Rina Tanaka grew up in suburban Tokyo, influenced by her professor father and floral designer mother, fostering a love for art, culture, and meaningful discussions.
DeAndre Holloway, a Chicago native, grew up in a middle-class family. He is an acclaimed author and advocate for urban storytelling, deeply rooted in his city's culture.
Juliette Bouchard, a Montreal native from a bilingual family, is a novelist known for exploring language, identity, and Quebec culture through her literature.
Yuan Li, an only child from Beijing, grew up in a literary household. She studied Creative Writing at Peking University and explores themes of romance in her writing.
Caroline Hensley, raised in Montgomery, Alabama, grew up in a family of educators, fostering her passion for storytelling and social justice from an early age.
Julian Carmichael, born in Brooklyn Heights, grew up in a culturally rich environment, fostering his passion for literature and the arts from a young age.
James Harrington, a rural West Virginia native from a coal mining family, emphasizes perseverance and community in his writing, blending regional traditions with universal themes.
Oliver Wentworth, a Nantucket native, grew up in a family inn, exploring the island's maritime history and crafting stories inspired by its whaling past.