I’m Kelly Ann Ellis, a long-time Houston resident, writer, and teacher. I am currently a teaching fellow for Iconoclast Artists, a nonprofit that offers creative writing opportunities to at-risk students. I am also a poet, with one collection, The Hungry Ghost Diner (2023) and another, What I Burned, forthcoming in 2027, both published by Lamar University Literary Press. I am, in addition, the cofounder of a literary nonprofit, hotpoet, Inc., the managing editor of its arts journal, Equinox, one of the hosts for First Fridays Reading Series at Inprint House, and Hospitality Coordinator for Poetry at Roundtop festival. I’ve even tried my hand at performance art and film, having had three of my poems made into cine-poems and my poetry paired with music and dance in a production presented by a fellow poet at the Fringe Festival. But with all of these activities and interests, I believe the thing I’m most known for is bringing people together. I like to throw parties.
I was not always as aggressively friendly as I seem to be now. I spent many years living in the suburbs, where I raised my four daughters and had the typical suburban life, with one difference: I became involved in poetry. I joined a poetry group put together by the late Mary Margaret Carlisle, and from there I met a few Houston poets and eventually got published in Houston Poetry Fest’s anthology, which had a huge impact on me. I will never forget going to read my poem at University of Houston and seeing my daughters in the audience watching me, scarfing cookies and strawberries from the buffet. I also won a couple of poetry contests (beginner’s luck, right?) and began to identify myself as a poet. But I was teaching full-time, had three teenagers, a toddler, a bad marriage, and an ill mother, so I did not think much about social interactions back then. I was barely staying afloat, and poetry was therapy for me. After my mother died and my marriage ended, it became even more crucial to my emotional survival.
I moved to Houston in 2010 on my own for the first time in years and knew a few poets but did not have many friends in the city. I had one poet friend, Tina Cardona, and one nonpoet friend, Maria Moraczewski, from whom I first rented an apartment. I used to joke that I had a triangle of friends, and I was trying for a circle. My kids were grown and gone, either off to college or to work, except for my youngest, who lived with father half of the time. I was lonely, and I decided to do something about it.
At Houston Poetry Fest in 2010 I showed up with some hand-made flyers inviting folks to a party after the Saturday night readings. I handed them out to everyone, and about 10 people showed up to a party in Maria’s backyard. Maria had convinced me that we could throw a decent shindig with twenty dollars if we bought fresh fruit and cheese, cut it all up on a nice cutting board, and told everyone to bring their own wine. So that’s what we did.
Incredibly, it worked out. It was like the Biblical loaves and fishes story, we had plenty to eat and drink, and more kept appearing. Although the party was small (or should I say intimate?) it was lovely sitting in her backyard with other poets trading poems and stories. So throwing the post-fest party became something I did every year, with each party getting bigger. Two things I remember about the first party were 1. We sent John Milkereit out to the driveway to flag people down, and he did it with no argument; and 2. I met Chuck Wemple for the first time, and he told us how he had met and fallen in love with his wife Mary. I remember these two pieces of trivia because it is strange to think about barely knowing these two back then when we have been in a writing group together now for over 15 years!
As time went on, I not only had a triangle of friends, but I had a tribe of friends. They were to become quite important to me in terms of companionship and creativity. In 2013, Tina Cardona and I were having cocktails at Leon’s Lounge in Houston, and I mentioned to her that I would like to put together an anthology of sultry poetry written by Texans and call it Is it Hot Enough for You? Tina jumped on the idea and suggested we have a party with that theme, and the first of our solstice parties was born. We continued to have summer and winter solstice parties for years, always with the theme of heat, and always with the purpose of building community and infusing creativity and joy into our lives as a conscious choice no matter what challenges we were facing as a society. Eventually we focused on just the winter solstice party when the summers became—you guessed it—so hot that we had to get out of the kitchen. But in the meantime, we turned our penchant for throwing parties into a nonprofit, hotpoet, Inc. with the same mission: to build community and support the creativity of poets and artists.
When we started the journal Equinox, we added four more parties to the yearly celebrations: release events in the spring and in the fall, one in-person and one virtual. I felt my circle broaden as I met people from other places, brought together in the pages of the journal and at these events. I began to realize that we were building a tradition of celebration, that these tribal gatherings were becoming important to all of us, especially as the world around us started to seem darker, more unstable, the future uncertain.
I no longer think of throwing parties as a frivolous activity. In times like these, we need community more than ever. We need to spark creativity in each other even when the world we live in seems to closes in as if to extinguish those sparks. We need to seize joy and practice our art with passion; indeed, to to remind each other that the joie dons la vie can still exist. It is much easier to choose misery, to feel guilty if we are even slightly happy, because, why should we be? Life is so hard for so many, and it’s about to get harder.
I think I almost derailed my own essay.
So when you see me, ask me when my next party is. I need to be reminded, too. And, hats off to WIVLA! It builds community in an orderly and consistent manner yet always ignites and celebrates its members’ passions and creativity. I am honored and proud to have been a member of WIVLA these past few years. Hope to see you at our next party!
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Who will WiVLA highlight next?
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Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other.
Contact the Literary Art Chair at literary@wivla.org or the Visual Art Chair at visual@wivla.org if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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Laura Peña's ekphrastic poem "Aftermath of Surgery," inspired by Frida Kahlo's painting "The Broken Column," will be published in Metaphor Tree, an ekphrastic anthology forthcoming through ekphrastic.net.
Her two ekphrastic flash-fiction pieces, "The Blood Tree," inspired by the painting Nightmare Tree by Zdzisław Beksiński (Poland, 1970–1975),
and "The Decomposers," inspired by the painting Decomposition by Zdzisław Beksiński (Poland, 1970–1975), will be published in the anthology Blood Dance, also through ekphrastic.net.
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News from Sandi Stromberg
July has been a wonderful month, celebrating Moonlight, Shaken. A shout out to d. ellis phelps in the Texas Hill Country. She is a poet-novelist, painter, workshop leader, peacekeeper, as well as editor-publisher of anthologies and formidable woman sanctuary.
A short review of Moonlight, Shaken just appeared on formidable woman sanctuary in her column “The Editor’s Ear.” You can read it here:
https://formidablewoman.org/2026/07/16/review-moonlight-shaken-sandi-stromberg/
Three poems from Moonlight, Shaken also appear in formidable woman sanctuary’s special call for poems on “peace.” There are a bevy of other poems that take readers to places and moments of peace. You can enjoy them, along with restful, contemplative illustrations here:
https://i0.wp.com/formidablewoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Buddha-with-pond-owen-pawsey-8YDb3mht-cM-unsplash.jpg?ssl=1
Thanks to multi-talented Margo Stutts Toombs for a video of Sandi reading “Bewitching at Jacob’s Well” for the Great Texas Poetry Project, found on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DaqXPO8xxs3/
SAVE THE DATE: Solve a puzzle (below), win a book
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Sydney Dunlap is excited to share that her middle grade novel, Racing the Clouds, recently received the Texas Institute of Letters Dierdre Siobhan FlynnBass Honor Award for Best Middle Grade Book as well as the Northern Lights Book Award for Middle Grade Fiction and the Ippys Gold Medal for Juvenile Fiction.
Learn more at www.sydneydunlap.com
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Jere Pfister was recently published in the Archway Readers edition of Ekphrastic Poetry and Readers celebrating Archway's 50th anniversary. Her poem The Old Mother responds to John Slaby's painting entitled The Old Mother.
Her memoir Like a Fish Denied a River was published late last year by Brooklyn Writers Press. It is on Amazon
Her poem The Whale was published in the last issue of Equinox Anthology
She was just notified by the Editor of the Anthology Story circle Network's Real Women Write anthology, Body Stories that two of her pieces, The Wee Hours of the Morning and Be a Man have been accepted for publication.
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Celeste Budwit-Hunter's poem, "Roadkill," has been accepted by San Pedro River Review for publication in August.
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Recently, Kathi Crawford rejoined hosts Robin Mack and Alexis Melvin of the 22 Sides podcast to share what’s changed since she visited last year and to introduce her next chapbook collection, running with the beasts, published by Finishing Line Press. She reads two of her poems from the collection as part of the session.
running with the beasts is now available for preorder through September 4th: https://tinyurl.com/4emn8ewk.
You can listen to the podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/3vw3hysn and the recording from last year's podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/3f9cyzwu.
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Margo Stutts Toombs’ poem “Tree Talk” is included in the July issue of the Texas Poetry Assignment. She will read it online, Sunday, Aug. 2, 7:00-8:00 PM. Sandi Stromberg will have a poem in the reading, too. Her poem, “The Peaceful Pelican, Palacios, Texas” is in the April issue. Here are the links to the issues and the readings on Aug. 2. Please consider making a donation to Hunger Relief while you are exploring the links.
Margo’s poem is in the July issue and Sandi’s is in the April issue
https://bit.ly/TPA-Issues
For information about the readings on August 2 click here:
https://bit.ly/TPA-Readings
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Synkroniciti invites literary, visual, and performing artists to explore the concept of technology.
Technology is more than inventions and gadgetry; it is a growing architecture that shapes how we imagine, create, and connect. It builds new structures around our lives—some supportive, some restrictive—and invites us to navigate spaces that are constantly being redesigned.
It can illuminate hidden worlds, extend our senses, and open pathways to collaboration across distance and difference. At the same time, it can overwhelm, isolate, and erode the very qualities that make us human.
We are drawn to work that investigates the paradoxes of technological life: the exhilaration of discovery alongside the fatigue of constant innovation, the intimacy of digital community alongside the fragility of privacy, the promise of empowerment alongside the risk of exploitation.
For this issue, we invite you to consider technology as both mirror and catalyst. How does it reflect our desires and fears? How does it transform our relationships with memory, imagination, and one another? What new myths and metaphors emerge from our entanglement with machines, networks, and code?
We seek art that questions, celebrates, critiques, and reimagines technology—not as a monolith, but as shifting terrain where creativity and caution must coexist.
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Lone Star Literary Life is your digital hub for all things Texas books. We celebrate local authors, indie bookstores, and literary events—connecting the community with compassion and a commitment to uncensored reading.
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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
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Literary Magazines
Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff and listed in the Literary Magazines database. Here you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information—everything you need to determine which publications match your vision for your writing and your writing life.
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According to their website, "Duotrope is an established, award-winning resource for writers and artists. We help you save time finding publishers or literary agents, so you can focus on creating. Our publication and agent listings are up to date and full of information you won't find elsewhere. We also offer submission trackers, custom searches, deadline calendars, statistical reports, and extensive interviews."
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According to their website, "For writers, getting your work published and recognized is a step toward realizing your goals as an author. However, finding the right contests or publications can be a challenging and time consuming. Authors now have the opportunity to find and submit their writing to magazines, publishers, and contests through a website called Submittable."
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According to their website, "CaFÉ strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply. CaFÉ has an open call for everyone, from competitions to public art calls, to art contests and more. Artists can create an artist portfolio for free and apply to various call listings. CaFÉ also hosts its own call for entry."
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According to their website, "Since established in 2003, Smarter Entry has evolved to become one of the most comprehensive competition and call for entry management systems. Used by art groups and organizations of all sizes, this intuitive, affordable web-based software makes it easy for organizations to run regional to worldwide events. Smarter Entry is a perfect choice for sculpture and other 3D media, as well as photography and painting competitions."
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According to their website, "For the Artist, Maker and (Forever) Inspired. Artists Network is with you every step of your art journey. Artists Network produces anywhere from three to five major events for visual art enthusiasts each year. We plan and produce different art-making getaways and retreats, art competitions, pop-up learn-ins, Paint Alongs, art talks and tours, and more in locations worldwide."
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ALH Summer classes are opening for registration
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Check out their summer events at WAS-H!
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Location: WAS-H at 1601 West Alabama at Mandell, Houston, TX 77006.
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WAL offers classes, workshops and interest groups
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CAL offers classes, workshops, group excursions and a variety of benefits for members.
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WHEN: Classes start throughout the summer
WHERE: Houston Center for Photography 1441 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006.
COST: Varies per class
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Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
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Inprint First Fridays Reading Series & Open Mic
First Fridays will present a monthly featured presenter, a poet of distinction and accomplishment, followed by one of Houston's premier and most attentive open mic forums.
First Fridays take place every first Friday of the month, 12 times a year, at Inprint House, 1520 West Main Street, 77006. We throw the doors open at 7:30 PM; the featured readers share wisdom and words with us at 8:00 PM, and then the open mic gets rolling at 8:30 PM, whether you're ready or not.
(Sign up to read when you arrive.)
Brazos Bookstore Friday Night Poetry Open Mic Night
Sign-ups for readers will be taken at the door starting at 6 PM and drawn from a hat starting at 6:15 PM. The rules are simple: 5 minutes or three pieces, whichever comes first! If there is spare time, we happily invite poets with more material to try out to come back and share it with us!
The reading is free and open to all: young, old, first timers, veterans, and you!
Public Poetry Second Saturday Reading Series with the Houston Public Library. Poetry comes alive the first Saturday of each month at 2 PM with readings performed by a creative mix of artists. Participants are invited to read a piece for Open Mic during featured poets intermission. Poetry readings alternate between Zoom and in-person events at various Houston libraries.
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Houston Independent Authors
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Houston Independent Authors holds their Writers Lunch series bimonthly. August's topics have yet to be announced, but you can find past recorded Writers Lunch workshops at https://www.youtube.com/@tomeworksedits
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The Houston Writers Guild is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization working to create a community of writers of all skill levels. Together we strive to improve our writing craft and help each other build successful careers through education, collaborative marketing efforts, and camaraderie.
The Guild offers a myriad of programs for both published and unpublished writers. It creates opportunities to build careers through networking, as well as, opportunities for author book sales throughout the Greater Houston area and neighboring communities. The Guild is also a place for hobbyist authors to enjoy writing in a relaxed and fun environment.
Critique Group
Writer's Room - several offerings
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Inprint envisions Houston, Texas as a city where the literary arts are a defining resource. Thousands of Houstonians, recognizing the value and impact of the written word, join in Inprint programs to write, read, and support the literary arts. The community is enriched by some of the nation’s top emerging writers, who study at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program and teach at Inprint and various local community centers, schools, and universities.
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The Ekphrastic Review is an online journal devoted entirely to writing inspired by visual art. Our objective is to promote ekphrastic writing, promote art appreciation, and experience how the two strengthen each other and bring enrichment to every facet of life. We want to inspire more ekphrastic writing and promote the best in ekphrasis far and wide.
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The WRITER'S LEAGUE of TEXAS (WLT) is the largest literary arts organization in Texas, a statewide nonprofit offering programs and services to writers at all stages of their writing careers, from just getting started to publication and beyond.
Founded in 1981, the organization’s mission is to provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; to help writers improve their craft and understand the business of publishing; to promote the interests of writers from diverse cultural, economic, sexual identity and orientation, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; and to elevate the art and enterprise of writing, including supporting and growing the Texas literary community at large.
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WOW! is a global magazine designed to support women's creativity, energy, blood, sweat, and tears throughout all stages of the writing process. We envision Wow! being a favorite watering hole for professionals, the up-and-coming, and the recipients of our labors--the avid readers.
Our concept is unique, as it fills in the missing gap between writing websites and women's magazines. We are dedicated to raising the overall standards within the writing community, and devote an active profile within writing industry associations, organizations and websites.
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- Gemini Ink's writing classes are open to everyone. We provide a warm, supportive writing community for writers of all levels. Gemini Ink offers excellent, fair-cost workshops by published writers year-round.
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The International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) is dedicated to building a worldwide community where storytelling connects, inspires, and uplifts voices across cultures. We celebrate the richness of diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives, recognizing that every writer contributes to the shared human experience.
All IWWG workshops are listed in ET (Eastern Time).
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TWO SYLVIAS PRESS is an independent press located in the Seattle area. We publish poetry, memoir, essays, books on the craft of writing, and creativity tools, such as The Poet Tarot, The Daily Poet, Everything is Writable, PR for Poets, Demystifying the Manuscript, and the bestselling resource for poets, The Weekly Muse.
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* Collaboration Catalogs Available! *
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You can purchase copies of the REFLECTION catalog from the 2022 Collaboration for $5.
Stop by Studio 320 at Silver Street Studios to purchase additional copies of either catalog. Silver Street Studios is located in the Main Yard of Sawyer Yards. Call ahead at 713-851-0134 to ensure that she’ll be in the studio when you arrive.
(We are sold out of ENTANGLED catalogs in-person, but they are available for purchase on Amazon here!)
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Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting events, such as field trips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities.
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Save the Date(s)
- WiVLA Book Club: Last Saturdays of the month
- Blackout Poetry Group (Online): First Fridays of the month
- Visual Arts Reception for WILD Collaboration Exhibition: August 6th, 6 pm
- WILD Collaboration Reception and Readings: August 7th, 6 pm
- August Member Meeting: August 18th, 6 pm
- Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with WILD artwork: August 22nd,10 am
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WiVLA Needs Your Expertise
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Do you have special skills, talents or knowledge to share with other WiVLA members? Now is a good time to volunteer ~
- Serve on a committee
- Speak at a monthly meeting
- Lead a workshop.
- Be creative
Don't be shy. We have a lot to learn from each other.
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We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. The deadline for inclusion in the next month's newsletter is the 20th. Thank you.
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