I pursued memoir writing until I realized I wanted to write the kind of work I love to read: poetry with elements of memoir and fiction. I’m inspired by writers and visual artists too numerous to list. I’m currently focused on building a collection of memoir-inspired poetry.
In 2022, I attended WiVLA’s workshop led by Lorette Luzajic, founding editor of The Ekphrastic Review. In that session, I wrote a poem, Rest Stop, in response to Melody Locke’s photograph of the same name. Finally brave enough, I submitted the poem to The Ekphrastic Review last November. They will publish my poem and Melody’s photo in March, 2026.
I’ve always loved photography, and lately I’ve started submitting photography as well as writing to poetry journals. My work has been published by The Persimmon Tree (photography); Equinox (poetry; photography, winning the art prize for Jacob’s Well); Synkroniciti (poetry; photography); Sudden Flash (nonfiction); Spider Road Press (poetry); Houston Writers House (nonfiction); and of course, WiVLA collaboration anthologies (poetry; nonfiction).
I’ve meditated since my twenties and became a meditation instructor fifteen years later. I was self-employed in the 1990s, offering training on medical consumerism – how to be a proactive patient and partner with the healthcare system. Later I worked for ten years as a technical writer. I went back to school for a Master’s in family therapy, almost completing my hours for full licensure when leukemia showed up.
I was diagnosed in 2015 with a rare cancer that tried to kill me. I brought everything I knew about seeing doctors as partners and keeping my sanity and good humor to the path of cancer survivorship.
I’ve worked at Johnson Space Center for the past six years. I discovered WiVLA in 2017 and became a steady member in 2021, meeting wonderful friends and learning how to follow inspiration, embrace doubt and imperfection, and enjoy the journey.
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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 or the Visual Art Chair, if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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Denise Bossarte is celebrating:
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Jamie Frontiera's photo "Ghost Dancer" was selected to be a part of the Everything Blue show with the Modern Visual Arts Gallery in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Exhibition dates are March 29 - April 26th and the gallery's address is 313 Bethlehem, PA 18018
Her wood carving "the courage to stand" was selected for the online exhibition "Quiet Piggy: We Cannot Be Silenced" from the Woman Made Gallery, www.womanmade.org.
Art work will be shown February 18 - March 31st, and then available through their archive after March 31st.
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Since her acceptance in the 2023 BIG Show, Melody Locke has had a couple of her lumen prints in Lawndale’s Lending Library. Each year, Lawndale holds a brunch and silent auction where they sell the library. The auction ends at the conclusion of the brunch. This year’s event is scheduled for today, February 1, from 11 AM - 1 PM.
The Houston Center for Photography chose "Lightning Buds," one of Melody's lumen prints (featured above), for the silent auction for the 2026 Print Auction & Gala. The silent auction is open now through February 19. This year's gala will be celebrated at the Hotel ZaZa.
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Lane Devereux invites you to enjoy reading her weekly blog posts at "Down Memory Lane." She's had the blog since 2004 - feel free to dip back into the archives - but has more recently been posting every Monday since last July. Go to www.lanedev.com/2026 to see her most recent posts first. Comments are welcome, as are followers.
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Join stellar storytellers (and WiVLA members - in bold) Chris Gorman, Ruth Wintz, Andrea Cope, and Harwood Taylor as they tell stories Moth-style at Archway Gallery Sunday, February 22, 5:00-7:00 pm.
Margo Stutts Toombs will practice telling a ghost story in preparation for a competition at the Tejas Storytelling Festival this spring. It will be a fun afternoon folliwed by dinner at La Tapatia 1749 Richmond Ave.
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Synkroniciti is a quarterly online arts journal accepting work in a variety of media across the visual, literary and performing arts spectrum.
Announcing Synkroniciti's new theme, “Expectations,” open through April 15, 2026.
What do we owe to ourselves, to others, to the world? What do we expect in return? The expectations we have for our lives, environment, and society shape our attitudes and actions, creating beacons of light on one hand and prisons of thought and circumstance on the other. They can provide a spark for transformation or a quiet tether to the familiar. What we expect determines how we interpret what happens to us.
Family pressures, societal roles and generational burdens conflict with personal needs and goals. The illusion of control is shattered, leaving our plans unachievable. We navigate emotional landscapes of waiting and uncertainty, shepherded by internal and external voices telling us what we “should” be doing or feeling. Sometimes we exceed expectations, sometimes we fail, and sometimes we render them irrelevant.
Synkroniciti is looking for work that explores the weight, hope, joy, disappointment, or subversion of expectations, illuminating the gap between what we imagine and what unfolds, between the constructs of our minds and reality.
https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/submissions/
Want to know now what they look for in a submission? Check out this interview with editor Katherine McDaniel by Jim Harrington over at Six Questions For Katherine McDaniel, Founder/Editor, Synkroniciti Magazine
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The annual open call for 2027 Jung Center Gallery shows is open!
Submission guidelines and info are on the Gallery page of our website: https://www.junghouston.org/exhibits
Any questions can be directed to art@junghouston.org
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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 Winter classes begin January 20; late registration is now open
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Check out their February 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 January
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.
FRIENDSWOOD POETS First Saturday Readings at the Friendswood Library 11 AM. Community Room Friendswood Library 416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood TX.
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Houston Independent Authors
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Houston Independent Authors has yet to announce February events. You can find our 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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Women on Writing's quarterly flash fiction contest is open until February 28. This season it is open prompt, giving you the space to be as creative as you like. Word count is 250 minimum, 750 maximum. Check it out here.
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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!)
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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
- February Member Meeting: February 17th, 6 pm
- Power of Belonging Membership Campaign: February 17th - March 31st
- Wild Collaboration banner and tshirt contest submission deadline: March 1st
- Collaboration entry deadline: June 23rd
- Collaboration Reception: August 7th
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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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