“The process of remembering is, by definition, an act of imagination and invention, and the hardest stories to tell have become the stories we need most,” wrote Megan O’Grady for The New York Times.
Photo courtesy of Svømmer Publishing
By Julia Birdsall
“We’re looking for ways to reframe a lot of historical truths that were sold as truths but are actually more complicated and more… varied than we were taught in mainstream school systems,” said Lily Cannon, a University of South Florida St. Petersburg alumna and editor at Svømmer Publishing.
That’s why Cannon created Marsh Rabbit, an anthology that explores Florida’s history through various historical fiction narratives.
Svømmer Publishing is a St. Petersburg publishing company — which is also connected to a museum — started by Cannon’s father, who is an author, and sister, who is a graphic novelist.
“We believe passages are as affecting as outcomes, that perspective is as inspiring as a view, and that a single blade of marsh grass can transport you around the world,” Svømmer Publishing wrote.
So far, they’ve published a children’s book titled “Pete.”
The story features a lot of details that can be found in St. Petersburg, such as Mazzaro’s Italian Market and the Downtown Looper trolley.
Marsh Rabbit is a way for Svømmer Publishing and Florida writers to further connect with the cities that they reside in and learn some of their history.
Learning about history through historical fiction has grown in popularity over recent years.
Cannon cited a New York Times article, which explained how historical fiction has become a means through which people can connect past and present.
“In the media age, history is not simply a chain of facts recorded by scholars, but a complex narrative harnessed by political parties and Facebook disinformation campaigns to speak to our sense of identity and belonging,” Megan O’Grady wrote for The New York Times.
Historical fiction has also become a way for untold stories, particularly those of marginalized people, to come to light.
It is those untold stories that Cannon is looking to portray in the Marsh Rabbit Anthology.
“I want people to focus on… histories that aren’t often represented, even if there’s not a lot covered about them or that survived about them,” she told The Crow’s Nest.
She provided a list of archival sources on the Marsh Rabbit page to help writers get ideas for their research.
While anyone can submit work for the anthology, Cannon is hoping to see student involvement.
Cannon, who was previously a history and English creative writing double major at USF St. Petersburg, began the anthology project as a part of her honor’s project.
She took the information that she gained in history classes and connected that to her creative writing practices and encourages current students to do the same if they wish to submit to Marsh Rabbit.
“We have all this information that we already have to look through,” Cannon said. “And [writing historical fiction is] a way to make it more engaging or do something outside of classwork.”
Submissions for the anthology are due Mar. 20. From those, 10 stories will be selected and compiled into an anthology that will be published locally.
Writers whose work is selected will also receive $200 and 3 copies of the anthology, according to the website.
Cannon encourages anyone who wishes to get more into writing to submit work for the project.
“Whether you’re a published author or a newcomer,” said Svømmer Publishing in an Instagram post, “we encourage you to explore what we ‘know’ about the past.”
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Written by: Julia Birdsall on March 3, 2026.
Last revised by: Julia Ferrara