Meet the Authors

Autumn Johnson is a third-year student studying English/creative writing and disability studies. She enjoys tea, books, and road trips.

Jarod Valencia-Cheng (they/them/theirs) is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Creative Writing with minors in Cinema and Dance. In pursuit of a career in writing about identity narratives and antiracist writing pedagogy, Jarod is involved in multiple positions such as a member of the Change UIowa English (CUE) Committee and a University of Iowa Resident Assistant (RA).

Trajan Wells has lived in Iowa City his entire life, and enjoys any opportunity to live outside of it, even if for brief moments or through writing or reading others’ work.

Mallory Sloan is a Junior at the University of Iowa studying Secondary English Education.

Shay Shafer is a twenty-two year old nonbinary creative nonfiction writer and poet who loves coffee, rainbows, and all the many forms stories can take.

Annya Pardo: I born in Caracas, Venezuela and subsequently shipped around all different parts of the Americas until I landed in Texas for the majority of my life, and then Iowa for university. I own two cats that are the dumbest things in the whole world, and most of my time is spent looking at blank pages.

Franny Marzuki is a third-year studying English and creative writing. Her work also appears in Fools Magazine, earthwords, and Glass Magazine.

A Nebraska native, Evan Mantler is a senior at the University of Iowa studying English and creative writing as well as philosophy. Following graduation in May 2021, Mantler intends to start law school at the University of California Berkeley.

Molly Manion is a Junior at the University of Iowa studying English and Creative Writing, with a Minor in American Sign Language. From St. Louis, Missouri, Molly enjoys writing creative nonfiction about popular culture and technology.

Kaitlyn Lane is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in English. She is from Maquoketa, Iowa, and plans to return there for work after graduation.

Emma Kohlenberg is a Theatre Arts major originally from Illinois. She is a major coffee-lover.

Luis Garcia is an American Los Angeles writer of Mexican-Guatemalan lineage. Work often represents the trials and tribulations of first-generation Latin Americans in America.

My name is Reen Fowler and I’m studying English/CreativeWriting, Entrepreneurship, and Studio Art at the University of Iowa. My goal is to someday own and run a sustainable bookstore café where I can offer programs that promote education, food donation, and offer a space where my community can come together and enjoy coffee with one another.

Shakira Del Toro is receiving a bachelor’s degree in English/Creative Writing, an Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate, and a Cinema minor this May. Horror-thrillers are her keen interest and invests her time in reading, writing, filming, editing, and watching all accessible forms of horror.

I’m Annie Borelli! I’m graduating from the University of Iowa this May with my degree in English and Creative Writing. If I’m not writing fiction, I’m probably walking my foster dogs, expanding my collection of tortellini recipes, or anxiously recalculating my monthly coffee budget.

Meghan Bloom (she/they) is a third-year student at the University of Iowa. If she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably cuddling her cat, Ellie, or failing to keep her plants alive.

Paige Johnson is an English Education major at the University of Iowa. In her free time, she enjoys reading horribly cheesy YA books, writing, and drinking coffee with way too much creamer.

Emma Rosenberg is a junior majoring in English/creative writing with minors in film and philosophy. She enjoys drinking coffee, taking walks, watching movies of the classic/horror variety, and reading.

Flor Sanchez is an aspiring writer hoping to bridge her two worlds through story telling.

Katie Goodale is a senior at the University of Iowa double-majoring in journalism and creative writing. In her free time, she can be found taking photographs or reading fantasy novels.

Hayden Williams is a second year student at the University of Iowa studying journalism and English on the publishing track with an art minor.

Jiselle Cazares: I’m Mexican-American born in Chicago but raised just 45 minutes outside of the city. I enjoy writing poetry about ancestral heritage, urban life, feminism, and the environment. Recently inherited two dogs Luna and Georgie, sweethearts but rumbunctious. Hope to one day attend graduate school and up my coffee game from gas station coffee to maybe grinding my own beans!

Dulce Escoria is student, writer, and activist. They are the leader of the University of Iowa’s branch of the progressive group Student Action.

Emily Donahue is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in English and Creative Writing on the publishing track.

Meredith McKnight is a fourth-year student at the university studying English & Creative Writing and English Education. She enjoys writing personal essays, speculative fiction, and reading medieval literature.

Savannah Zobeck is an English and Creative Writing major at the University of Iowa. She enjoys writing poetry and gains inspiration from travel and nature.

Elizabeth Rodriguez Fielder is a professor of English at the University of Iowa. She is a native of New York City and writes about the civil rights movement, social activism, migration, literature, and… coffee.

Lupita Zavaleta Vega is a Mexican writer born in Oaxaca and is currently receiving her MFA in at University of Iowa. Her work has been published on the Mexican magazines Este país and Tierra adentro. Currently, she is working in a collection of short stories inspired by her hometown.