< Back Welcoming the New Year with Love and Community Brittany Heckard Jan 3, 2025 Taking the time to thank you all for your support in 2024 and share exciting news for 2025 Happy New Year! We made it to another year of celebrating Black women writers. Thanks to Torch community members like you, we surpassed our 2024 individual giving goal of $35,000 by raising $41,716. We’re excited to see how much more we can accomplish with our 2025 individual giving goal of $40,000 ! These unrestricted contributions help us with programming, sustaining the organization, paying Torch features, and much more. In 2024, we: Hosted over 80 events including free workshops, our Wildfire Reading Series, monthly open mics, virtual writing circles, and more. Paid over $80,000 to Torch Magazine Features, Retreat Fellows, authors, artists, and independent contractors. Hosted our inaugural Writers Across the Diaspora Program with support from Texas State University, Culture Ireland, and the Consul General of Ireland. Supported writers from Illinois; California; Texas; Nevada, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Lagos, Nigeria during our 2nd annual Torch Retreat. Received the Pushcart Prize Best of the Small Presses award for the second consecutive year. Interested in learning more about what we have in store for 2025? You can watch our “Fueling Torch’s Flame” Webinar online now! You’ll hear board members, staff, and community members talk about the importance of supporting Black women writers and Torch Literary Arts's impact on their lives (including some amazing readings by special guests Evie Shockley, avery r. young, and more!). You can watch the live webinar here using this passcode: EH+hXN8d . We’ll also start our Community Impact Member (CIM) program this year. When you donate to Torch, you’ll get exclusive access as a CIM. More information about CIM benefits and events will be coming soon! We can’t wait to see what we accomplish this year with you all! Previous Next

< Back Torch Surpasses Fundraising Goal for 2024 GivingTuesday Campaign Dec 4, 2024 Joining one of the largest international giving days, Torch surpassed its fundraising goal of $5,000. Thanks to generous support from the Torch Community, Torch raised $6,832 this GivingTuesday, surpassing their goal of $5,000. With support from community sponsor matches, board matches, and individual donations, Torch achieved many firsts this fundraising season. Community Sponsor Matches: Businesses were bold and undaunted in their support for Black women writers this year! Thanks to Mantis Massage , an inclusive massage studio with two locations in Austin, Texas, we received a $2,000 match for funds raised. In addition to the $2,000 match, we received a $500 match from Fanm Djanm , a sustainable headwrap collection and lifestyle brand rooted in empowering women. Local Small Business Support: We also want to thank the small businesses that supported Ignite the Night last night. So, here's a BIG shoutout to: Black Pearl Books , Alienated Majesty Books , BookPeople , BookWoman , Spokesman Coffee , Wheatsville Co-op , DAWA , and Paramount Theatre . Thanks to their support, we were able to gift door prizes to attendees at last night's event! Board Matches: Torch’s Executive and Advisory Boards also collectively matched $1,000 of raised donations this #GivingTuesday . Their contribution highlights the importance of board support and speaks to the communal magic that lives within Torch’s team and board. Their support, both in-kind and monetary, means the world to our small but mighty team. The Torch Community: Whether supporters bragged on social media, emailed colleagues, donated, or showed up to our end-of-year party, it was all appreciated. Torch cannot exist without the writers, readers, and lovers of Black women who consistently bring value and joy to our mission. THANK YOU! Still in the spirit of giving? We love it! Torch is still raising funds to meet our end-of-year individual fundraising goal of $35,000! If you’re interested in donating, or know someone who is, please visit torchliteraryarts.org/support . For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit givingtuesday.org . About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats. Help TORCH continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today. About GivingTuesday GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity to transform communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eleven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe. Previous Next

< Back Torch Announces the Nominations for the Best of the Net Sep 16, 2025 Eleven Torch Features were nominated for their works in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and visual art in Torch Magazine. With its online literary publication, Torch champions Black women writers from around the world for their work published in Torch Magazine , intentionally curated and selected by Torch Associate Editor, Jae Nichelle, and Executive Director, Amanda Johnston. Every year, the two select Torch Features to nominate for the Best of the Net prize. Best of the Net is an awards-based anthology for diverse writers and the online literary magazines that publish them. They accept work in poetry, nonfiction, fiction, and art. The winners’ stories are collected and published in Sundress Publications. You can learn more about the prize here . Our amazing 2025 Torch Nominees include: Creative Nonfiction “ Notes on Conception ” by Tatiana Johnson-Boria “ He & I ” Jā R. Macki Fiction “ Ghost Waters ” by Sandra Jackson-Opoku “ At the End of Every Apocalypse is a New Apocalypse ” by Savannah Balmir Poetry “ When Your Bully Makes Your Bed ” by Natiesha Evans “ Dancing ” by Esther Kondo Heller “ Cataracts ” by Talicha J “ with three fingers, I point ” by Elisha Mykleti “ Girl Says a Prayer ” by Schyler Butler “ Job 1:1-2:10 ” by Courtney Conrad Visual Art Adriene Cruz ### About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, workshops, an annual retreat, and special events. Help Torch continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today . Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Important Transitions to Torch's Board of Directors Jan 29, 2026 This board transition includes the retirement of former board treasurer, Candace Lopez, election of new board treasurer, Dana Weekes, and the election of new board secretary, Rachel Winston. As a grassroots organization celebrating 20 years, becoming a nonprofit was a pivotal change institutionally, requiring a board that believes in Torch’s mission to amplify Black women writers by providing accessible resources and an opportunity to tell their stories. Every board member from the past to the present has embodied that goal wholeheartedly. In gratitude, we’re excited to announce transitions within the board and extend our immense gratitude to retiring board treasurer, Candace Lopez. Changing roles within our board are directors Dana Weekes and Rachel Winston. Dana Weekes, a public policy consultant, Torch Feature and Pushcart Prize nominee, will now serve as the board’s treasurer. In her new role, she will provide financial oversight to ensure Torch’s transparency and sustainability. Rachel Winston, an Austin-based archivist and curator, will now serve as the board’s secretary. In her new role, she will provide accountability through documented records to ensure Torch’s compliance and governance as a non-profit. Retiring after three years of support is Candace Lopez, a non-profit professional with over 18 years of experience in fundraising and development. She is a Development Generalist with a specialization in individual giving, program development, and operational efficiency. She is humbled to have raised money for organizations in Austin, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her fundraising portfolio is diverse and spans various causes, including civil liberties, the arts, higher education, domestic violence, and gender equity. She recently launched her consulting practice, Small Seeds Consulting. Candace grew up in the Texas panhandle, and her family moved to St. Anthony, Idaho, where she attended high school. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Spanish from Pepperdine University and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies with a certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are forever grateful to Candace for her service and excited to witness the growth of Torch Literary Arts under the leadership of our 2026 Board of Directors. For more information about Torch Literary Arts and our team, please visit https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/team . ### About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. TORCH has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats. Help Torch continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today. Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Celebrating Black Women's Contributions to Poetry All Month Long Brittany Heckard Apr 1, 2025 Continuing on months of celebrating Black History Month and Women’s History Month, we’re keeping the acknowledgments alive with National Poetry Month Building on the accomplishments highlighted in February and March, we’re excited to amplify the creatives who effortlessly connect thought and feelings to produce the words many of us understand on an ethereal level – poets. From our first-ever Torch Feature in Torch Magazine to our most recent Torch Feature and poet, Elisha Mykelti , we want to thank each and every Black woman poet who is part of our thriving literary community. Your poetry is ignited with historical takes, generational proverbs, and collective snaps and praises. April is also very special for Torch because it is also International Black Women’s History Month . Created by Sha Battle in 2016, International Black Women’s History month exists to build awareness of the contributions of Black women around the world. At Torch, we’re making history as the first-ever literary organization to win AWP’s Literary Organization award , by collaborating to host a historical intergenerational series with the Wintergreen Women Writers Collective called Welcome Table Talks , and existing as an organization led by Texas’s first Black woman Poet Laureate, Amanda Johnston. We have so many reasons to celebrate this month! Torch will host lots of fun activities to help encourage writing and be in community with other poets. Check out how you can celebrate with Torch during National Poetry Month below! Events April 7th - Writing Circle April 17th - Give Praise: A Celebration of Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston April 18th - National Poetry Month Open Mic at Fanm Djanm April 19th - Songwriting Workshop: Vision in Song with Megan “Megz Kelli” Tillman Torch Magazine Read our April 2025 Feature, Tanya Shirley Read poetry by our Friday Features Watch on YouTube Torch’s Solar Saturday Showcase featuring Marzetta and Shasparay Irvin Torch Feature Anastacia-Renee at the Texas Book Festival Lit Crawl A Poem for Sandra Brown by Lynn Thompson during the Texas Book Festival You can also support Torch’s mission to amplify Black women writers and the poets we feature by donating to our organization . Previous Next

< Back 'Tis the Season for Gifts & Giving Brittany Heckard Dec 12, 2024 Find out how to support Torch and our community sponsors and supporters this holiday season! December is here and we’re in the season of giving! Knowing that holidays are approaching, we understand the stress of picking gifts! If you're stuck on what to get your friends and family, we have a few ideas for the literature lovers in your life. We’ve put together a list of gifts that also give back to the community and/or are supporters of Torch! Torch’s BookShop: Did you know Torch has a Bookshop page dedicated to our Torch Features? There’s nothing better than knowing that when you shop our Bookshop page, you’re supporting Black women writers, Torch Features, and our organization with every purchase. 10% of sales made from our Bookshop page directly support Torch. You can find our page by visiting bookshop.org/shop/torchliteraryarts . Give the Gift of Rest: Do you know someone who could really use an hour or two to relax? If you’re in the Austin area, one of Torch’s community match sponsors, Mantis Massage, offers gift cards and massage packages for those needing to release the stress we build up from busy work weeks, and always being on the go. Protect Someone’s Crown: Fanm Djanm, another Torch community sponsor match, is a Haitian woman-owned small business specializing in headwraps and other lifestyle products. They have a curated selection of gifts under $50, $30, and $20 including headwraps, shirts, waist beads, and more! Support Small Bookstores: Looking for a book that may not be by a Torch Feature? There are so many local bookstores carrying all of your favorite books! A few of our favorites include community bookstore partners Black Pearl Books , BookWoman , BookPeople , Resistencia , and Alienated Majesty . Giving the Gift of Support: If you’ve already purchased gifts but still have a giving heart, donating to Torch is another great way to give a gift that will have a lasting impact. We’re still raising money for our end-of-year campaign goal of $35,000 and every bit counts. You can donate to Torch here. No matter what you give or receive, we hope that you enjoy the time spent with loved ones this holiday season! Previous Next

< Back Torch Literary Arts Awarded AWP Writing Organization Award Brittany Heckard Mar 27, 2025 This is the first-ever Writing Organization Award by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, which is awarded to literary organizations based on the legacy of writing organization advocate Kurt Brown. AUSTIN, Tex., March 27, 2025 – Torch Literary Arts (Torch), a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying Black women writers, is making history! Just announced yesterday, the literary organization was awarded the first-ever Writing Organization Award by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) . “Being one of the first literary organizations considered for this award is an honor and testament that our work to amplify and build community for Black women writers is necessary,” said Torch founder and executive director, Amanda Johnston. “Winning the award from AWP and being named among other important literary organizations shows Torch’s reach and national impact.” The AWP Writing Organization Award recognizes writing conferences, festivals, centers, and other organizations that serve the writing community. The new award was started to honor the legacy of poet Kurt Brown. Other finalists for the award included Brink Literacy Project and Macondo . The award was announced at the 2025 AWP Conference & Bookfair occurring in Los Angeles from March 26-29, 2025. The conference gathers thousands of writers, teachers, students, publishers, and more. It is also an exciting reunion for Torch community members including Features, Fellows, and workshop attendees. AWP’s mission is to amplify the voices of writers and the academic programs and organizations that serve them. The association is committed to members and the literary community, preserving writers’ intellectual property, and their staff. The nonprofit was established in 1967 by fifteen writers across thirteen creative writing programs. You can learn more about AWP at awpwriter.org . About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats. Help TORCH continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today. About AWP AWP is a professional association of creative writers and writing programs. AWP provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to nearly 50,000 writers, 550 college and university creative writing programs, and 150 writers’ conferences and centers. The AWP Conference & Bookfair is the annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers of contemporary creative writing. It includes thousands of attendees, hundreds of events and bookfair exhibitors, and four days of essential literary conversation and celebration. Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Torch Literary Arts Recognized at the Ireland House During SXSW with Prime Minister of Ireland Micheál Martin Brittany Heckard Mar 17, 2025 Torch’s “Writers Across the Diaspora” program in partnership with the Irish Consulate, Culture Ireland, and Texas State University was highlighted. AUSTIN, Tex., March 17, 2025 – During the SXSW Conference over the last week, executive director and founder of Torch Literary Arts, Amanda Johnston, welcomed Prime Minister of Ireland Micheál Martin to Austin, Texas for Ireland House. Torch was recognized as a local cultural partner by Robert Hull, Consul General of Ireland for their hospitality during the inaugural Writers Across the Diaspora programming. During the SXSW programming, Amanda represented Torch Literary Arts as a cultural partner, proudly welcoming Prime Minister of Ireland Micheál Martin along with Mayor Kirk Watson. She read some of her own work as well as work from Nithy Kasa , a visiting Congolese-Irish poet who visited Austin last year. Torch’s relationship with Ireland is years in the making, starting with funding from Culture Ireland to start the inaugural Writers Across the Diaspora program with Texas State University. The program officially launched on October 9 with visiting poets Nithy Kasa and FELISPEAKS . The two poets spent a week reading and hosting workshops in Central Texas. The Ireland House activation took place during SXSW in the heart of Downtown Austin at Marlowe from March 9-11 and included nearly 20 events, panels, film events and more. Prime Minister Micheál Martin’s visit to Austin is part of his St. Patrick’s Day program in the United States. You can learn more about Ireland House at SXSW here . For more information about Torch’s Writers Across the Diaspora program, you can watch readings from our visiting Irish poets here . You can keep up with Torch programming by visiting torchliteraryarts.org/events . ### About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts (TORCH) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats. Help Torch support Black women writers by donating today. About Culture Ireland Culture Ireland, a division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is responsible for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide through specific grant programmes. We also create and support opportunities for Irish artists and art organisations to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. We develop platforms to present the richness and quality of Irish creativity to international audiences through showcase events in key arts markets including the Edinburgh Festivals and Venice Biennale, as well as various special initiatives. Previous Next

Torch Literary Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that creates advancement opportunities for Black women writers. Contact Torch First Name Last Name Email Address Phone (entering gives Torch permission to contact you) Write a message Submit Thanks for submitting! Torch Literary Arts 6406 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd Suite 1807 Austin, TX 78752 (map ) Torch Center Hours Tue. Noon - 6:00 p.m. Wed. Noon - 6:00 p.m. Thur. Noon - 6:00 p.m. Check our calendar for special events. Contact for Torch Center Rental Inquiries Email: contact@torchliteraryarts.org Phone: (512) 641-9251 Phone: (512) 641-9251 Phone: (512) 641-9251 Torch Center 6406 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd Suite 1807 Austin, TX 78752 (map )

< Back Torch Literary Arts to Celebrate and Amplify Black Women Writers During the 2024 Texas Book Festival Nov 1, 2024 Over two days, Torch will host poet, essayist, and novelist Morgan Parker and Los Angeles Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson, and embark on a literary book crawl showcasing the works of the organization’s previous features. November is LIT-erary gold for Torch Literary Arts (Torch) and the Texas Book Festival (TBF). For the 3rd year in a row, Torch will join TBF as a partnering organization. As part of this partnership, Torch will welcome Morgan Parker and Lynne Thompson to Austin, along with a lineup of incredible Torch Features. In Morgan Parker's You Get What You Pay For and Lynne Thompson's Blue on a Blue Palette , the historical experiences of Black women drive the two writers' explorations. Morgan's essays, deeply intimate, witty, and personal, trace her experience in therapy as a way to examine racial consciousness and how America's cultural history has affected Black women in particular. Thompson's collection of poems, rooted in the jazz tradition and encompassing various shades of blue, traverses the multiplicities within the condition of women throughout history. These writers deconstruct what it means to survive and find joy within landscapes that threaten. You can catch Torch’s three amazing events at the Carver Museum, the Texas Capitol, or Speakeasy in community with other renowned Black women writers sharing their work. Check out our three events below: Friday, November 15 at the Carver Museum: Join us for a free kickoff reception and reading featuring our two Texas Book Festival visitors, Morgan Parker and Lynne Thompson, as they discuss their works and read from them in community with other Black women writers and Torch community members. Learn more and RSVP here . Saturday, November 16 at the Texas Capitol: In partnership with Texas Book Festival, join Morgan Parker and Lynne Thompson at the Texas Capitol as they discuss their literary works. We’ll delve into their backgrounds, the inspiration behind their writing, and much more. Learn more about the conversation online here . Saturday, November 16 at the Speakeasy: In partnership with Texas Book Festival, join us at 8pm for an inspiring evening of poetry and memoir by award-winning authors Amina Gautier, Lynne Thompson, Morgan Parker, Anastacia-Renee, and Amanda Johnston (host). Learn more about the Lit Crawl online here . Texas Book Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the culture of literacy and ideas. This is the Texas Book Festival’s 29th year hosting the festival and is one of the largest book festivals in the nation. The festival plans to have 275 acclaimed authors at events in and around the Texas Capitol and neighboring streets and venues. For more information about Torch Literary Arts, please visit https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/ or follow @torchliteraryarts on Instagram. For more information about the Texas Book Festival, including the free event schedule, please visit www.texasbookfestival.org . About Torch Literary Arts Torch Literary Arts (TORCH) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. TORCH has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats. Help TORCH continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today. About Morgan Parker Morgan Parker is a poet, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of the young adult novel Who Put This Song On?; and the poetry collections Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night , There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé , and Magical Negro , which won the 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, winner of a Pushcart Prize, and has been hailed by The New York Times as “a dynamic craftsperson” of “considerable consequence to American poetry.” Parker’s debut book of nonfiction, You Get What You Pay For , was published in March 2024. About Lynne Thompson Lynne Thompson served as Los Angeles’ 4th Poet Laureate and received a Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. She is the author of four collections of poetry, Beg No Pardon, winner of the Perugia Press Prize and the Great Lakes Colleges New Writers Award; Start With A Small Guitar (What Books Press) ; Fretwork , winner of the 2019 Marsh Hawk Poetry Prize selected by Jane Hirshfield; and,, Blue on a Blue Palette , published by BOA Editions in April 2024. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, Thompson is the recipient of multiple awards including the George Drury Smith Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry, an Individual Artist Fellowship from the City of Los Angeles, the Tucson Literary Festival Poetry Prize, and the Steven Dunn Poetry Prize, as well as fellowships from the Summer Literary Series (Kenya) and the Vermont Studio Center. Thompson’s recent work can be found or is forthcoming in the literary journals Best American Poetry 2020, Kenyon Review, Georgia Review,, Copper Nickel , and Gulf Coast, as well as the anthology Dear Yusef: Essays, Letters, and Poems For and About One Mr. Komunyakaa , among others. About Amina Guatier Amina Gautier is the author of four award-winning short story collections, At-Risk, Now We Will Be Happy, The Loss of All Lost Things , and The Best That You Can Do . More than one hundred fifty of her short stories have been published in literary journals and anthologies. She is a recipient of the Blackwell Prize, Chicago Public Library Foundation’s 21st Century Award, the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, and International Latino Book Award, along with many other honors. For her body of work, she has been awarded the Pen/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she now lives in Chicago and Miami. About Anastacia-Reneé Anastacia-Reneé is an award-winning cross-genre queer writer, educator, interdisciplinary artist, TEDX speaker and former Seattle Civic Poet. She is the author of Side Notes from the Archivist , (v.) , and Forget It . Her mixed media art has been exhibited at the Fry Art Museum and her installation, “Don’t Be Absurd (Alice in Parts),” was chosen by NBC as one of the “Queer Artist of Color Must See LGBTQ Arts Shows.” She has received fellowships and residencies from Cave Canem, Hedgebrook, VONA, Artist Trust, Ragdale, Mineral School and others. Renee’’s poetry, fiction and nonfiction has been anthologized and published widely. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. About Texas Book Festival The Texas Book Festival, the largest book event in Texas and one of the premier literary Festivals in the nation, returns for its 29th year on November 16–17 in downtown Austin! Free and open to all, attendees can look forward to a star-studded lineup of more than 250 authors, engaging programming for all ages, book signings, food trucks, cooking demonstrations, and a Saturday night Lit Crawl in East Austin. Learn more at www.texasbookfestival.org . Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

Torch Literary Arts' digital publication, Torch Magazine, publishes, promotes, and archives creative writing by Black women. Archive Explore Torch Features from 2022 to the present. Click images below for Torch Magazine 2006 to 2016. *All back issues are being reformatted. Digital versions will be available. Subscribe to our e-newsletter for updates. Torch Magazine Features A. E. Wynter Adriene Cruz Adrienne Dawes Aisha Sharif Ajanaé Dawkins Alexa Patrick Alexis Pauline Gumbs Alma Simba Almah LaVon Rice Ambata Kazi-Nance Amina Gautier Ana-Maurine Lara Anastacia-Reneé Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson Angel C. Dye Angela Redmond-Theodore April Sojourner Truth Walker Ari Foster Ariana Brown Arianne Elena Payne Aricka Foreman Ariel Moniz Arisa White Ashunda Norris Benin Lemus Bettina Judd Beverly Chukwu Bianca Spriggs Boloere Seibidor Brandy Victoria Brianna Johnson Brittany Rogers C. Prudence Arceneaux C. Jean Blain c.r. glasgow Camara Aaron Camille Hernandez Camille Dungy Carletta Carrington Wilson Celeste Doaks Chanda Feldman Chantal James Charla Lauriston Chidima Anekwe Chiyuma Elliott Christina Springer Chyann Hector Cieara Estelle Cindy Elizabeth Clynthia Burton Graham Colleen J. McElroy Crystal Wilkinson Crystal Williams Cynthia Manick Damilola Omotoyinbo Dana Tenille Weekes darlene anita scott Dawn Okoro Deborah Mouton DeLana Dameron Demitrice Worley DeShara Shuggs-Joe Desiree S. Evans Destiny Birdsong devorah major Donika Kelly Dolen Perkins-Valdez E.J. Antonio Ebony Stewart Edythe Rodriguez Ehigbor Okosun Elisha Mykelti Elizabeth Alexander Elizabeth de Souza Erica Fredrick Erica Nicole Griffin Esther Kondo Heller Evie Shockley Fatihah Quadri Fatimah-Ayan Hirsi Faylita Hicks Felicia A. Rivers francine j. harris Gail Upchurch Glenis Redmond Hannah Olabosibe Eko Hermine Pinson Imani Nikelle Isha Camara Jacinda Townsend Jacquese Armstrong Jade Foster Jamey Hatley Jane Alberdeston Coralin Jasmine R Butler Jenelle Samuels Jennifer Coley Jennifer Falu Jennifer Price Jessica Araújo Jonterri Gadson Jordan E. Franklin Julia Mallory Juliet P. Howard K. Deneá Stewart-Shaheed Ka'Dia Dhatnubia Kailah Figueroa Kameryn Alexa Carter Katy Richey Keli Stewart Kelly Norman Ellis Kelly Harris DeBerry Khadijah AbdulHaqq Khalisa Rae Kimberly Dixon Kindall Gant Krista Franklin LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs LaToya Watkins Lauren K. Alleyne Lauri Conner Lenelle Moïse Lilian Oben Linda Susan Jackson Lisa B. Thompson Lor Clincy Lydia Mathis Lynne Thompson Madison Hunter Mahogany L. Browne Mary Weems Mecca Jamilah Sullivan Melanie Henderson Melissa Jones Metta Sama Mildred Lewis Mon Misir Monique Harris Monique-Adelle Callahan Nadia Alexis Nancy Shakir Natalie Graham Natasha Trethewey Natasha Ria El-Scari Natiesha Evans Nehassaiu deGannes Nicole Goodwin Nicole Sealey Nijla Mu'min Nikki Patin Nita Jade Obi Nwizu Octavia Washington Parneshia Jones Patricia Smith Rachel Eliza Griffiths Rahma O. Jimoh Raina J. León Remica L. Bingham-Risher Renee Breeden Rio Cortez Rochelle Robinson-Dukes Rohanna Ssanyu Ruth Ellen Kocher Sabrina Spence Saida Agostini Sami Schalk Samiya Bashir Sandra Jackson-Opoku Sapphire Savannah Balmir Senalka McDonald Shams Alkamil Sharon Bridgforth Sharon Dennis Wyeth Sharyon Culberson Shay Youngblood Shayla Lawson Shayla Hawkins Shia Shabazz Smith Shinelle L. Espaillat Shirley May Sydney Mayes t'ai freedom ford Tafisha Edwards Talicha J. Tameka Cage Conley Tanya Shirley Tara Betts Tatiana Johnson-Boria Tayari Jones Taylor Lena McTootle Taylor Lauren Davis Teri Ellen Cross Davis Toi Derricotte Toni Asante Lightfoot Torie Mchelle Toyin Odutola Tyra Douyon Valoneecia Tolbert Venus Alemanji Victoria Adams-Kennedy Wendy S. Walters Whitney French Wura-Natasha Ogunji Yael Valencia Aldana Yalonda JD Green Yolaine M. St.Fort Yona Harvey Yunina Barbour Payne zakia henderson-brown Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi Zoë Gadegbeku *Names of Torch Magazine features are updated annually.

< Back Brittany Heckard Communications Associate Brittany Heckard is a freelance creative writer at the intersection of policy and strategic communications based in Austin, TX. Her previous work includes lobbying for nonprofits and ESG efforts, helping local businesses with grants, and brand consulting. She has lobbied for companies and organizations like Ancestry, Texas Cultural Trust, Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Vera Institute of Justice, and others. Previously, she led public affairs campaigns for AT&T's legislative and corporate social responsibility units in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. An advocate for social justice, she has volunteered on the board for MOVE Texas Civic Fund and worked for Austin Justice Coalition. Brittany's favorite excerpt from Audre Lorde's Poetry Is Not a Luxury reads, "The white fathers told us, I think therefore I am; and the black mothers in each of us-the poet-whispers in our dreams, I feel therefore I can be free." In her spare time, Brittany enjoys reading, playing with her dog, going to concerts, and creative writing.