Issue 4
authors and text
Asia Franklin (they/them) is a writer from Texas. They have a
poem in New Words Press, and work forthcoming in Concision Poetry Journal.
Their work, more than not, explores the intimacies and granularities of
interpersonal relationships and desire. They are an undergraduate studying
philosophy and creative writing.
Pauline Chu is a Vietnamese American poet from California. She aspires to write about the space between borders, both mental and physical. In addition to being a Grubstreet scholarship recipient, she is affiliated with Mass Poetry, Insight Meditation Society, and Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. She currently resides in Somerville, MA.
Martin Perez is a Hispanic, MFA student and Writing Fellow at St. Mary's College of California, focused on creative nonfiction. He has a degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona and graduated summa cum laude. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Monica Anna Day is a writer, educator, and interdisciplinary artist. She has written and performed two solo shows, Song of the Sacred Whore and Falling into Love; co-developed and produced interactive immersive theatrical production, The Secret Order of the Libertines; and was the creator, producer and coach for the solo show festival, The Power of One. Her poetry was recently was published in the summer edition of Ovunque Siamo. Day holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Mills College, an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, and is working towards her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Writing at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is currently Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Learning and Mentoring and Adjunct Faculty at Arcadia University and resides in Glenside, PA.
Emma Townsend is a children's book author from Liberty, Indiana. Her publications are titled Kids Can't Drink Coffee and Moose the Goose is on the Loose. She also has a handful of published poetry. Emma is currently a senior at Purdue University. After obtaining her bachelor's degree, Emma intends to pursue her master's degree in Library and Information Science. When she is not writing or completing assignments, Emma can be found in the corner of her local coffee shop and hanging out with her two cats, Tooth and Minnie.
Madari Pendas is a Cuban-American writer, poet, painter, and cartoonist. She received her MFA from Florida International University, where she was a Lawrence Sanders Fellow, and won the 2021 Academy of American Poets Prize, judged by Major Jackson. Her work has appeared in Craft, Smokelong Quarterly, The Masters Review, PANK, and more. She is the author of Crossing the Hyphen (2021) and She Loves me, She Loves me Not (2025), a queer love story told in poems, which can be preordered now here: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/she-loves-me-she-loves-me-not-by-madari-pendas/
Alex Swartzentuber is a poet from Indiana. He is co-host of the podcast It's a Beautiful Day in the Gulch and author of the poetry collection also called It's a Beautiful Day in the Gulch.
Allison Whittenberg is an award winning novelist and playwright. Her poetry has appeared in Columbia Review, Feminist Studies,J Journal, and NewOrleans Review. Whittenberg is a six-time Pushcart Prize nominee. They Were Horrible Cooks is her collection of poetry. Her main influence is Kay Ryan.
Zeina Ash T. is the author of this poem.