MASTHEAD
BARRETT WHITE
FOUNDER & EDITOR in chief
editor, FICTION & NONFICTION
he/him
Barrett is a Houston native based in New York City. His byline has been published by the Houston Press, OutSmart Magazine, Spectrum South, and Health Care Advocates International - to name a few. His ghostwriting has appeared in the Houston Chronicle and New York Times, but nobody knows it was him.
He has lived the life of a starving writer in a 1930s downtown studio, enjoyed crêpes on the banks of the Seine, camped in his Ford Focus while traversing the United States, and while he didn't make straight-As in school, he did almost learn rudimentary algebra in college.
He's exceptionally talented at navigating public transit and lives for the noise and the bustle of the city. His love of adventure and breadth of experience informs and directs his style.
Barrett is a proud Associate Member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. You can find him on Instagram and Twitter.
RACHAEL MATTHEWS
EDITOR, POETRY
she/her
Rachael is a writer based in the Houston area. She has been obsessed with writing and poetry since the single digits.
She has been published in HUMID Literary Journal, Psaltery & Lyre Literary Journal, and has been co-Poetry Editor for both HUMID and The North Texas Review.
With an eye for details, and a heart full of a love for the written word and all things creative with beautiful language, she is always looking for a way to whet her literary appetite.
You can find her on Twitter and Instagram, often wishing to be writing outside somewhere.
Jenny Allon
Communications Director
she/her
Jenny is a writer and marketer.
She has written for al.com and Uncomfortable Revolution as well as being published on Democracy Chronicles.
She has vast experience running communications for nonprofits and small businesses. She enjoys the written word, playing guitar, and exploring new restaurants in new cities.
KARISSA GARZA
READER
she/her
Karissa is a writer and educator from South Texas. She is a lecturer at the local university and spends her days working with undergraduate and dual-credit students in the realm of rhetoric and composition. She also writes when she can, with her work appearing (or forthcoming) in Hot Pot Magazine and Unfolded Poetry Project: 2023 Poetry Anthology.
When she isn’t teaching undergrad students or attempting to be a poet, she can be found eating cheesecake and watching anime with her 10-year-old son and polydactyl cat named Rin.
You can find her on Twitter where she mostly posts in response to poetry or haiku challenges and shares the occasional meme.
STEPHANIE HOLDEN
READER
she/THEY
Stephanie M. Holden (she/they) is a native Houstonian living in New Orleans. She mostly writes in the speculative and horror realms, but she's also no stranger to love poems. Find her at stephaniemholden.com or @smhxlden on Instagram and Twitter.
Former staff
SCUM HELLEBORE
READER
THEY/THEM
Scum is an editor and writer that recently graduated from Southern Utah University’s creative writing BFA program. They were the editor-in-chief of SUU’s literary journal, Kolob Canyon Review, where they have had their writing published. They recently read for Thanatos Review’s second issue and completed an internship with The Word Slayers, where they wrote articles about publishing and editing.
Outside of the literary sphere, Scum plays the drums, collects Funko Pop! and LEGO, and shops small wherever they can. They wear exclusively black clothing, usually a band or horror t-shirt and ripped jeans, and will also have a new tattoo, piercing, or hairstyle any time you see them.
You can find Scum on Twitter or, possibly, in your nightmares.
ALI TAHA
READER
HE/HIM