Ralph Adamo is a Professor of English at Xavier University, where he edits Xavier Review and Xavier Review Press. He is the author of seven collections of poetry and the editor of several others, including the selected poems of Everette Maddox. He is past editor of New Orleans Review.

Mong-Lan, poet, writer, educator, author of seven books (Dusk Aflame) and three chapbooks, has won a Stegner Fellowship, Fulbright, Pushcart Prize, Juniper Prize, and more. Former professor with the University of Maryland in Tokyo, she has served as faculty and visiting writer-artist on numerous campuses. www.monglan.com

Jessica Smith's books of poetry include Life-List  and How to Know the Flowers. She teaches at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Michelle Taransky is the author of two books of poetry: Sorry Was in the Woods and Barn Burned, Then. Taransky is a critical writing fellow teaching writing at University of Pennsylvania and working as reviews editor for Jacket2.

Bill Lavender is the author of twelve books of poetry, most recently My ID, and The 3 Letters, a trillogy of novellas. He operates Lavender Ink / Dialogos. He is cofounder and codirector of the New Orleans Poetry Festival.