Nancy Gourde
Bio:
Nancy is a retired English teacher who loves poetry and puzzles. She is also a Rebel
Cartographer.
Reason for Signing Up:
This is my fourth year, but initially it was upon the recommendation of a fellow
Rebel Cartographer.
Josie Angel
Bio:
Josie is a transgender poet who also loves writing short stories, stage plays, screenplays, and is attempting her first novel. She loves the escape of movies and the catharsis of theater. Her muse foods are jelly beans and bleu cheeseburgers. She’s a creative life coach because she’s passionate about creativity and helping others with their creative practice.
Reason for Signing Up:
Jpack11664@aol.com
Darlene Rose DeMaria
Bio:
Darlene is an Educational Therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is grateful to be writing with exceptional children who continue to teach her so much!
Reason for Signing Up:
To spend June, my birthday month, in the daily company of fellow wordsmiths!
Jess Roat
Bio:
Jess is a Reading Specialist in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has loved reading and writing for as long as he can remember.
Reason for Signing Up:
I signed up to continue playing with my creative writing muse.
Jazmine Opdycke
Bio:
Jazmine Opdycke is a poet currently working on a
poetry collection that explores themes of grief, love, and the impact
of the opioid epidemic in Appalachia. Opdycke's poetry aims to give voice to overlooked communities and personal loss, blending lyrical imagery with raw emotional depth. Through her work, she strives to create space for healing, remembrance, and resilience. Opdycke’s work has been published in several literary journals, she has received the Emily Dickinson Poetry Award through Bookleaf Publishing, and she is also
participating in the 2025 Poetry Gauntlet with the Carnegie Center.
Reason for Signing Up:
I am signing up to try something new and challenge myself!
Sunny
Bio:
Erin is a young writer who is looking to grow their passion of creation. They always look to find beauty in the grotesque and solace in the disturbed.
Reason for Signing Up:
I signed up last year and had a lot of fun meeting other writers!
Austin Marshall
Bio:
Austin is a recently graduated high school student. He plans to pursue a career in film and directing and enjoys writing in any form.
Reason for Signing Up:
MR GILLIS!!
Sam Arthurs
Bio:
Sam is an Appalachian poet and horror author, who resides in the hollers of Eastern Kentucky where she was born and raised. Growing up she developed a deep love of words, which has only flourished over time. She composes much of her work at Folklore Studio, located on her family's ancestral property, and spends her free time reading and traveling. Her published works include the Dreadful Seasons series, the Rust series, and a poetry chapbook titled Sing Me Appalachia
Reason for Signing Up:
Inspiration is much needed, always.
Ash
Bio:
Ash is a writer from the foothills of Appalachia who has had a love for writing her entire life. She is spiritual and obscure - a mom of 2 girls and a true poet at heart.
Reason for Signing Up:
I am needing inspiration to get creative and write more
Deanna
Bio:
Deanna Mascle teaches writing at Morehead State and recently transitioned to site director emeritus of the Morehead Writing Project. She is also a proud Rebel Cartographer.
Reason for Signing Up:
Because I love this community
Lav
Bio:
Lav is an artist/writer/poet/friend/fiend/dancer.
Reason for Signing Up:
I'm back at it again! for the third time and i am very excited. i had a great time last year, and am looking forward to another great time this year. i love the community and the daily challenge. i love reading and commenting on everyone's poems and i love the engagement and support back. yall are awesome. good luck!!! see ya >:)
Lauren Myfelt
Bio:
Lauren is a social poet, except she isn't promising to quit.
Reason for Signing Up:
Tradition!!!
Liz Prather
Bio:
I am a teacher and writer living in Mt. Sterling.
Reason for Signing Up:
I like it.
River
Bio:
River is an unfortunately extremely employed student this summer.
Melissa Helton
Bio:
Literary Arts Director of Hindman Settlement School. Her work has been in Shenandoah, Women of Appalachia Project, Still: The Journal, and more. Her chapbooks include Inertia: A Study, and Hewn. She is editor of the anthology Troublesome Rising: A Thousand-Year Flood in Eastern Kentucky and Untelling, the literary and arts magazine. Her work has been supported through the Kentucky Foundation for Women and has been awarded prizes in poetry and nonfiction. She taught in colleges and universities for 17 years and is a dual citizen in the UK.
Reason for Signing Up:
Words are rad.
Sue Neufarth Howard
Bio:
Sue Neufarth Howard: Poet and visual artist, past member of Greater Cincinnati Writers League (GCWL), Linton Street Writers. Received Third Prize and/or Honorable Mention in several Ohio Poetry Day Contests since 1998. Poems published in Zaira Journal; Accents Publishing Blog for Lexington KY Poetry Month 2014 and 2015; Her Limestone Bones: Selections from Lexington (KY) Poetry Month 2013; Pyrokinection and High Coupe online journals; Tic Toc, Storm Cycle, and Gilded Frame Anthologies - Kind of a Hurricane Press; Cattails online journal; AEQAI online magazine; the Journal of Kentucky Studies - 25th Anniversary Edition; the Mid-America Poetry Review; and The Incliner - Cincinnati Art Museum. Poetry chapbooks: TreeScapes, EarthWords, In and Out of the Blue Zoo and Haiku Moments, available on amazon.com.
Reason for Signing Up:
I love the challenge of writing and posting a poem each day of the month.
