∫ Gulls & Cherry Blossoms ∫ Lisa Alvarado is an educator, poet, novelist, and journalist. She is the founder of La Onda Negra Press, and is author of Reclamo and The Housekeeper‘s Diary, Her first novel, Sister Chicas (written with Ann Hagman Cardinal and Jane Alberdeston) was bought by Penguin/NAL, and released in April 2006. Sister Chicas won 2nd place Best First Novel in English (Latino Literacy Now/2007) Her book of poetry, Raw Silk Suture, is the newest release by Floricanto Press, and was reviewed by Rigoberto Gonzalez. She has curated multimedia exhibits and mounted her own multimedia piece, Reclamo in the Pilsen art corridor in Chicago; and is currently a contributor to the nationally touring exhibit, Re-imagining the Distaff Toolkit, curated by Ricki Solinger/SUNY. Lisa is the recipient of grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs, The NEA, and the Ragdale Foundation. Lisa was honored in 2009, as one of seven Hispanic Authors of the Year by the State of Illinois. (Photo: Lin Benitez, photographybylin.com)
Lou Amyx holds BA and MFA degrees in creative writing from the University of Houston and McNeese State, respectively. She is the author of Biology, Fourth Period and Phoenix, produced by the Edward Albee New Playwrights Workshop under the mentorship of Lanford Wilson. Her poetry appears in Naugatuck River Review and The Arena. A chapbook, The Bracelet, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press. (Photo: Shaye Lauren)
Beebe Barksdale-Bruner has a BFA in painting and an MFA in poetry. She has published one book of poetry, It Comes To Me Loosely Woven, by Press 53 of NC in 2007. She likes to explore all media including clay, figure drawing, photography and digital art. Her website: http://beebe-barksdalebruner.artistwebsites.com.
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