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Evelyn Berry (she/her, they/them) is a queer writer and performer living in South Carolina. They are the author of Heathens and Liars of Lickskillet County, and the poetry chapbooks Glitter Husk & Buggery. Evelyn is the recipient of the BOOM Chapbook Prize, Emrys Poetry Prize, Patricia and Emmett Robinson Poetry Prize, KAKALAK Poetry Award, Broad River Prize for Prose, among other honors, and her work has appeared in more than fifty publications around the world. They work as a museum educator in Aiken, South Carolina. She is also a noted margarita and queso enthusiast.

Yvette R. Murray received her B.A. in English from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been published in Emrys Journal, The Petigru Review, Catfish Stew, A Gathering Together, The Weekly Hubris, Call and Response Journal and others.  She is a 2020 Watering Hole Fellow and a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee.  Presently, she is writing her first collection of poetry, more science fiction short stories and a children’s book series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, and a board member of the Poetry Society of South Carolina and the South Carolina Writer’s Association. Ms Murray lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

AsiahMae, stylized A$iahMae (she/they) is a queer writer, raconteur and pluviophile foraged in the clays of Columbia, SC. A multi-hyphenated producer and teaching artist, her background spans across filmmaking, curation, performance and language arts. Their work is an homage to the inner connectivity between Black folk, daily ritual and Spirit work.

Will Davis “Tethered Wrds” writes with layers of imagery and symbolism as it mirrors his modern contemporary art style. He’s a poet out of South Carolina but his grit stems from the North East, blame New Jersey. He writes to draw out the reader’s emotions, to teach and to provoke thinking about self, life and a greater glory. Will Davis has worked in CCSD as an educator for four years and continues to serve the community as an advocate while encouraging the next generation to vocalize their thoughts and utilize their voices through poetry. He founded the Eastside Scribes to teach students the beauty and power of poetry.

MARJORY WENTWORTH is the New York Times bestselling author of Out of Wonder, Poems Celebrating Poets (with Kwame Alexander and Chris Colderley). She is the co-writer of We Are Charleston, Tragedy and Triumph at Mother Emanuel, with Herb Frazier and Dr. Bernard Powers and Taking a Stand, The Evolution of Human Rights, with Juan E. Mendez.  She is co-editor with Kwame Dawes of Seeking, Poetry and Prose inspired by the Art of Jonathan Green, and the author of the prizewinning children’s story Shackles.  Her books of poetry include Noticing Eden, Despite Gravity, The Endless Repetition of an Ordinary Miracle and New and Selected Poems. Her poems have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize seven times. She served as the poet laureate of South Carolina from 2003-2020. Wentworth is the SC Director for Poetry in Precincts, and she serves on the Board of Justice Consultants International. She teaches courses in writing, poetry, social justice, and banned books at The College of Charleston (marjorytwentworth.net). 

Chelsea Grinstead is part journalist, part music nerd and part closet poet. Currently she is contributing editor at Charleston City Paper covering the city’s local music scene. Over the past 15 years, she’s written poetry to process the trauma of human relationships and embody the healing aspects of nature.

Marcus Amaker is Charleston, SC’s first Poet Laureate, and the recipient of a Governor’s Arts award in South Carolina. He’s also an Academy of American Poets fellow, the graphic designer of a music journal, an electronic musician, an opera librettist, and mentor.

His poetry has been recognized by The Washington Post, The Kennedy Center, American Poets Magazine, The Washington National Opera, NPR,  The Chicago Tribune, PBS Newshour, and many other publications.

One of his poems is on a Grammy-nominated album, and Marcus has recorded three albums with a Grammy award winning drummer and producer.

His ninth book is Black Music Is, from Free Verse Press.