In the Deep Vol 01 Contributors

Cai is a 41 year old AFAB trans non-binary person, who was a former customer service agent and is now a disabled writer. They have been featured in multiple poetry anthologies and received an honorable mention from the Creative Writing Academy of Greece in 2026 for their poem “Caterpillar Carousel” which is in the poetry anthology Poets of the Parthenon. Cai often writes about retaining hope in the darkest times.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing and art is so vast and varied. It is great for creative self expression, of course; to share bits and pieces of your journey and growth with the world. It's a fantastic source of inspiration to others, and lastly it is a way to challenge the thoughts of others to not sit and stagnate.

Rebecca is a graduate of Western Oregon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Community Crime Prevention. She attended the Powers School District, where she received the Honors English Award for her advanced coursework.

For more than half her life, Rebecca has been inspired by the writings and work of Nancy and Alice Wexler, who, along with their father, Milton Wexler, channeled feelings of helplessness surrounding Huntington’s disease into groundbreaking research into the disease, its genetics, and its history.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing, poetry, and art is to evoke feelings by delivering messages from one human soul to another.

Mitchell is a writer based out of the Skagit Valley in Washington State. Growing up near the Salish Sea he found his creative muses in the natural world while exploring wilderness and the ecological richness of the marine environment. Journals, scrap pieces of paper, margins on the page and shoe boxes full of sketches, poems and thoughts for years gathered eventually until there was no other choice but to share his overflowing words with the world.

Purpose of Writing/Art: 

The purpose of writing and art is to connect to our truer selves, but I also think it helps folks see they are not alone in what they’re thinking about… It lets people connect without ever having to meet.

The inclusion of Ellen’s piece in this anthology marks her first time being published, thus the beginning of her creative journey. Through the encouragement of a small circle of friends, and loving family members, she has embarked on the process of having her voice heard. Her preferred method is free writing inspired by a prompt.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

When a piece of mine resonates with a reader, it assures me that I conveyed something personal without restricting their perception of it as based on their experience. When it evokes the “whoa”, I am assured that our souls have connected. Therein lies my purpose in writing.

Echo Chambers’ journey into publishing is a new one this year; including a self-published collection of poetry and prose coming soon: My Journey Through Hell: A Multimedia Lyric Memoir. With music being their first artistic love in practice, writing and painting followed later when they overcame a traumatic brain injury.

One day, after their brush with death, notes began to become prose which became journalistic poetry; so these pages became a scaffolding, alongside painting, that allows imagery to be a part of their reality once more.

Purpose of Writing/Art: 

It is therapeutic, and writing, when done well, creates lighthouses. I hope my writing provides such guiding lights for people when they read it in their own trenches. I hope it inspires people to see the hope on the other side of that trench.

Hanh is from San Jose, California. She enjoys poetry writing, reading, ballroom dancing, and drawing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree and an MBA in Business.

She has been published in many publications, In the Deep is just her latest. She has taught herself the passion of writing through a shared expression of Western and Eastern poetic influences.

Purpose of Writing/Art: 

The purpose of writing and art is to express the emotional world inside you, so that people know how you feel.

Jackie is a writer of poetry and flash fiction who has recent work in Chainmail Poetry, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, Poetry Online, Alien Buddha Zine, and Collaborature. Her poems have been translated into Chinese in the journal Poetry Hall. Her story “Kiss From a Rose on the Grey” is forthcoming in Spillwords. She believes that writers must write in order to call themselves writers, and hopes to live up to that herself.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

For me, writing and art helped me to learn how to think beyond what everyone else around me thought. Those mediums shaped innovative ideas beyond what technology can offer today. That is the purpose to me, that ability to imagine something greater than what can be found in conformity.

Amadeus has always been creative, ever since they could hold a crayon, and they wrote their first amateur illustrated chapter book by fifth grade. When they made it to university, Amadeus set themself to studying a wide variety of creative forms, including all different mediums of fine art, gallery design and curation, cinema and scriptwriting, and they participated in other creative projects on the side. “I do my best to stay infinitely curious, and feeding that curiosity is a big part of my creative and academic practice.”

Purpose of Writing/Art:

I think that art is meant to contain a thought, instead of simply letting it flow through you, you make it solid, or crystalize it. A great piece of writing imprints its meaning onto its reader, letting that thought live on in a different place or time.

Linda is a Pennsylvanian writer whose poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has eighteen published chapbooks, the latest being: crescent moon (Fae Corps Publishing, July 2026).

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Expression, first and foremost. What someone is feeling, the knowledge of said feeling, the depths of it. I think good writing and art expresses something even if that something unsettles or makes us uncomfortable. It forces us into the shoes of another person, and it makes us grow empathy. If it has no humanity or humanness in the process of creation then I think it's rather unnecessary. Connection is necessary in order for a piece to reach another human soul.

Martha hails from Chicago, born and raised, and has been published before. She loves to share her pieces alongside her love of reading. With no formal training in writing, but a Master’s in Fine Arts from Portland State University, Martha has a long history with art of many kinds and was happy to branch out into this medium that she found decades ago from her long history of service to children of abuse and the case reports that were written and read. Known as epistolary, Martha found poetry woven in the pattern that emerged, silent behind bureaucratic red tape.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Writing and art is all about connecting to other people. To connect to them in ways we may have forgotten. There is something more than us if we look for those bridges, and like John Lewis, I want to help people remember.

This is Karen’s first time being published. As a young author, she is just beginning her writing journey. A big fan of the poet Nikita Gill, some of her favorite poems are, “Pretty Is a Lie” and “Her Name Will Be Fearless”. Writing serves as a way for her to express and cope with a myriad of emotions, and has been ever since finding her passion for it at the age of 13.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To me, the purpose of writing and art, in general, is to allow us to share and articulate our experiences and emotions so that we understand them better, and so that those who consume our art can connect to it and feel less alone.

Kelli of Carver, Minnesota is a Writer and Professional Organizer. 400+ pieces published in over 75 publications. I Regret Nothing- A Collection of Poetry and Prose and My Name is Zach- A Teenage Perspective on Autism were both released in 2019.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

I feel that for me, the purpose of writing is to communicate and express myself. I have always enjoyed writing, but I found when I took it seriously about ten years ago, I was able to communicate a lot about myself, thoughts and feelings that may not have been known or apparent prior…. People find a common link or similar experience which makes them feel seen and not so alone in this chaotic world. To me, writing is all about that human connection.

As a first-generation immigrant, Anyély knows firsthand the pain of assimilation in a home not her own. She is a veteran English teacher of twenty-three years, and decades of poetry and creative writing instruction, as well as editing and publishing numerous literary journals that celebrate high school and middle school student voices.

Anyély is committed to writing and promoting the Latino and Afro-Latino stories desperately needed in an industry where we are still less than 10% of the books/characters published each year (or often well below 10%). Let’s celebrate all underrepresented voices! Dale pa’lante!

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of art/writing is always to CONNECT!

Lorelei has been a writer since an early age and has enjoyed exploring many styles including short stories, poetry, prose, songs, and one act plays. Most recently, her fancy has turned to faerie tales told in a different perspective. Lorelei is a self-proclaimed Muppet, a breather of fire, and a baker of seriously yummy bread.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing and art is sharing human experience. Through our lives, we find times of loneliness and difficulty, and writing opens a pathway for us to be able to share our experiences; even if they don’t all get it, it’s gonna resonate with someone… somebody’s felt this way, too.

Evie enjoys writing poetry, along with short stories and memoirs, but also publishing opinion pieces and writing letters to the editor on a continual basis. She cannot live without humor and has learned to hone hers in presentations and writing.
Her poetry and travelogues have been published with Grand Circle Travel. The themes of travel, language, immigration, and justice are special for her, and she peppers her writing with words from a variety of world languages, several of which she speaks.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

For writing, it is to figure out, for yourself, what you think, but it is also a healing process to analyze and discover how to move forward. (Fine) Art does the same, to me, but the expression is more of a moment in time - it doesn’t usually change later.

Sam is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, poet, and playwright striving to foster empathy through art. From writing personalized poems for passersby outside of LA’s oldest independent bookstore every Sunday, to making Chaplin-esque silent films about loneliness and human connection once a month, Sam lives to make other people feel seen and validated. More work can be found on Amazon, YouTube, and in various online literary magazines.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing and of all art is to foster empathy for both other people and yourself, delving into sometimes uncomfortable territory in order to be purified of prejudices and strengthened in love.

Don is a fan of historical fiction like Patrick O’Brian - he finds delight in such adventures, as people seem to lead fuller lives before the age of computers; the musings of the various writers on philosophies of Taoism and Buddhism and Alan Watts are among his favorites to be immersed in.

He boasts no formal training in writing, but he holds a degree in philosophy. This passion for the written word emerged during junior high. Creative writing was more enjoyable back then. Writing was a way for Don to process feelings of anger and alienation born from a dysfunctional family.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Art is communication on an emotional, intuitive level. It's communicating to yourself as well as others one's perspective on what is true and beautiful. The result should be of delight and wonder.

Kc is 40 years old from Ohio and has been through a tremendous amount of trauma and loss. A regular resident of psych hospitals in adulthood, she has always written several poems during each of these stays; each has been about the topic of pain in some way. She began writing poetry when she was about 11, and it has been evolving ever since. Most of the time she is really strict with rhyming and rhythms.

As someone with lived experience of several mental health conditions, she views these disorders as a vital aspect to do her art.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Expressing is the best word for the purpose of writing and art. Expressing yourself, putting yourself out there, and reflecting on the path taken to be able to share that expression.

An individual with an enduring passion for the written word. The pen name Silvia K Lane, adorns their first poetry publications this year. In addition to In the Deep, Silivia’s work will be featured in Ohio Poetry: An Anthology set for release in October of 2026.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

When we can share our experiences with each other, that helps people to heal and grow and gives them direction because sometimes people are so lost within their own feelings. To be able to share your experiences and feelings through art allows you to put your positivity into the world... It is a way of reaching other people and making them feel that they will be okay.

Zazu is an award winning published playwright and poet, who also writes screenplays. She is a recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Grant for playwriting, the California Arts Council Grant in Marin and the San Francisco Playwrights Center Drama Award. She was a finalist for the Heideman Award from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Cutting Ball Theatre of San Francisco and the Julie Harris Playwriting Award. She has had a number of productions and staged readings in the United States and internationally.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

We all do our best to figure out what this thing we call life is about.  For me, it never really made any sense. And from the start, I always questioned everything but received no real answer.  Like many of us, I want a better world.  And when it is not, and the injustice becomes unbearable.  I entered my own world and made a poem of it as best I could.  When I am able to experience the  world in that way, it makes sense.  It is the language I speak and understand. And it's beautiful in its joy and pain.

Jimmy is a poet in New Hampshire. He has previously been published in Agape Review, Solid Food Press, Bee The Foundation, Arlijo, Valiant Scribe, Sage-ing, and Faith On Every Corner, among others. He believes that poetry is a medium that can connect people from all walks of life. 

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To put it simply: the purpose of writing and art is self-reflection, healing, and growth.

LaVern is a state and national prize-winning poet. She has written five books of poetry and nine books of short stories. She is a life member of the Poetry Society of Texas and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To me, the purpose of writing is to show the world things they would otherwise not see or know.

Sally is a poet and attorney from Downeast Maine. She studied the Russian Silver Age poets and holds an MPhil on the works of Anna Akhmatova. Her work has appeared in The New Verse News and is forthcoming in Sheila-Na-Gig, Rat’s Ass Review, and Mobius: The Journal of Social Change.  When not writing poetry or practicing law, Sally performs with The Damn, Girls! — Hancock County’s premier country-western girl band.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Poetry allows us to excavate uncomfortable moments and memories, not to reconcile them, but to shape them and grant them a dignity our minds alone may not be able to provide.

Amanda is a mother and English teacher based in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. She has previously been published in Late Night Projections, The Massachusetts Bards Poetry Anthology, and The San Pedro River Review. She writes to tell her own story, and to find meaning in the midst of chaos. She reads to find connection, to remind herself she is not alone. She shares her stories so others can learn that same lesson.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing is almost a sort of validation of existence. Every person living in this wild experience of life has their own situation so different from another to tell. I think there is so much validation in telling your story and having another know they aren’t the only one.

Kristin is a Phoenix-based writer, musician, and performer. After retiring from a 25-year career as an elementary music teacher, she now devotes her time to writing, creating, and performing original works of art - just as she encouraged her students to do. Her poetry grew out of a daily meditation and free-writing practice, and she is currently working toward publishing her first poetry collection, Satori.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

My purpose in art asks me to look inward—to reflect, heal, and face even the parts of myself I would rather not see. But sharing that vulnerability transforms something personal into connection. It allows us to move beyond ego and recognize ourselves in one another. That possibility for connection, alongside the vulnerability art requires and allows, is what continually draws me to create.

"Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art." ~ Konstantin Stanislavski

Robin is a Chicagoland poet. He loves to study philosophy, and practices Buddhism. His work can be found in Blue Unicorn and Oddball. Check out his chapbook, First I Was Wise from Bottlecap Press. 

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing and art is to express our passions in the ways that we’ve been stifled from society. The ways that we’ve had to hide ourselves that are most important to bring out.

Dalbin is an Afro-Latino writer and educator based in Frederick, Maryland. “Blueprint for a New Ground” is his first published poem — though not his first time in print. He is the author of the 2026 children’s chapter book Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship, and has published essays on education and equity. 

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing is to name the hard, hidden things out loud so they lose some of their power, and to build windows between people who would otherwise remain strangers. A wound named in daylight, he believes, is already half a doorway.

Carl of Old Mill Road in Ridgeway, Virginia, lives in University Place, Washington. He is retired from the military and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enjoying life as “Papa” to his descendants and being a Franciscan Hospice volunteer. 

PAPA’s MOTTO: "Long Weekends Forever!"

Poetry awards include Sally-Sue Hughes Memorial Award, DAVA, State Dept. of Florida Award, Veterans Voices T.H. Horton Award and Gladys Feld Helzberg Award.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Well, to express what we are seeing, sure; because everyone senses things differently from everyone else. We need to be curious, not confrontational, and leave more time to discuss, clarify, or even get to know ourselves more.

Kallie is a mother, a teacher, and...a writer! She’s worn many hats through her thirty years around the sun, but has finally embraced her dreams and passions by pursuing goals that align with her. She has been writing novels, short stories, and poems for the past year, but has had no luck moving beyond a small following of friends and family.

Kallie hopes that her words find a place within readers and resonate with those who also are living and learning just like her. That she can share her love of anything whimsical; where a lot of her stories like to live, fueled by those tough and wonderful times that project the belief of those friends and family that hold her aloft.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing is to share your wisdom and dreams with the world. Not just that, but folklore guides us through darkness and tough times. Writing a story down is more powerful than just speaking it, to me… it echoes that purpose in all who read the stories we share.

Carlos’ poems and short stories have appeared in The Poet, Lalitamba, Small Brushes, Desahogate, San Antonio Express-News, The Texas Observer, El Angel, Celebrate! Poets Speak Out, among other publications. His poems have been selected for several anthologies such as Voices Along the River and The Dreamcatcher. 

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing is very personal. In my case, I write because I enjoy putting my ideas on paper. When I write, I discover that I have ideas and feelings that I wasn’t aware of before. It’s like magic. I write for me, but when I share my writing with other people, I find that sometimes others share my ideas, or that I gave them a new way to see an issue. That, of course, gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Brian is a retired high school English and reading teacher who taught for 35 years, and with all of that education in English, he has naturally been drawn to writing, even doing the assignments given to students through those years. While he has been a writer all of his adult life, he has only started to give his writing permission to live on its own.

Brian’s creativity comes more from continuous work than anything as he journals every day, writing poems or lines that eventually become poems, but he also finds inspiration from the stories of former students, the natural world, and many works of poetry and fiction - especially the classics.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

For me, the purpose of writing is to deal with my own emotions and to express them first for myself and then for others. I really believe what William Wordsworth said about poetry in that it is spontaneous emotion recollected in tranquility. You sometimes want to share that, examine those emotions and choose a form to get deeper into the emotion so that others can also interact with it in some way, whether it’s a surface reading or some form of dialogue with the poem.

Molly, MSW, D.Min, is a priestess, mystic, and poet in central Missouri. She is the author of many books, including 365 Days of Goddess, In the Temple of the Ordinary, and Walking with Persephone. She is the creatrix of Story Goddesses at Brigid’s Grove and of the devotional experience #30DaysofGoddess and she loves savoring small magic and everyday enchantment.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of art is about both seeing and hearing as much as being seen and heard, and it is about holding and hearing. When I write I do it to both write myself home to wholeness, but I also write so that others can feel held and heard.

Lauren is an award-winning author of fiction and poetry, and a senior editor at Gleam. Her titles include nine poetry collections, the latest of which are A Food Court in Hell and Ain’t These Sorrows Sweet. She lives in Kansas City, MO.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

I think art does two things: first, it helps the artist process their experiences and the world. It’s our way of making sense of reality and helps guide us through life. Second, experiencing other people’s art is incredibly important to the human experience because it shows them a world that isn’t their own. Art helps us build empathy for what is unfamiliar and brings comfort in commonality.

Jan is an 82 year old lesbian mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loves to write but doesn’t like the process of submitting. Every so often she pushes herself to do so and has been published in several anthologies, newspapers and magazines from such efforts - as well as a collection of poetry, Glimpses, published by Riverhaven Books in 2017. Jan lives with her wife in Plymouth, Massachusetts which has a vibrant poetry community that offers her many opportunities to gather with other poets and also to share work with live audiences, which is one of her greatest joys.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To make beauty and meaning; when I was younger, I wasn’t sure I should be a writer because I wasn’t sure I appreciated beauty enough to devote myself to it like I could to helping people… I later learned that art and acts of change were not mutually exclusive, and that wanting to change the world comes with caring enough to want to help.

Patty is an immigrant born in Peru and raised in the United States. She’s the founder/sole contributor to the Life on the BPD blog. With her blog, she tells her story of how BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and other mental illnesses have impacted her life. She hopes that by sharing her story of resilience and perseverance that other people in similar situations can relate and perhaps even find hope in it.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

For me, the purpose of writing is storytelling. It's to tell the stories that include those which often get left behind as a first generation immigrant. Traditions, stories from the elders, and culture, but also identity. That’s why I also write for my younger self, to be the guide they never had.

Laura is a retired physician who has been writing poetry since elementary school. She joined the Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas in 2015; which helped to spark her passion of sharing her words. Laura’s poetry has been influenced by the nature, people, and music of the American South, especially Jazz music. She is the mother of two grown children, and currently lives in St. Louis, MO with her husband, David.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

I believe there are many different purposes and meanings to art: one is to express yourself, one is to share with others, one is to bring community together… The list is endless, really. The heart of expression in art is inspiring people to find wonder in beauty.

Priya is a bilingual writer who resides in Texas.  Her poems have been published in Barcelona Literature, Madras Courier, Cultural Cult, Worlds and Words, Boundless Anthology, Poets for Humanity Anthology, Otherwise Engaged: A Literature and Arts Journal and more. Literature is her passion through which she expresses her observations and imaginations; most of the time it comes out as poetry.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

There is no purpose to art or writing - it is the opposite of purpose in that it is expression. When I am writing, I am not focusing on purpose, I am in the moment and I am focusing on how I feel and think. Art has no purpose, but writers, their purpose is to make people feel and think.

For Michael, poetry is about connecting potent words to embodied sensation. He works with both positive and negative emotions, but is particularly intrigued by the extremes of bliss and isolation.

Michael has been writing poetry for years, but only recently reconsidered himself as an artist. He has self-published three books; two of poetry and one of digital art (his true passion). His digital work contrasts geometric patterns and negative space to create mandalic harmony between form and emptiness.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

I feel like the purpose of art is to express something un-expressable… There is an underlying abstractness to reality. When I’m writing or making art, I’m translating that big, bright, abstract thing into something contained: words, shapes, patterns, colors - things the mind can find meaning in. And when I look back at those translations, I re-embody that experience.

Toya is an educator, gardener, and founder of Organically Grown Queen, where she combines gardening, storytelling, and creative expression to help people reconnect with nature and their own cultural roots. She has presented at conferences including Herbstalk and NOFA, and her work focuses on native plants, urban gardening, and using sensory observation to inspire writing and art. Through her workshops, Toya shows how even the smallest garden space can become a place for imagination, learning, and community connection.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Sharing optimism to help others gain their hope, that’s the purpose of writing. I share my story because I know that I’m not the only one with a story to tell… If you nurture yourself and you take care of yourself, you are bound to grow; you cannot wither and die if you take those steps in the right environment. Art reminds us of that path.

Karen knew she was a creative artist very early on. She always made art, with marks, words, and gestures. What drives her is locating extraordinary beauty in ordinary things. And, like Thoreau says…she “lives deliberately.”
Ordained as a cantor in the Jewish faith in 1990, and certified as a Peer Specialist in 2021, she writes/performs  at the intersection of Judaism and mental health and has been published on line and in print at places like Lilith Magazine, Five Minutes, and The Torrid Literary Journal.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of art is to manifest, I believe, the highest form of individual expression someone can take; whether through movement, theatre, music or writing. As a poet, I employ words to connect deeply to the world. Art is my balm, healing method, and teacher.

Rowan is a young queer poet writing out of Los Angeles, California. Though the themes expressed within his work have changed throughout the years, and will continue to evolve alongside his life experiences, many key ideas often involve expression of trans identity, horror within mundanity, and how to be a writer at the alleged “end of the world.” Rowan has attended California State Summer School for the Arts, the Sewanee Young Writers Conference, and the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To me, art must never have one universal purpose. Instead, let the purpose of art be ever-evolving, serving in many different ways in order to inspire, uplift, reveal, release, or simply exist. As an author, a large amount of my adolescence has been spent coming to terms with this. Whatever purpose my poems and late night scribbled rambles may have had to me, once they are released into the world they may never serve that same purpose again. Rather, these pieces take countless new forms, gaining new purpose for all those who read them. If my writing were to have one purpose, it would be this.

Lynne is a musician; where piano and voice are her instruments, and where her passion has led her to serve as a conductor of a women’s chorus for the last 30 years. In this chorus, Lynne provides programs that always include poetry which enhances the music and vice versa. To her, music and poetry go hand in hand.  She’s been making music and writing since early childhood as a way to maintain her sense of self and to allow other women to find their voices, too.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Writing’s purpose, for me, is to make sense of the world and my place in it. Art, music, writing of both prose and poetry; provide avenues for self expression… Sharing my writing or music with others allows the possibility that others, too, may resonate with it and find their own meaning, perhaps look at their own experience of the world with new eyes.

Quincy is a filmmaker and photographer based in Portland, Oregon, with over a decade of experience as a visual storyteller, creating narrative and commercial work for organizations and clients in Oregon and across the country. His creative work explores identity and the quiet tension between self-preservation and self-expression as a gay man of color, and he’s drawn to stories that illuminate the emotional complexity of queer life, especially the moments that often remain hidden, unspoken, or unresolved.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

For me, the purpose of art is to express my own thoughts, ideas, emotions and put it into a form where it can be shared… There is a kind of community with art, especially with filmmaking; as it takes many hands to create. It becomes a shared connection where we can discover, learn, talk about things, and open doors.

Joanna is an 82 year old lesbian mother, grandmother, great grandmother who loves to write but doesn’t like the process of submitting.  However, every so often she pushes herself to do so and has been published in several anthologies, newspapers and magazines. She has one collection of poetry, Glimpses, published by Riverhaven Books in 2017. She lives with her wife in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which has a vibrant poetry community that offers her many opportunities to gather with other poets and also to share her work with live audiences, which is one of her greatest joys.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Hmm. I once wrote this line, that I think defines my personal purpose in writing: ‘I write to read myself,’; which, to me, means I try to learn more about myself and share what’s in my heart and my mind while I touch other people’s hearts and minds.

Kat is a gender-fluid, queer animal lover. Their medium typically is not writing. When they were younger and full of angst, one could find free-writing done in their journal, about heartbreak, loss of friends, and depressive thoughts. Since then, they have found a love for forms / color. As a student of Graphic Design at Portland State University, they enjoy experimenting with content layout, colors, and typography. She lives in Oregon with her partner, Nicholas, and their three fur and one scale babies; Mama Morgana, Lucius, Star, and Kai’ah, respectively. This publication marks her first time publishing a poem, but she has interior layout experience from the poetry book Which We Is Me, written by Cobalt Hearth.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

To me, art is about communication and connection. Whether it is straight-forward or more abstract. We all communicate differently and experience life in a variety of ways. Art communicates that point of view, and people who resonate with it can connect to the artist on a deeper level than the surface.

Cristina is a NY poet and visual artist. Her work has been published in various poetry anthologies since the 1980s. She has performed spoken word poetry at Walt Whitman Birthplace and numerous open mike events. Her themes often express a sense of beauty and admiration of our lovely humanness with a dash of irony. Billy Collins and Sharon Olds are poets whose work she greatly admires.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

Shauneen is a Portland, Oregon–based artist and writer whose work explores the emotional and symbolic relationships between people, landscape, and memory. Raised across the Pacific Northwest in a family of farmers, woodworkers, artists, and entrepreneurs, making was not just encouraged—it was necessary.

Field’s educational background spans theology, social work, and drafting and design—disciplines that continue to inform her practice through a balance of conceptual inquiry and structural awareness. Her work reflects an ongoing exploration of place, movement, light and the ways environments shape personal narrative.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of art and creativity is more important than ever, during this time of darkness where infrastructures are being dismantled; the calling of the creative person is to imagine, alchemize, and transition their grief, hurt, and loss into something new. Creators are the holders of hope, and we get to validate people and share that hope for a brighter future through the creative process. That is the purpose, to connect people to dreams of that future.

A Greene is a nationally and internationally featured emerging artist.  Although their academic and professional background is in art, throughout their life they have undergone multiple psychotic breaks that have led their identity to become fractured. Viewing one's ego as something fluid, they believe we all contain multitudes and that the story they are writing in the present is what defines them- ever fluid, ever evolving, ever reaching towards hope.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of creating artwork is to establish a bond: sharing love with the source that instilled that inspiration. The act of creating is one of transformation: turning suffering into healing,  loss into creation, despair into hope. Finding beauty in those initial feelings requires a reflection not just on an initial point in time, but on the waves that ripple out: A feeling grown from a source and shared with the world and a river ever flowing and branching outwards. 

Nicholas lives in Oregon with their partner in love and business, Kat, as well as their family of animal companions Morgana, Luci, Star, and Kai’ah. The Executive Director or “Guild Caretaker” of Pantheon Arts, and co-founder, their true passion coexists in writing and storytelling alongside leading these adventures.

A graduate of Portland State University in Business Admin and Writing, Nicholas tries to be a humble and steady flame which brings people together to share their stories. Their artist name, “Cobalt Hearth”, was crafted with this in mind as part of a lifelong aspiration to write a fiction series, a dream supported by many around his fire that takes root soon.

Purpose of Writing/Art:

The purpose of writing is to make one’s subjective truth known, to connect with the wider abstract of the collective, give voice to your own self in that wave of sound, and to contain that truth in a place that exists outside of space and time. The real beauty is that this subjective truth contains more than you; which you realize in the process, too. That wonder of (self) discovery is part of the magic of humanity.