over a decade later. They have since become less focused on the differences between science and religion than the title might imply and have found their faith as a means to true happiness.

The cover that was printed (on colored cardstock)...

The cover that was proposed for a sequel at the time...

Or this alternate...

And an earlier concept of the cover, wingless...

The Caffeine Den (downstairs room)...