Persimmon Tree's mission is to bring the creativity and talent of women over sixty to a wide audience of readers of all ages.

We are looking for work that reveals rich experience and a variety of perspectives. Each issue of the magazine will include several fiction and nonfiction pieces, poetry by one or more poets, and the work of one visual artist. The magazine is published quarterly, in association with Mills College.

Fiction and Nonfiction: We welcome previously unpublished short stories, novel excerpts, performance pieces, and nonfiction under 4,000 words, written by women over sixty. Submissions may be sent to us any time during the year. Several readers will review your submission, and we will respond to you within four months. Multiple submissions are accepted.

Please send submissions as an attachment to us at: Submissions@persimmontree.org. Include in your email a brief biographical statement (less than 50 words.) The attached document must be saved in MS Word or a compatible program. We will respond to you online.

Fiction and nonfiction submissions should be double-spaced, with 12 point type and numbered pages. At the top of the first page please enter author's name, address, telephone, and email address.

Art: Artists are invited to send samples of their work and a short biographical statement (less than 50 words) for us to put on file. Do not expect a response from us unless we plan to use your work.

Poetry: Persimmon Tree ordinarily does not accept submissions for poetry. However, two times a year we will have open submissions for poetry from a specific area. See the schedule below. (The assignment of states of categories is irregular due to our heavy concentration of readers on the East and West Coasts.)

Issue 7, September 2008-NORTHEAST STATES (ME, VT, NH, CT, MA, RI, NY, PA, NJ, DE)
Submissions accepted May 1 - June 15, 2008.

Issue 9, March 2009-WEST COAST STATES (WA, OR, CA, HI, AK)
Submissions accepted Nov. 1 - Dec. 15, 2008.

Issue 11, September 2009-SOUTHERN STATES (AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, KY, WV, VA, DC, NC, SC, MD)
Submissions accepted May 1 - June 15, 2009.

Issue 13, March 2010-CENTRAL NORTH STATES (ID, MT, WY, NV, UT, CO, ND, SD, NE, MN, IA, MO, KS, IL, IN, OH, MI, WI)
Submissions accepted Nov. 1 - Dec. 15, 2009

Issue 15, September 2010-INTERNATIONAL
Submissions accepted May 1 - June 15, 2010

Call For Poetry For the September 2009 Issue:

We are seeking previously unpublished poems for the September 2009 issue from women over sixty who live in the Southern States region ((AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, KY, WV, VA, DC, NC, SC, MD).

We're pleased to announce that Jill Breckenridge will be the Guest Poetry Editor for this issue. She will select ten poets for publication from the entries.

The email address and guidelines for this poetry section are different from the magazine's general address and guidelines. Poetry manuscripts must use the following guidelines to be considered:

— Previously unpublished poems should be emailed between May 1 - June 15, 2009. (Poems that arrive earlier or later will not be read.) The address is poetryentry@comcast.net. Poems sent directly to Persimmon Tree will not be forwarded.

— Include 1-3 poems in a single WORD attachment. No poem may be longer than a page; use 12 point type.

— In the subject line of the email message, type POETRY FOR PT. In the body of the message, include your name, phone number, and postal mailing address.

— If you send a submission that fails to follow the above guidelines, it will be automatically deleted. You will not be notified.