Issue 1
Contributors
PAUL MATTHEWS
is a published poet, internationally acclaimed both for his poetry readings and
for the joyful and interactive workshops in Creative Writing that he offers.
His two books on the creative process, ‘Sing Me the Creation’ and ‘Words
in Place’ (both from Hawthorn Press) have proved inspirational to teachers
of children and adults alike, and to all who seek to develop their powers of
imagination. He has travelled widely with his work in the USA, Australia, New
Zealand, Germany (to name just a few) and now, after stepping back from his
full-time work at Emerson College in East Sussex, he continues to expand his
activities in the UK and elsewhere. He was the co-founder of ‘Poetry Other-
Wise’, a much-loved gathering of poetry lovers that ran for many summers.
JENNY APOSTOL
Jenny Apostol’s essays have appeared in The Kenyon Review (a notable essay,
Best American Essays 2025), The Washington Post, Brevity, After the Art,
Speculative Nonfiction, Metalsmith, and elsewhere, and is upcoming in Belt-
way: An Anthology of DC Metro Writers. Jenny is a Porches Writing Retreat
fellow. She earned an MFA from Rainier Writing Workshop. After growing
up in Brooklyn, dancing and making art, Jenny turned to television, creating
programs about science and nature for National Geographic. You can find her
work at jennyapostol.com
LILIANA J. VANMIDDLESWORTH
Liliana has published in Lake Coeur d’Alene Neighbors, SCAD District, BVM
Sports, and Allusion magazine. She holds a BA in writing from Savannah
College of Art and Design (SCAD) and recently sold her first screenplay to
in-STUDIO in Greensboro, NC. She currently works as studio assistant and
social media manager for Fox and Quinn, a destination wedding planning and
design company. In her free time, she loves practicing Lyra, going to the gym,
and going to you-pick farms.
CAROL LOLLIS
I am a mother of 3 grown boys, a grand mother of one with a second on the
way, a wife , a daughter, and a friend to many. I have been a photographer at
the Daily Hampshire Gazette for over 30 years. Covering Hampshire county
has been a true joy for me in terms of listening to the stories of the area. Being
there for the highs and lows of elections, first days of school, floods, fires, and
general interest stores of the person next door has brought me an immense
amount of joy. I am one of the lucky people of this world to love. My husband
is a wood fired potter and between the two of us our encompassing belief is
community. My over all philosophy as a parent is truth over punishment.
PAULA CRAMER
I’m an octagenarian world traveler, mother and grandmother, retired twen-
ty-seven years now from my career in pharmaceutical market research.
COLLEEN FALCONER
Colleen (she/they) lives in Chicago, where she makes folk music, block prints,
and a pretty good pasta salad. They spend a lot of time thinking about how we
will make a better world and invite more people into it. Colleen is passionate
about prison abolition, solidarity economies, and feelings. She is proud of her
city, her friends, and her ability to spell, and she is getting better at the violin.
She is also looking for a postcard
pen pal, if you are interested in that.
BELLA TOSO
Bella Toso (b. 2000, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a Danish-American artist raised
in St. Paul, Minnesota, who has spent much of her adult life in Copenhagen,
Denmark. She sees art as an essential source of connection and empowerment,
and as a direct rebellion against inner and outer systems that limit freedom
through atomization and control. She is currently an artist in residence at
Free Columbia and is active on the organizing team of the North American
Youth Section for Anthroposophy.
NASSIM ALI AHMAD-NAJIM
Nassim Ali Ahmad-Najim was born and raised in Bedford, Massachusetts to
Lebanese and Iraqi parents. He is currently an Analyst with the Middle East
Institute Switzerland where he focuses on geopolitics, energy policy, and the
reconstruction efforts in Syria. In his free time, Nassim enjoys reading, rock
climbing, printmaking, and spending time with his friends. He currently
resides in Washington, DC.
KENA
Kena (he/they) is a mixed-race Black queer artist and troublemaker. Their
practice currently centers oil painting, collage, and performance art, and
explores themes including imperialism, Afro-indignity, sport, and homoeroti-
cism.
MORAYA SEEGER DEGEARE
Moraya Seeger DeGeare is a licensed marriage and family therapist certified
in Emotionally Focused Therapy, and the co-founder of BFF Therapy and
Calibrate, a behavioral fintech company. She authored the sex and relationship
column Can We Talk? for Refinery29, co-hosts the HomeEc podcast. She is a
facilitator, speaker, and strategy consultant, and lives near the beach in North
Carolina with her two kids and partner.
JULIA MAKENZIE KEELER
Julia is a chef, storyteller, and a fervent seed advocate who is based between
the Hudson Valley, NY, and Northern California. She holds localized seed
and food economies as a means towards community sovereignty and story,
the arts, and joy as a means of liberation. She often pulls from religious and
mythological traditions in writing and thought processes and delights in the
practice of Mevlevi Sufism.