"The Things That Stay"

Katie Fitzgerald

Katie Fitzgerald was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She remembers spending hours as a child typing stories on the family desktop or writing poems in her journals. Katie has always had an affinity for nature, which she believes is partially instilled by her mother’s desire to show her and her brother the beauty of natural spaces and animals. She graduated with a degree in cultural anthropology from James Madison University. Those years spent living in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley were some of her most formative. Katie is proud to be a mental health advocate, and some of her personal struggles are reflected in her poetry. She currently lives and works in Alexandria, Virginia. She likes traveling as well as spending time in the sanctuary of home.

"Backseat Emperor"

Eric Lawson

Eric Lawson is the author of the poetry collection About. Fucking. Time (Infinity Limited Press,
2020) as well as Medusa Coils: 20 Twisted Monologues (Infinity Limited Press, 2010). He is the
award-winning screenwriter of the short film scripts “Failing Upwards,” “The Anniversary,”
“Nana Vesper,” and “Karaduun.” He is also the co-host of the weekly Make Your Own Fun
video podcast on YouTube. He currently resides in Fullerton, California.

"Love is the Dying Dog"

Angela M. Carter Layne

Angela's Site

Angela M. Carter Layne is an author, poet, novelist, blogger, motivational speaker, spoken word performer, visual artist, and advocate/activist. She is the owner of 2nd Avenue Press (www.2ndavenuepress.com). She is the author of Memory Chose a Woman’s Body (unbound CONTENT, 2014) and a forthcoming book, Love is the Dying Dog (2023). Angela is a 2014 Pushcart Prize nominee, nominee for the 2015 Virginia Library Literary Award (poetry), and has been featured in a multitude of venues, including The KGB Club in Manhattan and Busboys and Poets. Her publications include Silver Birch Press, Deep Water Literary Journal, Whurk, Vox Poetica, the Plath Poetry Project, Premiere Generation Ink, City Lit Rag, The Word Ocean, Worst Week Ever, Our Stories Untold, Gutsy Living, and several anthology publications. Angela is the Marketing Specialist James Madison University's English department. Contact: amhcarter@gmail.com