Denny Balish is a Professional Certified Coach, writer, and facilitator of transformative experiences for those who want to create a renewed sense of purpose and passion for their life and life’s work. Denny is a published writer, a member of the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA), and plays flute with the Madison New Horizons Band. Denny lives in Monona, WI, with her little dog, Luna.

Thomas Cannon is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Oshkosh and the author of several books. These include The Tao of Apathy, Shattered, Love, Story, and two short story collections. Recently, he published Nuances of Family, a book of poems. He also has a book under contract with All Things That Matter Press. He and his wife live in Oshkosh.

Current Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas has authored Trace (Red Hen Press), winner of the 2023 Society of Midland Authors Award for Poetry and silver winner of Foreword Reviews’ Indie Poetry Prize; Boomerang (Bilingual Press); and three chapbooks, along with publishing poems and essays in many literary magazines, such as American Poetry Review, Poetry, and Prairie Schooner. She also co-edited the anthologies Resist Much/Obey Little: Inaugural Poems to the Resistance and Between the Heart and the Land: Latina Poets in the Midwest. Cárdenas has enjoyed collaborating with musicians, composers, visual artists, and choreographers, which has brought her poetry into musical scores, concerts, dance performances, stage productions, and visual art/poetry portfolios and exhibitions.

Felicia Clark is a literary fiction and creative memoir writer, poet, and author of her debut book AWAKE: Poetry for the Healing. Her work has also appeared in literary magazines, newspapers, blogs, and multi-authored books. Felicia lives as a nomad in a house on wheels, with a home base in the heart of Wisconsin, where she was born and raised. Follow her at FeliciaClarkAuthor.com or @measurelifeinbookmarks.

Cathryn Cofell is Appleton, Wisconsin’s first Poet Laureate and immediate Past President of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. She’s published eight books of poetry, including Stick Figure with Skirt, winner of the Main Street Rag Poetry Award. Cathryn Cofell’s website: cathryncofell.com

Esteban Colon is the author of Things I Learned the Hard Way, Hell Creek, and Whispered Soliloquies. He was the 2018–2019 Kenosha Poet Laureate, a member of WFOP, and the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Committee. He loves live performances and collaborating with other artists.

Marcus Delaney is a pseudonymous contributor.

I am a trauma therapist, writer, photographer, and gardener. Gardening and writing are my therapy. I write about deeply honest experiences so we can be drawn closer rather than isolate. I published an audio collection of writing entitled In the Wake of a Boy in 2025.

For most of my adulthood, I have turned to poetry as a way to deal with hard feelings. Transmuting something painful into something beautiful and putting it down on paper helps me not only heal, but also understand my emotions better. I’ve lived a hundred lives and loved a hundred times, and every heartbreak has only made me stronger.

My name is Eric Freund. I live in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and I am married with two kids: a boy named Elijah and a girl named Ava.

Bill Gillard teaches at UW Oshkosh. He has written a bunch of books on many subjects and is currently working on a radio show in Oshkosh that combines poetry, stories, and music into late-night dreamscapes.

James Hamilton is a 2X 2025 NSWA Finalist for Spoken Word Performer and Entertainer of the Year, the author of seven poetry collections, and a 2026 WAMI nominee for Best Spoken Word Album of the Year with The See Word Sessions. His work is featured in many publications and anthologies in the U.S. and abroad.

Alyssa Hartman is a pseudonymous contributor.

Glenn Henning draws inspiration from the everyday moments that shape character and reveal truth. His writing carries the voice of someone who has worked, endured, and learned deeply along the way. He offers his story with humility and a genuine desire to connect.

Kellan Henning is a Wisconsin-based writer whose work is inspired by the complexities of people, healing, and the quiet moments that shape us. With a background in youth and family support, he brings emotional depth and authenticity to his stories. He writes to give voice to characters who linger long after the page is turned.

Valerie Jahns was born in Wisconsin and has lived there for most of her life, and she likes it that way, but the two months she lived and taught in Scotland were also way cool.

Austin, a humble human with a love for life, is a steward of Mother Earth. He operates a yoga, massage, and shamanic wellness center to support individuals, groups, and the community in nurturing their soul’s highest potential. Currently preparing his first book, Yoga Superpositions for publication.

Chris Kujawa is a Wisconsin-based author and musician with a BA in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He cites artists such as William Blake, Jennifer Espinoza, Bern Porter, Philip K. Dick, and Syd Barrett as major inspirations.  In addition to Celestial Overgrowth, his 2017 poetry collection Songs Sharp & Soft can be found at lulu.com, and his albums The Last Romanticore of the Apocalypse and Finale Instrumentals can be found on all major streaming platforms. 

Jim Landwehr has six traditionally published books of poetry and four memoirs. He has also  been published in multiple journals, anthologies and magazines. Jim is the poet laureate emeritus for the Village of Wales, Wisconsin, and lives in Waukesha with his wife Donna.

Terry Loncaric is the author of five collections of poetry, her most recent being Poems from a Restless Traveler. She believes that in these uncertain times, it is healing to share poetry. Loncaric has read her poetry in many Chicago-area venues, including cafes, libraries, and even farms, with the sounds of animals in the background. Her poems have appeared in newspapers, magazines, journals, and storefront windows. She is a heart attack survivor and has a degree in journalism from Indiana University.

Jeffrey McAndrew is the Poet Laureate of North Fond du Lac, a distinguished writer, and a passionate advocate for the literary arts. The author of four books, he brings a unique voice to poetry and storytelling, captivating audiences with his thought-provoking work. In addition to his literary achievements, he serves as the president of the local Wordsmiths Writers Club, fostering creativity and mentorship within the writing community.

A former award-winning broadcast journalist, Jeffrey’s background in media has shaped his ability to engage and inspire through words. His talents also extend into music as a singer/songwriter, blending lyrical depth with melody. His dedication to both writing and the arts has earned him the prestigious Oshkosh North High School Hall of Fame Award, recognizing his lasting impact on the community.

Freesia McKee writes in poetry and prose about gender, genre, history, and place. She has published three chapbooks of poetry: How Distant the City, Hummingbird Vows, and City of Honesty. She works as an assistant professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.

Tim McMahon is a retired factory worker who enjoys writing poetry for healing. He uses nature as his favorite prompt.

Cristina M. R. Norcross is the founding editor of the online poetry journal, Blue Heron Review.  Author of 10 poetry collections, a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee, and an Eric Hoffer Book Award nominee, her most recent book is The Poetry Apothecary (Kelsay Books, 2024).  Cristina was featured in the Poem-A-Day series for the Academy of American Poets in 2021.  You can find her work in the James Crews anthology, The Wonder of Small Things (Storey Publishing, 2023).

By day, Meghan Parks is an equine specialist at a youth ranch. When she’s not writing or spending time with horses, you can find her hiking, drawing, and playing with her dog.

My name is Masako Pellerin, and I live in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. I have been creating sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) digitally for two years. My goal is to learn sumi-e painting using the traditional Japanese brush technique. Making art is a form of therapy for me—it calms my anxiety and allows for a deeper connection to oneself.

One who enjoys free-thought journaling and writing, a loving wife and mother of two. Find me admiring nature and all the beauty around us.

Nora Petrowski is a pseudonymous contributor.

Someone who likes to write, read and paint. I like to use my works to reach other people and help them along.

Dwight Richardson is an Army veteran, longtime painter, and emerging poet based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. His creative life spans from shipyard painting to spoken-word stages, where he brings humor, heart, and a love for community to everything he creates.

I am a survivor of domestic abuse. It is never too late for healing. Now I have shared my story to help others and a fundraiser to fund a nonprofit to provide counseling to all. The art is my great niece, Lilly Meyer. 

Danielle Roarke is a pseudonymous contributor.

Dr. Megan Rorabeck lives in Wauwatosa, WI, with her husband and two young children. She is a board-certified pelvic health physical therapist, helping people of all ages and genders find peace in their bodies.