Poets and Artists Bios

About the Editor/Poet: Beth Mitchum

Beth Mitchum is temporarily living in Central Florida again.  She lived in the Seattle area from 1993 to 2010. When she moved there, she was able to say, for the first time in her life, that she felt at home. Although she lived in multiple places all around the Seattle area, her favorite nesting spot was on the Kitsap Peninsula, where she was able to enjoy waterfront living and bald eagle watching for most of the time she lived there. Before moving to Seattle, she spent eight years in the Asheville, North Carolina area, a place of great beauty and folk art culture. The thing she misses most about living there is the great community of lesbians. You could walk into Malaprop's (her favorite independent bookstore) in downtown Asheville and be guaranteed to run into several lesbians, many of whom she already knew. Before moving to North Carolina in 1985, she lived in Lakeland, Florida, where she attended college, landed her first great job, and found the first of many really cool living spaces, some of which find their way into her writings. Beth grew up in Winter Park, Florida, a European-style city in the heart of Central Florida.

You can follow the author’s work at BethMitchum.com and SlicesOfMyLife.net. Published books/CDs are available via Amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Malaprops.com, Alibris.com, Abebooks.com, and bethmitchum.com, where you can order autographed copies from the online bookseller, bookshopwithoutborders@gmail.com. You can also write to the author at that email address. Many other online bookstores carry her titles too, but there are too many to list. The international warehouses of Amazon also stock her titles for more convenient ordering overseas. All the poems contained herein are reprinted with permission from bethwor(l)ds: 20 year of poetry published by UltraVioletLove Publishing.

About the Poet: Maria Ayala

Maria started writing poetry at age twelve. She was first published in The Cardinal Newspaper at Hoover High School in San Diego, California. She was the editorial editor during her junior year in high school and in her senior year became the editor-in-chief. In 1994 she won the San Diego Union-Tribune Scholastic Journalist Award. In 2001 she won the grand prize for the HBO Creative Expressions Contest with her poem, "What Doesn't Come in a Bottle." That same year she performed for Lila Downs with the poem, "Igualada", which addresses life as a Chicana. In the fall of 2003 Maria taught a poetry workshop for Shakti Rising, a local non-profit organization that empowers women coming out of addictions and other disempowering situations. In 2005 she won 3rd place and tied for 2nd in the San Diego Writer's Ink Valentines Day Contest. Her poem, "Orange Sunday" won 3rd, and "Salt of My Life" tied for 2nd in the same category. Then In 2006, she wrote a contributing piece on a local Feng Shui Practitioner, Tryce Czyczynska for Curve Magazine (July 2006). She started writing for Lavender Lens magazine in the fall of 2002, until March of 2005. She recalls that her best memory during this time is of interviewing Alix Olson in May of 2004 for that magazine.  She finished the HHP program at Mueller College of Holistic Studies in 2008. She is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner.

About the Poet: Savina Briggs

Savina Briggs was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area.  She works at UCSF Medical Center, is a Licensed Realtor®, plays on a women's flag football league, and is a professional bartender.  Savina has been commissioned as a writer, poet, and photographer who often shares and sells her work at private galleries and open house events.  She currently holds a double black belt in Karate, and allows herself to be free to live life and be happy.   Savina Briggs continues to progress her passions for writing and photography by taking classes, always learning, exploring, and enthusiastically getting the job done. 

She intends on traveling, teaching, and working with the LGBT youth. Please feel free to contact Savina Briggs at savina.briggs@gmail.com. 

"If you want to be happy, Be." ~Leo Tolstoy

About the Poet/Artist: Ngaire Curtin

http://ngairecurtin.blogspot.com

Ngaire Curtin is a Pointillist Artist and budding poet who discovered her creative talent while residing and working in the small seaside town of Greymouth in New Zealand. Her initial artwork focused on the LGBTI community and issues surrounding sexuality. While residing in Queensland, Australia, a later piece of artwork was selected as one of twelve finalists in the Kenilworth, Maroochy Mayoral Art Prize Competition. This encouraged the artist to continue with this style and technique. Ngaire recently had her work entered in a local art competition and hung in a local gallery and cafe.  She intends to compliment her art with a poetic anthology which will reflect the time and personal experiences of that era.

Editor's Note: I was able to print interior art only in black and white. In Ngaire's case, this was at a loss to the colo(u)r. I've included the colo(u)red version of those pieces to give you a better idea of her artwork. For an even better look into her body of work, I point you to her website. The link is above under her photo.

About the Poet: Gloria Jean Dugger

My name is Gloria Jean Dugger. I was born 5 days before Christmas in the year 1961. I lived the first 11 years of my life in Akron/Mogadore, Ohio. With my family, I moved across country to the San Francisco Bay Area until my 16th year. We moved back to the Akron/Canton, Ohio area where I graduated from Canton McKinley Sr. High School. In February 1983, I moved with my family to Phoenix, Arizona. I had a short stint in the USMC then moved to Glendale, Arizona where I have lived thus far. I have traveled and seen much of this beautiful country that I am proud to live in. I have many talents, but this is the most personal. I hope you enjoy my contribution.

About the Poet: Heidi Dum

Heidi grew up in the Willamette Valley in the heart of Oregon. She currently lives just outside of Salem, Oregon in the small town of Monmouth, home of Western Oregon University. She received her bachelor’s degree from Western and continued on obtaining her masters in teaching from Oregon State University. Heidi grew up writing both short stories and poetry, being encouraged by her parents and teachers alike. She has short books that were published in her elementary school’s library. Over the years her writing has been influenced by the many varied experiences in her life. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors, hanging out with friends and working with computers in a multitude of facets.

Also by HDum:

Twilight of the Dawn

            And The Music Goes On

Two Bits Time: Poetry Through the Years (forthcoming)

Contact HDum

hdum@amethystdreamspublishing.com

www.amethystdreamspublishing.com

About the Poet: Monique Finley

Monique Finley is currently in her senior year at Centenary College of Louisiana, where she is seeking her Bachelor of Arts in English and Latin. She is the Publicity Officer for Centenary's Beta Pi Circle (Omicron Delta Kappa); member of Sigma Tau Alpha (Centenary's English Honor Society); advisory member of Outreach (Centenary's Gay-Straight Alliance); and former Disc Jockey at KSCL 91.3FM (Centenary's Progressive College Radio). Ms. Finley owns and operates Alternative Image Writing Company, where she consults with LGBT entrepreneurs desiring to start/organize their new businesses. Additionally, she serves as the Secretary of Adopt-A-Rainbow Shelter, a 2011 start-up LGBT shelter based in the Shreveport-Bossier City area of North-West Louisiana.

Finley is an outspoken blogger-activist (finleyexperience.blogspot.com) supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Civil Rights. She supports the American Constitution by exercising her 1st Amendment Rights as frequently as possible and she whole-heartedly encourages others to do the same. Ms. Finley is also an adamant supporter of green-living and solar power. As such she continues to delve into research that supports low cost energy-efficiency. Much of her poetry and essays fall into the socio-political realm, though she has been known to dip her pen in the inkwells of love and life. 

Finley’s poetry, essays, blogs, and other musings can be found on a number of internet publication sites, including but not limited to the Yahoo! Contributor Network and Helium.com. Ms. Finley diligently continues to work on her first novel which she claims will be “the twenty-first century lesbian epic.” When not writing or working, she can be found buried under a mountain of homework or traveling to new destinations with her family.

About the Poet: Jane E. Libeau

http://janelibeau.blogspot.com

I am a published writer. I write poetry, stories, screenplays and articles. Any form, any subject, just so long as I express myself in the most articulate, artistic and creative way I can. I regard myself as a visual critic of my own work, not an expert or a literary anthologist. I enjoy words, creativity and self-expression on many levels.  There is no struggle in writing, only making a living from it. Although finding a niche in a literary career is what I seek and a healthy remuneration for the effort would be welcomed, undeniably there are personal rewards.

 About the Poet: Caren Littman

Caren grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she began writing poetry as a way to express her emotions.  Caren relocated to the warmth of South Florida where she and her dog reside in the suburbs of Ft. Lauderdale.  While she has a multitude of friends, she is still searching for the woman of her dreams.  While not having lived in Philly for much of her adult life, she is still an avid Eagles fan.  In her spare time she enjoys playing softball, golfing, and has a voracious appetite for reading.

About the Poet: Jes Matthews

Jes Matthews, began her forays into writing as a child, scribbling stories across whatever paper was available when the mood hit, large awkward lettering in an assortment of crayon colors. She has never stopped writing, musings cover pages in countless notebooks. 
Jes currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina with her dog.

About the Artist: Laura Matthiesen

Laura currently lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with two cats and a beautiful black lab. While Laura had no formal or classical training in art, she read as many books on the subject that she could get from the library.  She sketched and painted as much as she could, working from instinct. Her style cannot be placed into one particular school of art. Laura creates from her own perspective and raw emotions, rather than a realistic point of view.  Her work may appear unfinished or incomplete, but she feels they are complete as is.  Each sketch, painting has its own beginning, middle and end without end.

Her influences are many and widely diverse such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Monet, and Rembrandt.  Each artist inspired Laura by their use of color, light, use of materials, boldness, passion, precision and dedication. She has yet to exhibit her work publicly; the majority of her art resides with her or with friends. Laura is always interested in networking and sharing ideas with other artists, especially in the LGBT community. She is excited to participate in this collaboration of writers and artists. Laura can be reached at laurasartgallery@gmail.com and her website: www.Gallerialaura.com.

About the Poet: Laura Mei

Lara Mei is a young Brazilian with a passion for poetry, fiction, photography, languages, martial arts, and technology - who in between crushes, and loves, and lost loves has been writing poetry for the last ten years.

Website: laramei.com | flythedistance.com

About The Poet: jaynes pehney

I started writing poetry in the sixth grade. That was also the year I learned, best friend and girlfriend might not be the same thing, ugh! That lesson broke my heart... and made me a poet…so see, there's good and bad in everything, right? Write! …jaynes ; )

About the Poet: Glenda Poulter

http://www.GlendaPoulter.com

Glenda Poulter, originally from Fort Worth, TX, now lives just outside of Raleigh, NC, between Lizard Lick and Zebulon. She lives with four cats and a herd of dust bunnies. When Glenda isn't working, she's either on the road to visit her partner, Lisa, who lives a few hours away, at the beach or ensconced in her chair with her laptop, writing (or playing computer games).

Glenda has been an avid writer since she was quite young. As a young teen, her dream was to one day be a published writer and the dream came true, forty-some years later. Glenda has one book out, Welcome Home, and one book due to be released in early 2012, Out of the Past. She has several other novels in various stages of completion.

Poetry is Glenda's emotional outlet. She shares her love for her partner, for her children, for her pets, and for nature through the rhythm of words. She also rages and rants for poetic justice when she feels she or someone she loves has been treated unjustly. More of Glenda's poetry can be found at www.GlendaPoulter.com, along with some short stories and Glenda's photography.

About the Poet: Jin Robinson

http://jinrobo.blogspot.com/

Jin Robinson has lived most of her life in S. Aftrica. She and her partner, Vanessa, now live in England with their many beloved “furkids.” Although she went through more trials in the first half of her life than most people can even dream of, Jin continues to use poetry as way to cope. While her poetry is not the warm and fuzzy stuff people might like it to be, she is able to use this medium for self-expression, including expressing love of the lesbian variety. On the cover of her second published poetry collection, Chaos, Jin writes, “I am a person rich in experience and emotions that take me deeply into life and the lives of those I love. I love music and nature and fun! I am a multi-dimensional MC Escher painting –a bit quirky –a bit of a flirt –a bit of trouble –and a bit topsy turvy –but mostly I am human with a need to share my faults and flaws and qualities and strengths and my visions with others who are trying to be human too.” Although Jin’s poetry is not always easy to read from an emotional standpoint, it is always life-changing. Jin opens the reader’s eyes to another world. One that isn’t as rosy as we might like it to be, but one that is true to what she has experienced. Despite being dyslexic, she writes her truth as a woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Her publishing credits include two collections of poetry: Broken, published in 2008 and Chaos, published in 2010. UltraVioletLove Publishing is planning to print an American edition of Jin’s poetry book with both volumes under one cover. Look for this to be released in 2012. 

About the Poet: Elaine Roth-Nichols

Born in the 1950's in Germany, of Belgian and American heritage, Elaine Roth-Nichols lived abroad and around the U.S. until eventually settling near Nashville, Tennessee.  She unapologetically came out "without a moment's hesitation" in 1973 after a lifetime of androgynous identity expression. 

She met the love of her life in 1988 and the couple finally married in 2009 on Cape Cod after 21 years together.  The pair was included in the March 2009 issue of GO MAGAZINE'S ("America's Most Captivating Couples") and was featured in the September 2011 issue of 10,000 Couples "I am the face of Marriage Equality: Elaine and Ramona Roth-Nichols" by John Szlachetka. 

Three of Elaine's photographs were published in Leah Charter's moving survival tribute, "The 2010 Tennessee Flood Book" which documented the spirit of humanity following the catastrophic flooding of middle Tennessee that May.

Her interests include philosophy, music, the internet, gourmet cooking, antique hunting and Egyptian art.  Her most treasured moments are spent at home with wife Ramona and their four cats and two dogs.  Favorite authors include Emerson, Poe, Robert Graves, Manly P. Hall, Truman Capote, H.P. Lovecraft, and the poetry of Wang Wei and Kim So Wol.

Elaine is currently working on a semi-autobiographical project though there is no established timeline.  "Writing should follow a path of natural progression." she says.  Her philosophy has always been: If you are comfortable with your own personal identity, others will be as well. 

About the Poet: Rhea S

 http://afternoon-love-and-smalltalk.blogspot.com/

Rhéa is a 25-year-old writer based in Switzerland. She grew up in India and France and is 'out' to her parents and close friends. Apart from writing, she loves travelling. Otherwise she is finishing off her doctoral studies in history. 

About the Poet: Krystal Smith

Krystal's first foray into writing involved a red lipstick and a living room wall. Even though she got in trouble, she's been writing ever since. She loves rugby, crafts, and comedy. Krystal draws inspiration for her poetry from friends and everyday life. Her favorite poets are Audre Lorde, Margaret Atwood, and Nikki Giovanni. Krystal resides in Asheville, North Carolina. She was the 2001 recipient of the Amy Charles Writing Award.

About the Poet: Helen-Robin Watts

http://www.helenrobinwatts.moonfruit.com/

I was born in September of 1974, grew up with 3 siblings, being 2 sisters and 1 brother.  I was born and I reside in the UK.  My career is in Accounts Receivables and I have been with my current company for almost 4 years now. I live with my two little dogs, Leo (Chihuahua) and Sam (King Charles Spaniel).  Now a little more on love… I did know of my attraction to women at an early age, but had not really acted upon those inner feelings immediately.  I have all through my life believed in soulmates, I believed in that pure connection between two people whereby you meet and there is an instant communication between you without even speaking a word.  I had adapted the mentality back in 2009, after many unsuccessful relationships, that it is better to be alone for the right reasons than with someone for the wrong reasons, I felt from that day it was important to follow my heart, if I was to meet my soulmate in my last dying breath than that moment would make a lifetime of loneliness all worthwhile.  To my surprise I met my soulmate within the last year and we acted upon those feelings only very recently, we are so alike in many ways, and I know through being connected to my heart that she was my everything.  I have always based my writings on spoken words of the heart and soul, for I feel this is the only way you can really capture true soul love in a descriptive way.  I only ever recommend to everyone, stay connected with your heart at all times, love yourself and then each other and you will live a happy and fruitful life.