Authors
Danielle Birnell
Danielle Birnell earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in May 2019.
Her service with the US Army in Kuwait and Afghanistan blends with her love of the supernatural to inform much of her writing.
Birnell is currently a college professor and high school teacher living in the small town of Hartley, TX.
Forthcoming: The Blood of the Blackbird
Laura Lee Bonde
Laura Lee Bonde is a Harlingen, TX resident who has lived an extraordinary life. She has written stories and poems about her experiences for years and has brought her perspective on life to the stage in poetry readings and flag-worshiping dances. Bonde has overcome the difficult multiple times and, through faith and perseverance, will continue to do so.
Laura Lee Bonde is ready to put those stories and poems together in a collection for all to hear. Working in the mental health and addiction programs has taught her the power of healing through storytelling, and she’s ready.
Forthcoming: Shut the F- Up: I’m Fine
Karina Flores
Karina Flores received her Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She currently resides in Houston, Texas with her lovable pup, Alfred.
A native of the Rio Grande Valley, Flores' deems her Latinx voice will offer an important and diverse perspective. Her poem "Anxiety" was published in The University of Oklahoma’s Blood and Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine. And most recently, her poem "La Magia Divina de Natalia: Un Homenaje a Natalia Lafourcade" was published in The Mixtape Literary Journal: Tumbao! Louder Than Borders Vol. 1 2021.
Forthcoming: Juntas: Toget(her)
Kevin Adam Flores
Kevin Adam Flores is a Hispanic-American poet and short-story writer.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English, his goal is to achieve excellence as an individual among his works and publications. Flores wants to show how meaningful words created from experience, emotion, and imagination can relate to many people and make an impact as any other artist aspires to. He also hopes to collaborate with other poets among the writing community while receiving recognition for establishing poetry and storytelling as a cathartic immersion and therapeutic outlet for those who struggle mentally and emotionally.
He has been published in The Twin Bill, The Hole in the Head Review, and Too Well Away. His work is also included in Superpresent, Fleas on the Dog, Blink-Ink’s Kitty Wang Press, and The Chachalaca Review. He recently released his first book titled Bittersweet and Blue.
The author teaches and resides in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas.
Forthcoming: Bittersweet Borderline
Victoria Lopez
2022 City of McAllen Poet Laureate and Author, Victoria Lopez -- Victoria has always enjoyed writing; in 2015, she began to introduce herself as a writer and built her confidence by engaging with the community. Her first novel, Fire in May, was published in 2016, the same year she was selected as a tenant of the McAllen Creative Incubator.
Victoria writes Poetry on Demand, a performative demonstration of spontaneous writing. Using her typewriter, you may give her a word, topic, phrase, question, feeling, or thought and she'll write you a poem to either keep or share with someone you love!
"The most important thing about being a writer is identifying who you are and what you represent, what is your mission? What are you putting into the world? Spend time with yourself and be gentle, the words will come, and when they do, let them be authentic."
You can join Victoria for Unfolded: Poetry Project workshops at the McAllen Creative Incubator.
Emily M. Meier
Emily Meier is the donor relations coordinator at Trinity University. She received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English in 2020 and 2016 at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She is a native San Antonian poet whose college-level work first appeared in UTSA’s official literary magazine, "Sagebrush Review: Edition XI" in spring 2016. "Lovebug" was published as a collection of short stories and prose poems in 2021. "Here," a poetry series, was published in March 2017.
Hey, Will! Now Available for purchase!
Anthony Ripp
Anthony is a writer, performer, business owner and nurse from deep South Texas and considers himself a storyteller who writes his best material on the open road or sitting in the middle of an ocean in a remote part of the world. He takes his inspiration from real life events and enjoys featuring the beauty that is attached to the rusty side of life. Anthony states that he does not write to make a point, he writes to make his listeners and readers feel something. Anthony has enjoyed being published in various poetry anthologies and is honored that his selected work has found a home at Esperanza publishing.
Forthcoming: Kaleidoscope (2024)
Yelitza Saenz
Yelitza Saenz is a writer from Roma, TX who earned her Bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Mexican-American Studies from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Saenz currently resides in McAllen, TX where she has dedicated her academic pursuits to the south Texas region's health and educational well-being. Saenz’s work focuses on Mexican American literacy along with mental health awareness, capturing memories through writing, creative nonfiction, creative writing, and storytelling. Saenz’s poetry has been published in Borderlands 2023, along with an upcoming new online publication by OyeDrum Magazine.
Forthcoming: Mi Corazón Dulce (2025)
Rolando Serna
A United States Marine/Gulf War Veteran MOS 7222, Serna started writing while serving time in Federal Prison. He is currently working on his Second Masters in Mexican American Studies at UTRGV and starting his admission process to a P.H.D. Program in Mexican American Studies.
Published
Panorama UTPA. Galley UTPA. 2006 Harper College learning communities. Los Angeles "La Bloga" online publication.
Awards and Education
2009 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges.
Bachelors in English/ Minor is Spanish. Masters of Arts in English.
Affiliations.
Nueva Onda Poets. Vice President - Sigma Tau Delta.
No Name Poetry Group. Novena Poetry member.
Forthcoming: Untitled Poetry Collection
Jonathan Solis
Jonathan Solis has been writing stories since he was in high school. Solis lives in Rio Grande City, Texas, and began to pursue writing out of a love for storytelling and exploring the different aspects of the human psyche.
Solis holds two degrees; a Bachelors in English (2014) and a Master in Creative Writing (2018) from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Solis writes about different psychological disorders and uses a variety of narrative styles.
Solis hopes for readers to see themselves in the characters he writes, to see both the good and bad in each, and derive a special connection between their own lives and the fictional ones he has created.
Forthcoming: Camp Supernatural: Mind Over Matter
Forthcoming: Roundabout
Karen Tardiff
Karen has been writing as long as she could hold a pen. She is known for her uncensored views and her work mirrors her convictions. As the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Gnashing Teeth Publishing, she is committed to sharing work from diverse voices. Karen writes poetry and flash fiction, which has appeared in several different anthologies and journals, online and in print. When she can’t find poetry somewhere, she puts it there.
Forthcoming: Raccoon (2024)