AWP 2026 & Selected Memories Vol. 2 Launch Party Recap

It’s been over a month since AWP 2026, which took place in Baltimore, and also more than a month since we released Selected Memories Vol. 2: 15 Years of Hippocampus Magazine into the world — and I, Donna T, have been meaning to write a blog post recap ever since!

Alas, it’s been a whirlwind since then, so I’m going to (re)share a slightly revised version of something I posted to my personal Facebook page shortly after I got home, which sums up all the feels I felt in the moment.

The message:

AWP 2026 in Baltimore was a whirlwind. And it was just what I needed! I wasn’t there as writer-me, but rather Hippocampus-me. Although I do feel a bit reinvigorated to write for myself again, too!

Beaming with pride and reminded that this labor of love matters:

The constant booth traffic and enthusiasm of everyone who paid us a visit at the Book Fair

The seven incredible readers and ~100 CNF friends at our anniversary anthology launch party

The scores of books that left our table and went into tote bags from old and new friends

The devotion of our own team members who were present at AWP this year and graciously gave some time to table and help the party go incredibly smooth

The camaraderie among the CNF community and our fellow journals, all supporting each other at various events

The Big Event: Celebrating CNF, Together

The highlight of AWP for the Hippocampus team was most certainly the book launch part for Selected Memories Vol. 2. The event venue was perfect — The Gaming Lounge at M.A.P. Technologies, run by the super professional and friendly Michael, who also uses this space to run STEM camps and after-school programs for Baltimore-area youth.

More than 100 folks came out to celebrate with us, and LUCKY SEVEN of the anthology contributors were there to read their work, and we were delighted to hear from:

Holly Abbe
Sayuri Ayers
Margaret Luongo
Nicole Piasecki
Ronit Plank
SJ Sindu
Tori Walters

The biggest of thank-yous to associate editor Rae Pagliarulo and volunteers Lillie Gardner (reading panel), Amy Fish (reviewer/interviewer), and Kevin Beerman (book operations) for making this event — and the Book Fair — a big success for us. And then, of course, to the other anthology editors Steph Auteri, Wendy Fontaine, and Jenn Hall and book cover designer Jean-Marie Merkle and book layout designer Tara Caimi.

>>>You can also hear an abbreviated version of the book’s introduction read by Donna and the event welcome from Rae here, on our YouTube channel.