Contributor Bios — May 2026
Tony Daly has been writing poetry since angsty days in the early ’90s when he found an ancient tome containing his grandmother’s poetry. However, he didn’t start sending his work out to publications until after retiring from the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 2016, which leaves a rather voluminous pile of work still laying dormant, hidden in notebooks, on napkins, in margins of partially read study material, that is constantly reburied under new inspirations. His first collection of poetry, The Tragedy of Photons and Other Poems of Tragedy and Light, was recently published as part of The Island of Wak-Wak’s Coffee Table Chapbooks series. For a list, that probably needs to be updated, of his published work, please visit his website or follow him on Instagram @tony_daly_official.
Ava Gomez is a twenty-two year old poet from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania graduating with a degree in English Literature from the University of St. Andrews. She tries to write poetry that pushes the boundaries of what the experience of an emotion can be. To her, writing is like breathing and there is simply no other way to express ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’. She is heavily inspired by Lucie Brock-Broido, Anne Sexton, and the Romantic poets. Her poems have previously appeared in the Michigan City Review of Books and Sketches Magazine, and she is co-founder of Ampersand Poetry Journal. She will be pursuing her MFA in Poetry at Columbia University this fall.
Juliette Goodwin is drawn to slow-growing populations of small, often overlooked natural forms. An experience of measured time and growth runs throughout her work, sharing a quiet space where the exquisite natural world is not a blurry periphery, but instead, front and center. Find more of her work on her website.
Chris Hart is a writer and editor based in Baltimore. He is the author of Useful, a book of stories, and his work has been published in Ginosko Literary Journal, Welter, Skelter, and elsewhere. His collaborative musical-in-progress, Try, received a public workshop at Fells Point Corner Theater in 2024, and his original screenplay, True Love Ways, was selected as a quarterfinalist for the inaugural Baltimore Film Festival. Currently, Hart is finishing his second screenplay and mapping out another collection of stories. He also co-writes music and performs with a pair of area groups, the Suitable Heirs and Brother Ender. While earning an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore, Hart published a chapbook of poems, Alley Flower. Hart also has taught multiple college-level courses, covering topics including modern journalism, government and mass media, and public relations.
Stevie Dissinger lives in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2012 with a BFA in Interdisciplinary Sculpture, and from Notre Dame of Maryland in 2022 with a Master’s of Arts in Teaching. She currently teaches Visual Art at the high school level. Her work often explores cycles and patterns. To view more of Stevie’s works, explore her website here.
Claudine Mussuto is a (sometimes reluctant) nomad, a painter and writer. She works in acrylics on paper that she finds in thrift stores, uses self-designed print-making techniques, and gifted collage materials. She paints ideas about the energies of the universe that often include something recognizable and representative from nature. A record of her visual work can be viewed here. She has designed and facilitated free writers’ workshops as a volunteer at libraries in western Massachusetts, New York City, and southeastern Colorado. Her first published short story was recently posted by Literally Stories.
Rachel M. Novak is a Maryland poet and artist. A lover of wonder and promoter of passion. She has been published in the Maryland Bards and Poets of Manor Mill Anthologies, by Four Tulips Press and the Viewless Wings Podcast (print and audio). You can find her reading monthly at Manor Mill in Monkton, MD. Find her on Substack at substack.com/@rmnovak.
Michelle Oconis is a self-taught artist with a severe form of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. She often explores the physical and cognitive ramifications of her disease in her work. As a woman of Native American descent, she tends to reference nature and the spirit world. She works in mixed media with a primary focus on alcohol ink. Michelle is a recipient of The Maryland Arts Council’s 2025 Artist’s Grant. Her work has been featured in multiple publications. Most recently, the international literary arts magazine, Beyond Words, from Germany. Her pieces have won numerous national awards. Most notably, The Juror’s Choice Award from The Maryland Federation of the Arts (Annapolis, Maryland) and The People’s Choice Award from NOMA Gallery (Ocala, Florida).
Ansuya Patel’s work has appeared widely in anthologies and publications as Allegro, Anthropocene, Artemisia Arts, Broken Spine, Crowstep, Drawn to the Light, Erbacce, Gypsophila, Ink Sweat and Tears, Last Stanza, Rattle, Renard, Wildfire Words and elsewhere. Her poems have been short listed for the Alpine, Aurora and the Bridport Poetry Prize. She was a joint winner of the Geoff Steven’s memorial prize in 2024. Her debut poetry collection Wolves At My Door was recently published by Indigo Dreams Publishing. Find more of her work at https://indigodreamspublishing.com/ansuya-patel.
Meredith Purvis is a writer, artist, and a traveler. Her heart and her writing are happiest when she’s exploring. Find her on Instagram at @updownbindery.
Judith Skillman paints expressionist works in oil on canvas, board, and paper. She is interested in feelings engendered by the natural world. Her paintings have been featured on the covers of Thin Air Magazine, Torrid Literature, The Awakenings Review, and appear in Penn Review, Southern Quill, and elsewhere.
Rachel Turney, Ed.D. is an educator and artist located in Denver, Colorado. Rachel is on staff at Bare Back Magazine and is a reader for The Los Angeles Review. She runs the popular online reading series Poetry (in Brief). Her debut book Record Player Life (the b-side) is available with The Poetry Lighthouse. Website: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks
