I am a Houston-based poet shaped by my Nigerian roots and my American present. I write about resilience, identity, social justice, and personal transformation. Drawn to small natural moments that hold big emotional truths, my poems tend to reveal themselves gently. Having lived between cultures for much of my life, themes of migration and belonging naturally find their way into my work, which I strive to approach with emotional honesty.
Before focusing on poetry, I worked as a journalist in Lagos and studied Political Science. Both experiences taught me to pay attention to the subtle stories happening beneath the surface.
I am the author of the poetry collection Finish Line. My work has appeared in The Bayou Review, where “The Game” and “Runway” were featured in the Fall 2024 edition. I also contributed “A Legacy of Freedom” to Wole Soyinka: The Herald at 90, a bilingual anthology honoring the Nobel laureate. Most recently, my poem “Finding Me” appeared in the WiVLA anthology The Fire Within: Stories, Poems and Essays of Women’s Resilience. Some of my poems have also been shared on platforms like Poetry.com.
I write mostly in free verse, using imagery from nature and the city to mirror emotional landscapes. My work explores anxiety, displacement, and perseverance, and I hope my poems speak to anyone who has ever felt "in-between" or in search of home.
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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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Artist Deborah Ellington had her glass sculpture, Running Canoe II, accepted into Harris County Juried Exhibition. Juried and curated by Hesse McGraw, the reception will be July 11, 6-8PM. Harris County Juried Exhibition will be open to the public from June 1 to July 18, 2026, at Silver Street Studio.
Deborah also received First Place in the exhibition “Thresholds” at Ardest Gallery. The show features a diverse collection of glass artworks by artists working in a variety of styles and techniques. “Thresholds” was on view from April 29 through May 30. Ardest Gallery 25200 Grogans Park Dr. The Woodlands, Tx 77380
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Melody Locke was pleased to have two of her lumen prints—Tulips in the Mist and Daisy Ballet—selected for the Harris County Juried Exhibition as well. As noted above, this exhibition is on view from June 1 through July 18. Join us for the reception on July 11 from 6-8 PM.
Daisy Ballet II, one of Melody’s recent lumen prints, was selected for Lawndale’s BIG Show 2026 by juror Valerie Cassel Oliver. The opening reception is June 12, from 7-9 PM. Lawndale Art Center is located at 4912 Main Street, 77002.
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Laura Peña received an Honorable Mention in Four Tulips Press's recent anthology contest for "Out at Sea." Digital and print anthologies are available for purchase at www.fourtulips.com. Laura was also one of five readers for Notsuoh's 30th anniversary performance of "Orpheus Depending." You can view her performance on YouTube.com; search for Laura Peña "An Afternoon with Cy Towbly" and Euridyce Enjoys Herself."
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When you have a quiet moment, please enjoy the Book Trailer for Sandi Stromberg's new poetry collection, Moonlight, Shaken. The two-minute video includes a reading of two poems from the book with illustrations, all set to music. The link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAKShgkhH4
Moonlight, Shaken is available in print and as an eBook on Amazon, through Kelsay Books' online gift shop, or by contacting her (for a WiVLA discount) at stromberg_sandi@yahoo.com.
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Lane Devereux's poem Walk With Me: a Labyrinth Meditation was published in The Ekphrastic Review on May 7, 2026 along with the painting of the same name by Kay Kemp. Click here to see the poem and painting. Walk With Me.
Kay McStay has a poem in the recently published Archway Readers: Ekphrastic Poetry and Prose in Celebration of Archway's 50th Anniversary. This is a 72-page booklet featuring the current 34 artists at the gallery. Her piece is in response to weaver Laura Viada's Black or White: Faulty Conclusion and entitled "Plainsong for a Weaving." She is honored to be included in the publication. She has been a reader of her plays, monologues, and poems at Archway, off and on, since the early aughts.
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Several WIVLA members will be participating in the Women's Caucus for Art -Texas chapter juried exhibit at Silos Gallery 200 from June 6- July 11. The reception with remarks by juror Heidi Vaughan of Heidi Vaughan Gallery will be June 13 from 5-7. The exhibit was made possible by a grant from the Houston Arts Alliance. Some of the WiVLA members participating include Rona Lesser, Liz Plaster and Jamie Frontiera.
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Cherie Acosta is thrilled that her textile works A Place Between and Unbound a Soft Awakening will be part of the Unraveling Habitats Exhibit at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego, California January 30th - May 22, 2027. The exhibit explores the fragile, shifting relationship between living beings and the environments they inhabit. This exhibition brings together works that reflect on how habitats - natural, urban, and psychological-are constructed, altered, and sometimes undone. She uses a majority of recycled, and dyed textiles to create the work.
She is also working on some pieces to be part of work done at the Texas Medical Center (TMC3) in February of 2027. This work explores the cellular level of diseases.
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Two of Denise Bossarte's photos, "Manni World" and "What's Hidden in an Old Barn in an Empty Field" were accepted into the Equinox biannual journal's "Luminal Spaces" edition. https://www.magcloud.com/webviewer/3283597?__r=8580692&s=w
Her photo "Mystic Eye" was chosen for the Sublimation Annual 2: The Best of Volume 2 edition available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sublimation-Annual-2-Best/dp/9199046938
It's great to be selected to be part of a literary magazine, even better to be selected for the "Annual Best" edition!
A record! She is the SOLE visual art contributor to the online literary Wild Willow Magazine's "Mums" edition. She has 14 photographs of flowers, including a mixture of color and black and white images in this edition. A close up of one of her Tulip images is the cover image.
This edition celebrates motherhood with literary pieces and interviews.
Available to read at:https://wildwillowmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wwm-issue-6.pdf
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Announcing Synkroniciti's new theme, “Dignity,” open May 1 - July 15, 2026.
Synkroniciti invites literary, visual, and performing artists to explore the concept of dignity.
Dignity connotes a way of being full of seriousness, self‑control, and integrity—a steadiness signaling capability and self‑respect. Yet this version of dignity can also create distance, obscuring vulnerability and limiting connection.
At its most essential, dignity is far less performative: it is the quality of being worthy of honor and respect. But how do we decide who is worthy? What happens when dignity becomes entangled with status, manners, or proximity to power rather than with intrinsic human value?
We are interested in work that probes the inner landscapes of memory and imagination and the dynamics of community and individuality to reveal how we perceive dignity: how it manifests, how it falters, and how it shifts. We are especially drawn to the places where dignity diverges from power and privilege, and to the moments when dignity is withheld, restored, or reclaimed.
For this issue, we invite you to consider dignity not as a fixed ideal but as a living, evolving relationship between self and community. How do we recognize and prioritize dignity in society and how do we safeguard the dignity residing in ourselves?
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CALL FOR ART
ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!
The Woodlands Art League's Juried Exhibit
at Kevin Brady Community Center
(Note: Not an LSAG qualifier exhibit)
Artist Guidelines and Registration:
https://woodlandsartleague.org/Events-and-Exhibitions
Volunteer to help with this exhibit:
https://woodlandsartleague.org/event-6692138
Archway Gallery Call for Artists
This is an open call for local artists. You may enter one or two works.
Entry deadline: June 11, 2026
Entry fee: $30
This year’s juror is the highly regarded Houston art historian and writer Donna Tennant. Fifty percent of all sales from the exhibition will be donated to Friends for Life, the gallery’s chosen nonprofit partner for 2026.
You can find the full prospectus and apply online here: Archway Gallery 18th Annual Juried Exhibition
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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. June'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
- June Member Meeting: June 16th, 6 pm
- Power Anthology open for submissions: until July 31st
- 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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