Juan Luzuriaga was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and immigrated to the United States in 2000. He studied Neuroscience at Rutgers University and English at UC Merced. He teaches poetry in prisons (currently at California Men’s Colony), at Cuesta College, and through California Poets in the Schools. He has been a featured panelist at UC Merced, the Cuesta College Central Coast Writers’ Conference, the San Francisco Writers Conference, Litfest, and more. His work has been published in Acentos Review, San Diego Poetry Annual, Monterey Poetry Review, Cholla Needles, Bombshelter Press, Casablanca Press, and various anthologies.

Benjamin Daniel Lawless is a friend to people and poetry. He runs Penciled In, a book design and publishing company, and has designed over 70 books since 2005, including founding a 4 issue literary journal called if&when. He wrote two collections of poetry: There is Nothing Poetic About Fish (2008) and The Last Spelling Bee (2011). His third collection, Everything Bubbles to the Surface is due to be released once he takes a breath.

Amanda Grieshop is a multidisciplinary artist and the Public Art Coordinator for the City San Luis Obispo, California. She founded Michigan’s only community darkroom program and has transformed public spaces through projects like the Box Art Program and the large-scale mural In the Shadow of the Mountain. With experience in municipal and artistic initiatives, teaching, and small business ownership, she thrives on fostering community connections and engaging the public through art.