Encompassing several genres of literary composition, this up-beat, multi-cultural anthology provides an integrated curriculum of contemporary American women writers from diverse backgrounds whose works have recently emerged or made an impact on American literature in the last several decades. Juxtaposing the works of emerging writers with those of American classics, this book comes organized into eight thematic sections - language, family, and multicultural histories, transformation, music/spirituality, work, love, and happiness. It includes a variety of genres in each section - fiction, memoirs, essays, poetry, drama - moving from one to another with ease and a sense of discovery. Presenting an original interview at the end of each section with a distinguished author, it provides clearly and concisely written headnotes for each section. Spanning a broad historical range, from Margaret Walker (1915) to the present day, it includes brief biographies for each author, along with contextual notes for each reading. For professors of American literature and/or women's studies; librarians.