Issue 1: Transformation
For our first issue, we asked artists and writers to send us stories of growth and struggles; poems of frustrations and hopes; and art of self-reflection. You’ll find these and so much more from our amazing contributors. We hope their work transforms a part of you.
Awósùsì Olúwábùkúnmí Abraham is student of the University of Ìbàdàn. Published on Merak magazine, Kalahari review, Allegro poetry magazine, Raconteur magazine, Naalubale review, JHHF Review, Trouvaille review and elsewhere. Currently a review editor in researchround journal and deputy editor in Literarywizard magazine. He writes from Ìbàdàn. Home of memories.
Grace Alioke is a writer and poet that gets inspired by pains, abuses and healing. She writes from Ogun state, Nigeria.
Maryam Arshad is an emerging writer and poet, with interests in environmental justice, climate, equality, and sharing perspectives as a woman of an ethnic minority. She is currently working on a magazine which will showcase the work of women around the world, through the mediums of art, initiatives and protest who are fighting for environmental, social and racial justice.
Raquel D. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Lyrical Passion Poetry E-zine; an online journal of Japanese short-form poetry, micropoetry, and short fiction. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing from the Florida State University. Bailey’s poems have appeared in more than forty publications worldwide. She is the 2019 winner of the Harold G. Henderson Memorial Award for haiku and the Tokusen (2nd Prize) winner in the 24th International "KUSAMAKURA" Haiku Competition, Japan. Bailey is originally from St. Andrew parish near Kingston, Jamaica.
Madeleine Bo is a freelance illustrator and character design artist, and a writer of LGBTQ+ YA fiction. She studied Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Winchester and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of St Andrews. She currently lives in Scotland with her partner.
Maira Butt is a writer of Pakistani origin, born in the UK and based in Burnley, Lancashire. She completed her Law degree at the LSE and a Masters in Psychology of Education at the University of Manchester. She has been featured on Tiny Buddha, Thought Catalog, British Muslims TV and Media Diversified. She is currently a manager at a women’s charity and Chair of a BME specialist service for women, both in Lancashire. She was a panelist on the UK’s first-ever student-led conference on South Asians and Mental Health. She is an award-winning salesperson who was also nominated Enterprising Woman of the Year at the Hyndburn Business Awards in 2019.
Kashvi Chandok is a Literature student from Delhi, India. Her poetry usually deals with the themes of resistance, injustice of language, grief and residual catharsis. For her, art in all forms acts as a powerful tool to transform human beings. She is the Editor-In-Chief of an online literary magazine called “The Remnant Archive” and has previously acted as an editor for various events.
Christina Ciufo is a passionate writer in poetry, short stories, flash fictions, fables, and completing her first novel. At a very young age, she always had a passion for writing stories and poems, specifically in fairytales, folklore, supernatural, and horror. After graduating Sacred Heart University with a BA in English, she continued to expand her writing abilities at Manhattanville College’s MFA Creative Writing Program and by May 2017, graduated with an MFA degree in Creative Writing. She completed Sacred Heart University's Education Program in December 2018 with a MAT in Teaching in both elementary and secondary. She is currently a Sunday School Teacher at St. Timothy's. She has appeared in Gravitas, Spillwords, Ovunque Siamo, Nymphs, Vamp Cat Magazine, Z Publishing Ohio, Nightingale & Sparrow, Truly Review, Mookychick, Door is a Jar Magazine, Bonnie's Crew, The Poetry Question, Twist in Time Magazine, Moonchild Magazine, The Wolf Feeds Poetry, Crêpe & Penn, Marias at Sampaguitas, dream walking, Selcouth Station Magazine, Beneath The Fever and The Wild Literary Magazine.
Lyndsey Croal is an Edinburgh-based writer. She received a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award in 2020 and her short fiction and essays have been published in various anthologies and magazines, including Imagine a Country (Canongate), Quaranzine (Malefaction Mag) and Liars’ League. She is currently working on her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter at @writerlynds.
Trishita Das is a student and writer from Mumbai, India. In her poems, she celebrates and archives the magic of everyday life. Her work has been featured in several magazines and online platforms including Ayaskala and Airplane Poetry Movement. She also enjoys culinary experiments, fluffy dogs and bathroom singing.
Trishita Das is a student and writer from Mumbai, India. In her poems, she celebrates and archives the magic of everyday life. Her work has been featured in several magazines and online platforms including Ayaskala and Airplane Poetry Movement. She also enjoys culinary experiments, fluffy dogs and bathroom singing.
Rebecca Doughty is a freelance writer currently living in Bristol. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, focusing mainly on short stories and micro-fiction, but when not writing, she can usually be found enjoying coffee and cake in the city, heading to the coast in Cornwall or curled up with a good book.
Jason de Koff is an associate professor of agronomy and soil science at Tennessee State University. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, Jaclyn, and his two daughters, Tegan and Maizie. He has published in a number of scientific journals, and recently had poetry accepted in other literary journals. His short story, "The Gods of Indianapolis", was published in 2014 in the Mythic Indy anthology published by Well Done Marketing.
Jake De Meio-Tatti is a Cairns (Queensland, Australia) based artist, his style is cartoon centred focussing on the nature and animals he sees and meet in his adventures mixed with his love for fairy tales and magic. The mediums he uses are traditional ink on paper and digital. Jake has been doing art since he was a child on his parents’ farm but have been developing his style and skills in the past 4 years.
Chris Farago is a poet living in Greenbelt, Maryland. His work has appeared in The Northern Virginia Review, Exterminating Angel Press: The Magazine, and Endlessly Rocking: Poems in Honor of Walt Whitman's 200th Birthday.
R.E. Hengsterman is an emergency room nurse who writes. He lives in North Carolina with “the family” and sometimes wears pants. His work can be found at www. rehengsterman.com and the occasional tweet @robhengsterman
Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim’s works have appeared (or are forthcoming) in Door is a Jar Magazine, Ebedi Review, Sub-Saharan Magazine, Journal of African Youth Literature, Black Muslim Reads anthology, and elsewhere. He also has stories shortlisted for Goge Africa's #GogeAfrica20 Writing Contest and Ibua Journal's Pack Light Series Prize. He started reading at an early age, influenced by his grandmother's storytelling of African folklore. He picked up his first James Hadley Chase novel at 8; and for the love of stories, was already done with both the Quran and the Bible by the time he was 10. Ibrahim sees himself as a seeker and a truth-sayer. His works explore the human experience from an African perspective. He's a lover of words – the dictionary was once his favorite book. He is the Africa Talent Liaison at the Journal of African Youth Literature, he volunteers at Ayamba LitCast, and writes from Ilorin, Nigeria.
Aishwarya Javalgekar (she/her) is a feminist writer and researcher with a Masters in English. She has recently published her work in Seiren, perhappened, and dreams walking magazines. She explores identity, mental health, and the body through her writing.
Dominic Loise lives in Chicago, Il; with his librarian wife and three book loving rabbits. Though the bunnies are more interested in nibbling pages than reading them. His work has appeared on Alchemic Gold Poetry Society. Dominic can be found on Instagram at @dominic_lives.
Sarah Loverock is a writer, poet, and MA Creative Writing student. She has been previously published in Streetcake, ang(st) zine, Perhappened and Pussy Magic. She loves all things witchy and spiritual, history and mythology, and cute animals. She is available on Twitter @asoftblueending.
Melissa Martini graduated from Seton Hall University with a Master’s degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing. Her fiction has previously appeared in Pretty Owl Poetry. A true Capricorn at heart, she works full-time as a Project Coordinator at an executive search firm in her home state of New Jersey, but still writes short fiction in her free time. When she isn’t writing, she’s looking up astrology or running her dogs’ Instagram account. A bisexual woman who has struggled with body image and sexuality her entire life, Melissa’s fiction often explores what it means to have a body, especially when it collides with other aspects of one’s life.
Morgana Moore is a UK based short fiction writer interested in speculative fiction, the oddities of the human experience, and personal identity. She is the editor-in-chief of @fatcatmagazine where she publishes flash fiction submissions online. You can find her writing featured in @_Re_side_, @angstfzine, @perhappened and @_IdleInk_ To keep up to date with her work, you can find her on twitter @morgana_moore
Stephanie Elizabeth Orellana is a Salvadoran-American writer and bilingual Spanish youth librarian. She grew up in Palmdale, California and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie takes her experiences as a Latina growing up in the hood and her journey through it all as the inspiration for her writing. This is Stephanie's first publication. You can find Stephanie on Instagram @stephlizo.
Stephanie Elizabeth Orellana is a Salvadoran-American writer and bilingual Spanish youth librarian. She grew up in Palmdale, California and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie takes her experiences as a Latina growing up in the hood and her journey through it all as the inspiration for her writing. This is Stephanie's first publication. You can find Stephanie on Instagram @stephlizo.
Stephanie Elizabeth Orellana is a Salvadoran-American writer and bilingual Spanish youth librarian. She grew up in Palmdale, California and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie takes her experiences as a Latina growing up in the hood and her journey through it all as the inspiration for her writing. This is Stephanie's first publication. You can find Stephanie on Instagram @stephlizo.
Praise Osawaru is a Nigerian writer, (performance) poet, and an undergrad at the University of Benin, Nigeria. His works have appeared/forthcoming in African Writer, Afritondo, EroGospel, Neuro Logical Literary Magazine, Ngiga Review, Perhappened Mag, Praxis Magazine, Serotonin, and elsewhere. He was longlisted for African Writers Award 2019 and shortlisted in the 2019 Kreative Diadem Creative Writing Contest. A lover of everything art and film fanatic, you can find him on Twitter: @wordsmithpraise (www.twitter.com/wordsmithpraise)
Laura Owens is an aspiring poet and artist, living and animating videogame characters in Oxford, UK. Her photos have appeared in Kreaxxxion Review, and her words have been published in perhappened mag, Versification, and Detritus.
Laura Owens is an aspiring poet and artist, living and animating videogame characters in Oxford, UK. Her photos have appeared in Kreaxxxion Review, and her words have been published in perhappened mag, Versification, and Detritus.
Kaustubh Padhya is an Engineer and Management grad with an avid interest in Sports, Travel and Photography.
Kaustubh Padhya is an Engineer and Management grad with an avid interest in Sports, Travel and Photography.
Kaustubh Padhya is an Engineer and Management grad with an avid interest in Sports, Travel and Photography.
Kaustubh Padhya is an Engineer and Management grad with an avid interest in Sports, Travel and Photography.
Maria S. Picone has an MFA from Goddard College. She’s interested in hybrid and experimental forms as well as free verse. Her hobbies are learning languages, looking at cats on the internet, and painting. Her poetry appears in Mineral Lit Mag, Ariel Chart, and Eleventh Transmission: 45 Poems of Protest. Her Twitter is @mspicone, and her website is mariaspicone.com.
Leela Raj-Sankar is a student from Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to writing, she enjoys singing, painting, and making far too many Richard Siken references. You can find more of her writing on her blog at https://wildflower-of-the-sea.tumblr.com/ or in upcoming issues of Burning Jade Literary & Arts Magazine and Ex/Post Magazine.
Leela Raj-Sankar is a student from Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to writing, she enjoys singing, painting, and making far too many Richard Siken references. You can find more of her writing on her blog at https://wildflower-of-the-sea.tumblr.com/ or in upcoming issues of Burning Jade Literary & Arts Magazine and Ex/Post Magazine.
Anthony R. Salandy is a mixed-race poet & writer who enjoys the pastoral as well as the depth of human sentiment and action and tries in earnest to express this in his poetry. Anthony travels frequently and has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK & America. Anthony's work has been published 15 times in Kuwait Times ('Half Kuwaiti?' ARS), The Kuwait Poets Society's Ink & Oil Zine (June 2019), The Showbear Family Circus, Dream Noir Literary Journal, Straylight literary magazine, poets choice magazine, The Book Smuggler's Den, Montana Mouthful literary magazine, Sumou magazine, Twisted Vine Literary Journal, JHHF Review, The Mark Literary Review as well as winning a Sociology Association Competition (UvA) with a Poem published on Social media. Anthony has 1 published chapbook entitled 'The Great Northern Journey'. Anthony is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Sociology.
Anthony R. Salandy is a mixed-race poet & writer who enjoys the pastoral as well as the depth of human sentiment and action and tries in earnest to express this in his poetry. Anthony travels frequently and has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK & America. Anthony's work has been published 15 times in Kuwait Times ('Half Kuwaiti?' ARS), The Kuwait Poets Society's Ink & Oil Zine (June 2019), The Showbear Family Circus, Dream Noir Literary Journal, Straylight literary magazine, poets choice magazine, The Book Smuggler's Den, Montana Mouthful literary magazine, Sumou magazine, Twisted Vine Literary Journal, JHHF Review, The Mark Literary Review as well as winning a Sociology Association Competition (UvA) with a Poem published on Social media. Anthony has 1 published chapbook entitled 'The Great Northern Journey'. Anthony is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Sociology.
Andrea Salvador is a Filipino writer. Her work has been recognized by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Columbia College Chicago, Trinity College - University of Melbourne, and Interlochen Arts Academy, and has been published by Homology Lit, L’Ephemere Review, and Occulum among others. In her spare time, she creates lists, watches sci-fi and horror movies, and rearranges her bookshelf. Find her on Twitter at @andreawhowrites.
Josephine Sharpe is an aspiring novelist and filmmaker, currently living and studying in London. She enjoys people watching, eavesdropping on strangers conversations on the tube, and writing in the margins of book. She can be found on Twitter @Josephin_Sharpe.
K.T. Slattery is an Irish based poet and short story writer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Her work has been published in Ropes, Nightingale and Sparrow, The Blue Nib, Impspired, Planet in Peril Anthology, and Three Drops from a Cauldron. She received a special mention in the 2020 Desmond O'Grady Poetry Competition.
Anna Thorne is a photography and video artist from Mims, Florida. She is currently studying at the University of Notre Dame for her M.F.A. in Photography on a full tuition waiver where she also works as an Instructor of Record. Thorne has most recently been selected as a fellow for the Berlin Seminar in Transnational European Studies with the Nanovic Institute for European Studies in 2020. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and museums in Florida and Indiana and has also been published in Halation Magazine and Photographer’s Forum. Her work is in the collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach, FL.
Anna Thorne is a photography and video artist from Mims, Florida. She is currently studying at the University of Notre Dame for her M.F.A. in Photography on a full tuition waiver where she also works as an Instructor of Record. Thorne has most recently been selected as a fellow for the Berlin Seminar in Transnational European Studies with the Nanovic Institute for European Studies in 2020. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and museums in Florida and Indiana and has also been published in Halation Magazine and Photographer’s Forum. Her work is in the collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach, FL.
Kyle Tam is an author, dreamer, and full-time complainer. Her fiction has been published in Monstronomicon, Idle Ink, and Cabinet of Heed, and is upcoming in Mineral Lit, Fudoki, Marias at Sampaguitas, the Free Bundle, and Murder Park After Dark Vol. 3. She doesn't see endings, only cycles.
Anannya Uberoi (she/her) is a full-time software engineer and part-time tea connoisseur based in Madrid. She has been previously recognized as the winner of Ayaskala Literary Magazine's National Poetry Writing Month challenge. Her poems and short stories have appeared in Jaggery, LandLocked, Deep Wild Journal, Tipton Poetry Journal, Lapis Lazuli, and Marías at Sampaguitas. Her writing has also featured on The Delhi Walla and The Dewdrop, among other literary blogs.
Emily Uduwana is a poet and short fiction author with recent publications in Miracle Monocle, Eclectica Magazine, and the Owen Wister Review. She is currently based in Southern California, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in women's and gender history in the American West.
Daniel Walters lives in the south east of the UK and has a background in Computer Science. He enjoys keeping active and believes that the best time is that spent outdoors. @danielmhwalters