Ryan Boudinot is the author of six books, including the novel Broken Utopia (Publication Studio, 2025) and Blueprints of the Afterlife (Grove Atlantic, 2012), which was a finalist for the Philip K Dick Award. In 2014, he conceived and led the campaign to get Seattle designated a UNESCO City of Literature, an effort that led to designation in 2017. He is currently publishing a memoir via Substack called How to Get Good at Losing Your Job. He lives in Seattle. 

 His substack is at https://ryanboudinot.substack.com/

Born in the Hebei province of China and raised in the American Midwest, Diana Xin's work appears in Electric Literature, The Missouri Review, Narrative Magazine, Gulf Coast, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana. Her work has been supported by Artist Trust of Washington State, Hedgebrook, Mineral Arts & Residencies, the M Literary Residency in Beijing, and the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. Book of Exemplary Women (YesYes Books, 2025) is her debut collection of short stories. She lives in Seattle, Washington, and serves as a contributing editor to Moss, a journal of the Pacific Northwest.

Dario Cvencek is an immigrant poet from the Balkans. He started writing poetry in high school, inspired by his growing up during the Bosnian War in the 1990s, and his subsequent experiences as a refugee of war and an immigrant in Germany and the United States. In his poems, he explores the themes of war, trauma, healing, identity, gun violence, immigration, nature, home, food, and love. His work has appeared in numerous independent literary magazines and presses, including recent anthologies “Silence is Consent” (Casablanca Press, 2025) and “Alien Buddha Loves You Too” (Alien Buddha Press, 2025). His debut full-length collection of poetry "PTSD Martini" was released by Carbonation Press in May 2025. His follow-up collection "Mirror Made of Words" was published in March 2026 (Carbonation Press). He lives and works in Seattle, WA, where he also hosts a curated open mic series "Speak Out Seattle" and “Poetry On The Ave.” Connect with Dario on Instagram @dario_poetry. 

IZ White is an enrolled member of the Snoqualmie Tribe and has been writing poetry since 1996. His work blends confessional elements with social justice themes and the rhythmic, lyrical qualities of rap. Growing up homeless in Seattle, Iz learned to thrive in the city’s diverse environment. Thanks to tribal economic growth, he now enjoys financial stability, allowing him to focus on advocacy.