Nelson Alburquenque is a musician and multi-media artist, attending the Institute of American Indian Arts as a Creative Writing major. He is currently working on his mythic hero series, Legends of the nyí, and his futuristic play, Red Skies in the Imperial City.

Brianna G Reed is the Diné author of the short essays “Would You?” “Summer in March,” “Questions,” and “Long Road Home.” They have previously appeared in Leonardo and Tribal College Journal. Raised in a military family in Hope Mills, North Carolina, she now studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she spends her time running among the reeds of the bosque river, searching for poetry in the water.

Calista Middaugh is from the Gila River Community located in Phoenix Arizona. Currently in her second year at IAIA, she is pursuing a B.A. in Museum Studies. Inspiration for her degree is derived from early morning museum trips with her great grandmother Phyllis Cerna. Calista enjoys reading, writing, taking long drives, and is thankful to be a part of this year’s Anthology team.

Desta Shaw lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is currently in her third year of attending IAIA. Whenever she isn’t supplying to her caffeine addiction or taking pictures of her cat she is working and tutoring elementary kids. She hopes to one day be a Montessori teacher while writing in her free time and of course taking pictures of her cat.

Duncan Donut is a five year old American short hair tabby. He enjoys eating sweets, tearing boxes, scaring people, playing with ice, and biting elbows. He is a small cat filled with personality who refuses to be ignored. He enjoys taking the spotlight- whether it is in a window or staring in photos.