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< Back City of Austin Cultural Arts Division Awards Torch Literary Arts the Thrive Grant along with Other Cultural Arts Organizations in Austin Brittany Heckard Jan 3, 2025 The Cultural Arts Division awarded $13 million in funds to local arts and cultural organizations for a second year with Thrive and Elevate grants. AUSTIN, Tex., January 3, 2025 – Torch Literary Arts (Torch), a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying Black women writers, was recently granted the Thrive Grant from the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department , a local initiative to support Torch’s 2025 programming. This is Torch’s second time being awarded the Thrive grant. The grant provides programmatic and organizational funding to help curate events that continue amplifying Black women writers and their supporters. Thrive grant awards range from $85,000-$150,000 and provide focused investment to sustain and grow arts organizations that are deeply rooted in and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures. This year Torch was one of 35 arts and cultural nonprofits awarded. The organization was also an inaugural recipient in 2022. 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. City of Austin Cultural Arts Division The Economic Development Department's Cultural Arts Division manages the City’s cultural arts programs and provides leadership for the economic development of Austin's creative economy. Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Torch Literary Arts Welcomes New Team Members Oct 18, 2024 Thanks to capacity-building funding, Torch adds a Creative Content Associate and Administrative Fellow to the Team. Torch Literary Arts is growing and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome two new team members to help further our mission to amplify Black women writers. We’re excited to announce that Creative Content Associate, Elena Johnson, and 2024 Administrative Fellow, Bri Nunn, have joined the Torch family. As the Creative Content Associate, Elena will amplify the work that Torch is facilitating on all of Torch’s social media platforms. She will be in charge of creating unique and engaging concepts that further communicate the deep impact Torch has on Black women writers across the world. Bri’s Administrative Fellowship will immerse her in the various roles of nonprofit structure including programming, creative content, communications, and evaluation. This allows a true hands-on learning experience for her to grasp the full spectrum of what it takes to run a nonprofit. We’re ecstatic to welcome these two phenomenal women to the team and are excited to see what they accomplish! Elena Johnson is a creative writer and social media strategist based in Austin, TX, with a BA in English and a minor in Journalism from The City College of New York. Elena has developed and executed strategies that enhanced audience engagement for digital newsrooms like Business Insider and The Yellow Tulip Project. Her articles on equitable education, community, and social identity have been featured in The Guardian, HarlemView, and Chalkbeat. Driven by a journalistic approach to digital production, Elena creates meaningful, engaging content that educates, inspires, and fosters deep connections with the audience. She combines her passion for mental health advocacy, art, and uplifting Black women with her expertise in digital content, working to amplify their experiences and voices through literature and multimedia storytelling. In her spare time, Elena enjoys reading, painting, and writing poetry, drawing inspiration from nature and the world around her. Bri Nunn is a current Huston-Tillotson student majoring in Communications, with a specification in TV and film. She is a writer, a poet, and a mother of two beautiful girls. She currently has a three-year-old podcast called, “Bri The Black Sheep” that discusses the intersectionality of Black Womanhood through her humorous dialect. Her previous work includes being an advocate for those facing and escaping domestic violence, as well as teaching vulnerable folks how to have healthier relationships. She plans to use her degree to create stories for young Black girls so that they can see themselves represented more in the media. Her ultimate goal is to develop a non-profit that allows them to have a space where they can freely exist and feel cared for. You can see the full list of our employees and board members here . ### 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 Hallie S. Hobson Advisory Board Member Hallie S. Hobson contributes to the vitality and health of philanthropic and nonprofit institutions by developing and implementing innovative planning, fundraising, and patron engagement strategies including: philanthropic strategy development and implementation; capital campaign and strategic planning; individual giving program design; major gift pipeline development; department buildout and optimization-staffing and systems; chief development officer coaching; board development. Clients include Art Basel, Cave Canem Foundation, Destination Crenshaw, The Ford Foundation, The Friends of the High Line, Junebug Productions, The Laundromat Project, the New York Community Trust, and NPower. Prior to launching her consultancy, Hallie served as the Director of Institutional Advancement for the Studio Museum in Harlem and led that organization’s Capital Campaign. Prior to that she was at The Metropolitan Museum of Art where she served as Deputy Chief Development Officer for Individual Giving and the Senior Development Officer at The Museum of Modern Art. She has also held roles at several other cultural institutions including the New York Foundation for the Arts and The House Foundation for the Arts/Meredith Monk and has lectured about her profession at New York University, the Yale World Fellows Program, and Sotheby's Institute of Art. In addition, Hallie is an accomplished poet and playwright. She holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting from UCLA and a B.A. in African-American and Theater Studies from Yale University.

Torch Literary Arts delivers quality programs including the Wildfire Reading Series, creative writing and professional events, an annual retreat for Black women writers with works-in-progress, and special events. Programs To fulfill our mission to create advancement opportunities for Black women writers, Torch Literary Arts offers a variety of impactful programs for emerging and experienced writers. Programs are provided at no or low cost to increase access to literary arts. Torch is a resource and destination for those who value inclusive creative communities and diverse voices in literature. We look forward to seeing you at future events! Torch Retreat An annual retreat for Black women writers with major works-in-progress. Torch's annual, fully funded, week-long retreat welcomes eight creative writing fellows selected by application. Each year in July, writers with projects across poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and script (plays and screenplays) gather in Austin, TX for dedicated writing time and space to imagine, dream, rest, and fellowship with others. A public reading is held at the end of the week to share their developing works with the local Central Texas community. Learn More Wildfire Reading Series Live readings featuring notable authors. Celebrating emerging and established authors, the Wildfire Reading Series promotes books by Black women writers in partnership with independent bookstores. Previous features include Kendra Allen, Crystal Wilkinson, Renée Watson, Kelis Rowe, LaToya Watkins, and others. Workshops Creative & Professional Development Generative workshops to inspire all experience levels. Our creative writing workshops are open to BIPOC women writers and are designed and facilitated by experienced writers and educators. Previous workshop facilitators include Anastacia-Reneé, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Bev Chukwu, Faylita Hicks, KB Brookins, Victoria Newton Ford, Remica Bingham-Risher, and others. Writers Across the Diaspora Amplifying Black women writers across the diaspora. Torch Literary Arts is a global resource and destination. Writers Across the Diaspora showcases international writers through a week of programs in Central Texas in partnership with Texas State University and local and international partners. Launched in 2024 with support from Culture Ireland and the Consulate General of Ireland - Austin, Torch welcomed Irish poets Nithy Kasa and FELISPEAKS and curated public readings, craft talks, workshops, and networking opportunities. In Conversation Series Industry and craft talks with the experts. Thought-provoking conversations from leaders across the literary landscape on topics that inform and move the culture from page to public media. Torch is proud to partner with the Wintergreen Women Writers Collective for a three-year collaboration as part of the series called the Welcome Table Talks . The virtual discussions will cover various topics related to organization building, literary freedom, legacy, and more. The virtual discussions are free and open to all. Writing Circle Bimonthly writing circle for BIPOC womxn. Join writers from around the world twice a month for dedicated time to write in community with others. Try the prompt provided or work on a writing project. We'll hold the space and time for you! Click here to sign up for the Writing Circle. Torch Magazine The award-winning digital publication of Torch. Torch Magazine publishes emerging and established Black women writers from across the diaspora. Selected features receive $150 and have their work promoted and archived online. We accept submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and script (plays and screenplays) for consideration. Click here to read Torch Magazine and review submission guidelines. Special Events Increasing access to literature for all. Torch works with community partners to deliver exceptional literary events that increase access to literature while amplifying Black women writers. Torch is a proud community partner of the Texas Book Festival and moderates panels and curates readings that highlight notable authors during the festival, which attracts over 50,000 attendees annually. Torch also delivers special events with other community partners, including the Carver Museum, the African American Culture and Heritage Facility, and others.

< 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 Austin Community Foundation Announces Torch Literary Arts as one of The Black Fund Grant Partners Brittany Heckard Jan 30, 2024 The Black Fund’s recognition of Torch Literary Arts as a grant partner allows Torch to continue hosting special events for Black women writers in the Austin community. AUSTIN, Tex., January 30, 2024 – Torch Literary Arts (Torch) was recently granted a semifinalist grant partner award from Austin Community Foundation’s The Black Fund. Torch is one of five arts, culture, and preservation impact area nonprofits to receive a grant from the fund. The grant will be used to fund Torch’s in-person special events supporting Black women writers in Austin. “ Funding Black-led and serving organizations is one of many critical steps needed to preserve Black culture in Austin,” said Amanda Johnston, founder and executive director of Torch. “Organizations like Torch, and the many others receiving a grant from The Black Fund, exist as safe-havens for Black people looking for their community.” Institutionally, funding for Black-led and serving organizations is scarce as these organizations are often neglected by larger foundations compared to other nonprofits. According to the Black Nonprofit Fundraising Guide , philanthropic racial bias leads to Black communities being underfunded by $2 billion. The Stanford Social Innovation Review found that Black-led organizations’ revenue is 45% smaller than white-led organizations despite focusing on the same work. Austin Community Foundation launched The Black Fund in 2022 with the purpose of addressing the systemic racial inequities present in Austin. Over three years, the fund will invest over $1 million dollars to Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations in the Central Texas region. The Black Fund invests in the following impact areas: arts, culture, and preservation; education; health and wellness; power building, organizing, and advocacy; and wealth building. Austin Community Foundation was established in 1977 with the goal of meeting community needs in Central Texas. To date, the foundation has given over $500 million to over 1300 nonprofits across Central Texas. Their vision of advancing economic mobility is mobilized through their programs like The Black Fund, Hispanic Impact Fund, Women’s Fund, and FundATX. For more information about Torch Literary Arts, please visit https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/ or follow @torchliteraryarts on Instagram. ### 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 Austin Community Foundation Austin Community Foundation was created through the generosity of one woman, Fannie Gray Files Leo . She wanted a way to provide for her favorite charities and upon her death, she earmarked five percent of her estate ($30,000) to create Austin Community Foundation. In 1977, a group of business leaders, led by Fannie Gray’s bank trust officer, officially founded Austin Community Foundation. In creating the foundation, Austin followed the example of hundreds of cities across the country with the goal to meet community needs and inspire local philanthropists to create endowments to generate earnings and distribute grants. Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Torch Announces the 2025 Nominations for the O. Henry Prize Oct 15, 2025 Two Torch Features, Jennifer Coley and Jessica Araújo, are nominated for their respective short fiction stories. The O. Henry Prize is the oldest major prize for short fiction in America. Awarded since 1919, the prize seeks to provide a prominent platform for short story writers from all around the world and at all points in their careers. The winners’ stories are collected and published annually by Anchor Books. Learn more about the prize here . Our Amazing Torch Nominees Include: “ Nosey ” by Jennifer Coley “ Call More Dead ” by Jessica Araújo ### 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 co ntinue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today. About Jennifer Coley Jennifer Coley is a writer from North Carolina. She is a graduate of East Carolina University, where she obtained a BA in Art History and an MA in Communication. She has self-published under the pseudonym Jaxon Z. Carroll on Amazon. Her work has also been published in midnight & indigo: Twenty-two Speculative Stories by Black Women Writers (Issue 4) . She has always had a love for storytelling, and when she is not writing, she is probably thinking about writing. About Jessica Araújo Jessica Araújo (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of English at the Community College of Rhode Island. She has her MA in Literature and MFA in Creative Writing from William Paterson University. Her works have been published in Sad Girl Diaries Literary Magazine, Wingless Dreamer, Cathexis Northwest Press, and Midnight & Indigo. Media Contact Information: Brittany Heckard Communications Associate bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org (512) 641-9251 Previous Next

< Back Torch Literary Arts Announces the Torch Center Coming Fall 2025 Sep 2, 2025 The local Austin nonprofit organization dedicated to building community for Black women writers will now have a physical location at the LINC of Austin. AUSTIN, Tex., Sep. 2, 2024 – Torch Literary Arts is proud to announce that a physical location for the nonprofit will open in Fall 2025. The nonprofit that has been running for nineteen years will now have a physical location at the LINC of Austin in North-Central Austin, TX. “Watching Torch grow to having a physical location is a dream come true,” executive director of Torch, Amanda Johnston. “Establishing the Torch Center grounds us in our mission and offers more community-building activities for Black women writers and all lovers of literature here in the city where Torch was founded.” The physical location will allow the nonprofit to host more in-person events in the greater Austin area. Torch hosts recurring events, including the Wildfire Reading Series that features notable authors from across the country, open mic events, free creative writing and professional development workshops, an annual retreat, and more. “ This is more than a building; this is a victory for our voices, our stories, and our legacy. I am overjoyed to be a small part of the team that continues to cultivate victories for Black women. Torch is lighting the way,” said board chair Sequoia Maner, PhD. According to Magnitude & Bond , a study on Black Literary organizations, Black-led and other culturally specific literary organizations are some of the most underresourced arts organizations. This physical location allows Torch to expand beyond its already growing diasporic presence and anchors itself in Austin’s arts community. Torch was established in 2006 as a grassroots community project by Amanda Johnston, 2024 Texas Poet Laureate. In nineteen years, the organization has published the award-winning Torch Magazine , hosted an annual paid retreat with a national reach, and developed partnerships with the Texas Book Festival, Texas State University, and the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin, among others. Many thanks to Art Power for fueling Torch's flame as the first corporate sponsor of the Torch Center. Interested in supporting Torch Literary Arts as a sponsor or partner? Email us at contact@torchliteraryarts.org to learn how. You can keep up with Torch’s progress and upcoming events by visiting their website at torchliteraryarts.org , signing up for the weekly newsletter, or following on Instagram. ### 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 Torch Literary Arts Celebrates GivingTuesday with Community and Board Matches, Ignite the Night, and More. Brittany Heckard Nov 22, 2024 Torch is joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement on December 3, 2024. This GivingTuesday, Torch Literary Arts will inspire generosity by raising $5,000 to support their efforts to amplify Black women writers across the world. This is our third year participating in GivingTuesday. This year’s efforts come with big news for donation matches! All donations will be matched up to $2,000 thanks to our Giving Tuesday Community Partner, Mantis Massage . Also, Torch’s Executive and Advisory Board members are matching up to $1,000 worth of donations. This means by donating, you are actually tripling your giving amount thanks to their matches! Torch is also activating peer support for GivingTuesday. All around the world, Torch Features, Retreat Fellows, and the wider community are spreading the word about Torch’s impact in their communities. Support during our peer-to-peer campaign not only amplifies the work that Torch does but also provides first-hand accounts of our community impact. Want to join in on supporting? You can access our Peer-to-Peer “P2P Toolkit” here . To wrap up celebrating impact and support, Torch will be celebrating “Ignite the Night” at DAWA HQ on December 3, 2024. At the celebration, we’ll have door prizes, video recaps, food, and community to continue fundraising throughout the day. You can RSVP to “Ignite the Night” here . GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 3, 2024 , and throughout the year. "GivingTuesday inspires people all around the world to embrace their power to drive progress around the causes they care about, not just on one day but throughout the year," said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday’s Chief Executive Officer. "With country and community leaders, millions of organizations, and countless givers of all kinds, GivingTuesday is creating a shared space where we can see the radical implications of a more generous world." Those who are interested in joining Torch’s GivingTuesday initiative can 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. About Mantis Massage Mantis Massage is a 2022 Best of Austin-winning corrective deep tissue massage studio in Austin, TX. Open to all, they have two locations on South Congress and Airport Boulevard and are accepting clients. They support many local Austin nonprofit organizations and are open 7 days a week. Previous Next

< Back Torch Literary Arts to Open Applications for the 2025 Torch Retreat on February 3rd Jan 10, 2025 The Torch Retreat will host its third annual writing retreat for Black women writers at the Colton House in Austin, Texas from July 20-27, 2025. AUSTIN, Tex., January 10, 2025 – Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is excited to announce the return of the annual Torch Retreat, a week-long paid creative writing retreat for Black women writers to gather in community, complete works-in-progress, and rest. The retreat application opens on February 3rd and will close on February 17th at 11:59 pm (CST). Interested writers with works-in-progress across poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and script (plays and screenplays) can learn more about the retreat application guidelines at torchliteraryarts.org/retreat . “I love that Torch can provide a nurturing environment for Fellows to rest, learn from special guests, and commune with each other,” said Amanda Johnston, executive director. “I’m proud of the space the retreat offers and excited by what happens when you empower Black women to write their stories.” For a third year, retreat fellows will return to the Colton House from July 20-27 for a week-long stay where they will have the opportunity to work on their unfinished projects. The Retreat Fellowship will conclude with a reading at the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center. Every retreat fellow receives a $1,000 stipend to help with costs associated with travel, supplies, or simply peace of mind while they focus on their work. Fellows are paired according to their genre in a two-bedroom suite with their own private bedroom and bathroom. The Torch Retreat’s inaugural fellowship started in 2023 with six fellows writing across poetry, fiction, and script. Our 2023 retreat fellows include Ashley M. Coleman, Ajanaė Dawkins, Victoria Newton Ford, Ashunda Norris, Obinwanne Nwizu, and Keya Vance. Our 2024 retreat fellows include Sandra Jackson-Opoku, m. mick powell, Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton, DW McKinney, Elizabeth Brown, Meredith L. King, and Destiny Hemphill. ### 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 Torch Literary Arts Releases 2024 Fall Season Aug 29, 2024 Torch’s 2024 Fall Season includes international poets, a screenwriting panel, workshops on character building and memoirs, the Wildfire Reading Series, and more! Following successful spring and summer seasons, and our August birthday celebration, Torch is excited to kick off our Fall Season this September. This Fall season, you can expect insightful workshops on character building, conversations on screenwriting, a visit from two Irish poets in collaboration with Texas State University and Culture Ireland, and so much more! You can RSVP to Torch’s Fall 2024 events by visiting torchliteraryarts.org/events . Our special events this season include: September 12 Workshop: It’s Your World: Character and World Building with Jennine “Doc” Kreuger September 25 In Conversation Series: Screenwriting Panel with Maya Perez and Shia Shabazz Smith September 28 Wildfire Reading Series: Icess Fernandez Rojas , author of The Opposite of Breathing is Cement: Poetry and Prose at Resistencia Books October 2-23 Workshop: Deborah Deep Mouton’s 4-week workshop on writing and developing a memoir October 9,10, and 12 Writing Across the Diaspora Reading & Conversation: Irish poets Nithy Kasa and FELISPEAKS will read from their works in Austin and at Texas State University. The poets will also provide free public workshops. November 7 Workshop: Questions for the Self: Using Found Text with Victoria Newton Ford November 13 Wildfire Reading Series: Krystal Marquis , author of The Davenports at Black Pearl Books November 15 and 16: Torch x Texas Book Festival: Poets Lynne Thompson and Morgan Parker will read from their works and speak on a panel during the 2024 Texas Book Festival Stay tuned for more fall events!! ### 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, writing workshops, and retreats. For more information about Torch Literary Arts, please visit https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/ or follow @torchliteraryarts on Instagram. 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 Torch Announces the 2025 Retreat Fellows Brittany Heckard Apr 24, 2025 Torch returns for a third consecutive year to host eight fellows at their annual retreat for Black women writers at the Colton House in Austin, Texas, from July 20-27, 2025. AUSTIN, Tex., April 17, 2025 – Torch Literary Arts is proud to announce the 2025 Torch Retreat Fellows! Eight writers with works-in-progress across poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and script (plays, screenplays) were selected among 375 applicants to participate in our annual retreat at the Colton House Hotel from July 20-27. Each fellow will receive a $1,000 stipend to help with costs associated with travel, supplies, or other financial needs to support their attendance at the retreat. Intentional about our vision of creating community, each fellow is paired with another writer in their genre, participates in craft talks and a public reading, and is encouraged to rest. Introducing the 2025 Torch Retreat Fellows Jumi Bello is a fiction writer, scholar, and advocate committed to exploring abolitionist futures and disability justice. A PhD candidate in English Literature at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, her work examines critical disability studies, carceral studies, speculative fiction, and decolonial worldbuilding. She is also a fiction graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop and a proud Posse Scholar alum. Jumi’s creative work includes HO(US)E , a speculative novel that imagines a sentient halfway house bearing witness to the afterlives of psychiatric survivorship. Her concept of Mad Futurism serves as a framework for imagining care beyond the constraints of carceral systems. Her writing has been supported by the Black Mountain Institute, Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop, and Roots. Wounds. Words. Through her work as a writer, mentor, and literary community member, Jumi is dedicated to fostering conversations on disability justice and speculative worldbuilding. Her recent presentations at the Eaton Conference on Speculative Fiction and the Communities of Care Symposium explore the intersections of narrative, memory, and liberation. At The Torch Retreat, she looks forward to continuing her exploration of storytelling as a catalyst for transformative change. Jassmine Parks is a Detroit poet, professor, arts administrator, and flower child. Currently working on her poetic debut, touch stone, Jassmine’s work examines the resiliency of the Black and feminine experience. As an adoptee, Jassmine delves into the thematic depths of the long-term impact of mass incarceration and family separation, daughter and motherhood, identifying the traumatic ruptures and healing salve within her lineage and reclaiming narrative as a tool to own her power. Jassmine’s poetry has been supported and published with Obsidian: Literature & Arts In The African Diaspora , Clearline Magazine , and Room Object , and her performances can be found on PBS, Button Poetry, SlamFind, and All Def Poetry. She has been nurtured through fellowships from The Watering Hole, Pen America: Emerging Voices, Michigan Traditional Arts Program, Kresge Arts In Detroit, and Room Project. You can find her basking in the light of her husband and two children or lost in nostalgia, wishing for the time of aluminum foil grills and Cash Money Records was taking over for the nine nine and the two thousand. As a flower child, she wishes to leave a legacy of thriving, tenderness and growth. Learn more about Jassmine at her website: www.jassmineparkstheflowerchild.com . .CHISARAOKWU. (she/her) is an Igbo American transdisciplinary poet artist. Drawing inspiration from her Igbo heritage, quantum physics, her career in medicine, indigenous healing practices, and the natural world, her poetry weaves archival text, visual art, film, and collage to unsilence the archives pertaining to Africans in the diaspora. Her work appears in literary and academic journals and received fellowship support from Cave Canem, Anaphora Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and more. She was the 2023 Sonia Sanchez Poetry Fellow at MacDowell and in 2025 received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. She is an alum of Duke University School of Medicine and Stanford University. Otito Greg-Obi (They/We/ She) is a queer, Black, Igbo, neuroexpansive writer. Their work explores mental health, ecology, and intimacy. They love writing genre-bending stories that are character-driven and woven with magical realism. Otito was awarded a 2024 Rooted and Written Fellowship for their sci-fi pilot Bloodsap. They were a finalist for the 2025 Sundance Collab Cultural Impact Residency and the 2025 Periplus Fellowship. They also won a 2023 Sundress Academy for the Arts Residency for their dramedy pilot Pinky Swear. Their dramedy pilot, Knead , received an honorable mention in the 2023 Finish Line Script Competition and was a semifinalist in the 2022 Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. In addition to writing films and tv shows, Otito is a member of the 2025 Liberation Ecology Cohort with Critical Ecology Lab. Otito is also the producer and host of Best Friends for (N)Ever, a podcast about the highs and lows of friendship. When we’re not conjuring and devouring stories, we’re practicing yoga, walking through forests, swimming through water, and pressing flowers in books we haven’t finished reading yet. Kenndall Wallace loves to write. As a Black playwright, author, and screenwriter, Kenndall uses the written word to not only entertain audiences-- but create living, moving art pieces through storytelling. She was an inaugural winner of the Farmers' Alley Theatre Lumen Playwriting Competition, a Broadcast Education Association winner for her debut feature-length screenplay, and has been honored three times by the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, being awarded at the national level in 2024 with her full-length play 'To Cry Into Sand'. As she grows as a writer and artist, she hopes to continue writing stories that explore and honor Black culture. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai is a writer, teacher, preacher, and social activist. Her primary literary form has been the sermon. She has preached in pulpits throughout the United States and beyond and has taught or presented in multiple venues, including Boston University, as the Anna Howard Shaw lecturer, as a presenter at the World Methodist Council, in Gothenburg Sweden, and most recently as the opening preacher for the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference in North Carolina. She has served in The United Methodist Church for more than twenty years and was elected bishop in 2022. At this stage in her life and career, she is exploring other literary forms, including poetry and memoir. She is the recipient of poetry and fiction awards from the Friends of the Chautauqua Institute and a regular participant in the Iowa Writers Summer Festival. Her current project is a memoir about trauma. She notes, “I want to write the stories about how I got through. They are my truth, the plumb line of my life, from fists that wounded to the hands that heal. I am really writing the story of my hands, which I have spent a career offering to others in ministry.” Starr Davis is a talented writer and devoted mother whose work appears in The Kenyon Review and Poem-a-Day by the Academy of American Poets. She has received fellowships from The Luminary and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and serves as the Creative Nonfiction Editor of TriQuarterly . A 2025 Visions After Violence Fellow with the After Violence Project, Starr is dedicated to exploring the intersections of trauma, justice, and storytelling. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the City College of New York and a BA in Journalism and Creative Writing from the University of Akron. Her personal-political reporting has been recognized by Longreads and featured on podcasts like What You Didn’t Expect in Fertility . A survivor, Starr advocates for women writers and marginalized voices, often speaking on domestic violence and economic injustice against Black mothers. Nominated for awards such as the Pushcart Prize, she is also a 2024 Writing Freedom Fellow with Haymarket Books. Her poetry collection, AFFIDAVIT , will be published by Hanging Loose Press in Fall 2025. She resides in Houston, empowering women through volunteer work. Idza Luhumyo was born in Mombasa, Kenya. She studied law at the University of Nairobi, earned an MA in Comparative Literature at SOAS--University of London, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University. Her writing has appeared in various publications, including in Transition Magazine , African Arguments , the Masters Review , and the Porter House Review . Her short story, "Five Years Next Sunday," earned her the 2021 Short Story Day Africa Prize and the 2022 Caine Prize for African Writing. Other awards include the Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa Award and the Civitella Ranieri Writing Fellowship. She currently lives in Austin and teaches in the English department at Texas State University. The inaugural Torch Retreat convened in 2023 with six fellows writing across poetry, fiction, and script and included retreat fellows Ashley M. Coleman, Ajanaė Dawkins, Victoria Newton Ford, Ashunda Norris, Obinwanne Nwizu, and Keya Vance. Our 2024 fellows included Sandra Jackson-Opoku, m. mick powell, Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton , DW McKinney, Elizabeth Brown, Meredith L. King, and Destiny Hemphill. You can watch a video of the 2023 Torch Retreat readings and 2024 Torch Retreat readings on our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/@torchlitarts . ### 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