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2023 LINEUP
READERS & PANELISTS
These authors, editors, panelists, and performers will all be featured March 31 - April 2, 2023
as part of the Northern Arizona Book Festival. Events will be held at various venues in Flagstaff and on Zoom.
Download/print the official 2023 poster now.
LEX ABBRUSCATO
Lex Abbruscato (she/they) was born and raised in New Jersey. She started writing poetry her junior year of high school. Since then she completed undergrad at NAU with a Bachelor in English and an emphasis in Creative Writing. She furthered her education during the pandemic and received her Master in the Arts of Teaching. Lex currently teaches English at Verrado High School and climbs lots of rocks in her spare time.
SHIPRA AGARWAL
Shipra Agarwal (she/her) is a doctor-turned-author who studied creative writing at Harvard. A Pushcart nominee, Shipra writes about the small towns of India, similar to the one she grew up in. A story from her WIP collection, That Thing We Don’t Talk About, was published in Witness and nominated for the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize, 2023; another was shortlisted for the First Pages Prize, 2022, and was a semifinalist at the IHLR long story contest. Additionally, her work has been published in Janus Literary, Flash Flood, and an anthology. Shipra is an assistant fiction editor at Identity Theory, and fiction reader at Story. . In 2022, Shipra founded Lityatra, a platform to celebrate the journeys of BIPOC authors. She can be found hiking and kayaking in Arizona, and at www.shipraagarwal.com.
KIRSTEN JOHANNA ALLEN
Co-Executive Director and Publisher, Kirsten manages acquisitions, editing, production, and marketing for Torrey House Press. As co-founder, Kirsten has steered the press from its earliest inklings to publish conservation through literature to become the powerful platform for books and ideas about the natural world and the West that it is today. Kirsten holds a BA from Westminster College and an MPH from the University of Utah. She has two grown children and lives with a pair of cats and her spouse, Mark Bailey, in Salt Lake City and Torrey, Utah.
AKANKSHA AURORA
Akanksha Aurora (she/her) is a Mumbai-born, Los Angeles-based writer, standup comedian and storyteller. Akanksha’s Bollywood to Hollywood journey has been transformative, challenging and full of material - material that she’s brought to stage and screen in her performances across Los Angeles, Mumbai and Toronto, and in her writing experiences at Disney Channel, Moonbug Entertainment, Vulture, The Moth and the Women’s National Book Association. Akanksha also writes and produces a "Bollywood Fleabag" miniseries on TikTok, where she chronicles her experiences with immigration and cycle-breaking. She is currently working on and seeking representation for her short story collection, Manic Pixie Ethnic Girl.
BRENDAN SHAY BASHAM
Brendan Shay Basham (he/him), Diné, is Tó tsohnii and Bit’ahnii, born for bilagáana. A writer, educator, and former chef, Brendan was born in Alaska and raised in northern Arizona. He received his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. His work has appeared in Puerto del Sol, Santa Fe Literary Review, Yellow Medicine Review, and Juked, among others. He is a recipient of Poetry Northwest’s inaugural James Welch Prize for Indigenous Writers, fellowships from the Truman Capote Trust, Writing By Writers, and the Ucross Foundation’s first Fellowship for Native American Writers. Brendan lives and teaches writing in Baltimore, where he runs a make-believe café, with his wife and dog.
SCOTT BENTLEY
Scott Bentley received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Poetics at the University of Washington, Bothell. He's been a curator of the Gamut literary series, a Mineral School resident, Hugo House Fellow, and editor at Clamor, Ghost Town, and Pacific Review. His writing and art have appeared in Paperbark, Yəhaw̓, Under A Warm Green Linden, and elsewhere.
BRIAN BLANCHFIELD
Brian Blanchfield is the author of three books of poetry and prose, most recently Proxies, published by Nightboat Books in 2016, and by Picador UK in 2017. A collection of essays—part cultural close reading, part dicey autobiography—Proxies was awarded a 2016 Whiting Award in Nonfiction, was named a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Gay Memoir and the PEN USA Literary Award in Nonfiction, and has been widely reviewed. His first two books are collections of poetry: Not Even Then (University of California Press, 2004) and A Several World, (Nightboat Books, 2014), which received the 2014 James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets and was longlisted for the 2014 National Book Award for Poetry. His poetry and prose have appeared in Best American Essays 2022, Harper’s, The Nation, BOMB, The Paris Review, and Tin House. He is the recipient of a 2015-16 Howard Foundation Fellowship.
MONICA BROWN
Monica Brown is the award-winning author of the Lola Levine chapter book series and many magic, multicultural picture books for children, including Waiting for the Biblioburro, and Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina. Her picture book biographies include Tito Puente: Mambo King/ Tito Puente: Rey del mambo, Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People/Poeta del Pueblo, and Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos. Monica’s books have been featured in the NYTimes, The Washington Post, and on NPR’s All Things Considered and have received multiple starred reviews. She is the recipient of two Américas Award and the Christopher Award among others. Recent picture books by Monica include Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/ Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello and Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. 2022 brought the publication of She Persisted: Diana Taurasi and The Turquoise Room/El Cuarto Turquesa, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia.
JAE CAREY
Jae is part of the Korean adoptee diaspora, grew up in Oregon, worked as a book conservator and full spectrum doula, and is now studying to be a chaplain at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
CHOMSKY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Chomsky School of Business is an improvisational comedy troupe from Flagstaff, Arizona. They have performed consistently for 5 years. They can be seen each moth at the Flagstaff Foundry.
WILL CORDEIRO
Will Cordeiro earned an M.S. in Education from Brooklyn College and both an MFA (Creative Writing) and Ph.D. (Dramatic Literature) from Cornell University. Will has been the co-founder and Artistic Director of Brooklyn Playwrights Collective, the Artist-in-Residence at Risley Theater, and has taught in NAU’s Honors College for nearly a decade. Will’s plays and performance works have been produced widely. Will is the author of Trap Street (Able Muse 2021) and coauthor of Experimental Writing: A Writers’ Guide and Anthology (Bloomsbury, forthcoming 2023).
AUSTIN DAVIS
Austin Davis (he/him) is a 22 year old poet and homeless outreach organizer. He is the founder of AZ Hugs For the Houseless and the author of "Lotus & The Apocalypse" and "Compulsive Swim."
ANDREW CURLEY
Andrew Curley's research focuses on Indigenous incorporation into colonial-capitalism, or forms of exploitation linked to resource extraction and underdevelopment. From 2012-2014, he conducted ethnographic fieldwork within the Navajo Nation regarding the future of the Navajo Generating Station. This research is featured in the forthcoming book, Carbon Sovereignty from University of Arizona Press. His current research is more historical and archival. It investigates the colonial nature of Arizona’s access to the Colorado River. This work critiques infrastructure like the Central Arizona Project and legal regimes like the Colorado Compact.
TINA DESCHENIE
"Tina Deschenie, she/her, is Ta’neeszahnii, born for Tó’aheedlíini. Her cheii are of the Tewa from First Mesa in AZ, and her nálí are Bit’ahnii. She grew up in Crystal, NM, her family home, and also in the Becenti community near Crownpoint, NM, (where her paternal family live). Deschenie is married to Michael Thompson (Muscogee), both are retired educators. She holds a BA from Fort Lewis College, MA from UNM and an EdD from NMSU.
She has written poetry since her elementary school years and has read her work in the Four Corners area for years. Her writing is included in: The Diné Reader (2021), Wet, An Anthology of Water Poems and Prose (2021), Satchel Story Objects (2022), and Transforming Diné Education, Innovations in Pedagogy and Practice (2022)."
She has written poetry since her elementary school years and has read her work in the Four Corners area for years. Her writing is included in: The Diné Reader (2021), Wet, An Anthology of Water Poems and Prose (2021), Satchel Story Objects (2022), and Transforming Diné Education, Innovations in Pedagogy and Practice (2022)."
KINSALE DRAKE
Kinsale Drake (Diné; she/they) is a poet, playwright, and performer based out of the Southwest. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Poetry, Best New Poets, Poetry Northwest, Black Warrior Review, MTV, Time, and elsewhere. She recently graduated from Yale University, where she received the J. Edgar Meeker Prize, the Academy of American Poets College Prize, and the Young Native Playwrights Award. She is the winner of the 2022 Joy Harjo Poetry Prize and the founder/director of NDN Girls Book Club.
ENCHILADA DADA
Enchilada Dada is a Flagstaff-based Neo-dada inspired art troupe that performs short pieces of absurdity. The show moves quickly and is a literal and metaphorical rollercoaster of emotional experiences.
CYMELLE EDWARDS
Cymelle Leah Edwards (she/her) is a Pushcart Prize nominated writer from Casa Grande, AZ and the author of Coordinates [chapbook]. Her poems can be found in Hayden's Ferry Review, Ghost City Press, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Northern Arizona University and serves as current nonfiction editor of Kelp Journal and board member for the Northern Arizona Book Festival. She currently works in media production in Indianapolis.
TONGO EISEN-MARTIN
Originally from San Francisco, Tongo Eisen-Martin (he/him) is a poet, movement worker, and educator. His latest curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His book titled, "Someone's Dead Already" was nominated for a California Bookstore Award. His book "Heaven Is All Goodbyes" was published by the City Lights Pocket Poets series, was shortlisted for the Griffins Poetry Prize and won a California Book Award and an American Book Award. His latest book “Blood On The Fog” was released this fall in the City Lights Pocket Poets series and named one of the New York Times poetry books of the year. In 2020, he co-founded Black Freighter Press to publish revolutionary works. He is San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate.
FLAGSTAFF SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
The mission of the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, affectionately known as FlagShakes, is to faithfully portray classics of the Renaissance, as well as produce other actor-driven plays. Each Renaissance performance incorporates Elizabethan staging practices, making these plays accessible and providing a unique learning opportunity. Our performances and educational outreach enlighten our audiences and revitalize empathy. Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to offering exciting artistic opportunity and experience for residents of northern Arizona and visitors from around the world.
ANDIE FRANCIS
Andie Francis is the author of A Fresh Start Will Put You On Your Way (Finishing Line Press 2022) and I Am Trying to Show You My Matchbook Collection (CutBank Books 2015). She holds an M.F.A. in poetry from The University of Arizona and is a P.h.D. student in curriculum and instruction at Northern Arizona University. She is Poetry Editor for Carbon Copy and Assistant Poetry Editor for DIAGRAM. Her work appears in Berkeley Poetry Review, Cimarron Review, Columbia Poetry Review, Greensboro Review, Harpur Palate, Portland Review, and elsewhere. Francis has taught writing at Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and in the San Francisco, Sacramento, and Folsom-Cordova Unified School Districts.
GRIFFIN FRANKLIN
Griffin (He/Him/His) is a poet and community member of Flagstaff. He attends NAU, studying community engagement and sustainability in the cultural:social context.When inspired, he likes to write poems and hopes to connect to others through them and with stories.
PETER FRIEDERICI
Peter Friederici (he/his) is a writer and journalist who lives in Flagstaff. His books and essays focus primarily on relations between humans and nature; the most recent is Beyond Climate Breakdown: Envisioning New Stories of Radical Hope (MIT Press, 2022). He also teaches classes in science communication and sustainable communities at Northern Arizona University.
LYDIA GATES
Lydia Gates (she/her) is a queer autistic Italian American author and poet who grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley. She is the co-organizer of the Flagstaff Poetry Slam and has represented both Flagstaff and Sedona at the National Poetry Slam. She is the 2021 Colorado West Pride Fest’s regional Slamming Bricks champion and has published three collections of poetry, including 2021’s Changeling. She loves her wife, her cats, and crocheting. You can find her on social media as ManicChangeling and she also writes fiction as Kirke Vincent.
MABLE WAUNEKA GOODWIN & MARGARET MILLER
Mable Wauneka Goodwin and her daughter Margaret Miller were featured along with Mable’s mom, Marie, in "Voices of Navajo Mothers and Daughters: Portraits of Beauty." In Chapter 15, Marie talks about growing up in Low Mountain, where she and her sister once temporarily lost the family’s herd of sheep. “We were not the best sheepherders,” she says. The women share other stories, including one about Margaret’s coming-of-age ceremony (kinaaldá): “This is all about endurance and becoming stronger. Now I can carry on.” In the book, which was published by Flagstaff-based Soulstice Publishing in 2022, Navajo women from 21 families talk about their lives, their culture, and their love for one another.
VALYNTINA GRENIER
(She, her) Valyntina is a multi-genre eco artist living with her wife in Tucson, AZ. She works with paint, ink, Neon, encaustic medium, recycled or repurposed materials and words. She is the author of three poetry chapbooks, the tête-bêche, Fever Dream/ Take Heart (Cathexis Northwest Press 2020) and In Our Now (Finishing Line Press 2022). You’ll find her work in, Beyond Queer Words, Genre: Urban Arts, Impermanent Earth, The Journal, Lana Turner, The Night Heron Barks, Querencia, Ran Off with the Star Bassoon, Sunspot, and The Wardrobe. Find her at valyntinagrenier.com or Insta @valyntinagrenier.
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