Poet Bios

Sappho's Corner Editor:

Beth Mitchum
About the Poet and Editor: Beth Mitchum

Beth Mitchum is back in Central Florida after spending nearly 18 years in the Seattle area. She lived in the Seattle area from 1993 to 2010 then spent another six months there in 2012. Although she lived in multiple places all around Puget Sound, her favorite nesting spot was on the Kitsap Peninsula, where she was able to enjoy waterfront living and bald eagle watching most of the time she lived there. Before moving to Seattle, she spent eight years in the Asheville, North Carolina area, a place of great beauty and folk art culture. While in Asheville, she received her master’s degree from UNC-Asheville. Before moving to North Carolina in 1985, she lived in Lakeland, Florida, where she attended college, landed her first great job, and found the first of many really cool living spaces. Beth grew up in Winter Park, Florida, a European-style city in the heart of Central Florida. She lives with her four cats, who make her laugh daily. Her books are available at Amazon’s international warehouses, most online bookstores, and via special order from your local independent bookstore. You can also go to bethmitchum.com, where you can order autographed copies via her online bookstore Bookshop without Bordrs. Her published works include: Driftwood, Higher Love, In My Dreams, The Diary of Allie Katz, The Goddess Series, Books 1-3, Seen Dancing: Essay from the Heart, Slices of My Life: So Far, bethwor(l)ds: 20 years of poetry, Wor(l)ds of Love, Loss, and Longing, and Driftwood: The Music.  She is also a contributing poet and the editor of the Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series and editor of the Sappho’s Corner Solo Poets Series. You can interact with the author on Facebook and Twitter.

Lynn Ames
About the Poet: Lynn Ames
Lynn Ames is the best-selling author of The Price of Fame (short-listed for the first annual Golden Crown Literary Society award for lesbian romance), The Cost of Commitment, The Value of Valor (winner of the 2007 Arizona Book Award for Best Gay/Lesbian Book), One ~ Love (formerly The Flip Side of Desire, a finalist for the GCLS 2007 Ann Bannon Best Popular Lesbian Fiction Award), Heartsong (short-listed for the 2008 GCLS award for best lesbian romance), Eyes on the Stars (winner of the 2011 GCLS award for best historical romance), Beyond Instinct (winner of the 2012 GCLS award for best mystery/thriller), Above Reproach, All That Lies Within, and one of five authors of the collection Outsiders (winner of a 2010 GCLS award).

Ms. Ames is the founder of Phoenix Rising Press. She is a former press secretary to the New York state senate minority leader and former spokesperson for the nation’s third-largest prison system. For more than half a decade, she was an award-winning broadcast journalist. She has been editor of a critically acclaimed national magazine and is a nationally recognized speaker and public relations professional with a particular expertise in image management, crisis communications planning, and crisis management. 


Nikki Busch
About the Poet: Nikki Busch

Nikki Busch returned to writing poetry after decades of suppressing her creativity while under the influence of writing drug advertising. Born and raised in “da Bronx” and later in northern New Jersey, Nikki grew up a rock and roller, sang lead and played keyboards in a punk band, and published poetry and read her work at poetry readings in the 1980s. Her early poems were published in the anthologies Our Wonderful CountryCaret, and i.e.

Nikki still lives in northern New Jersey where she works as a freelance copywriter and editor of fiction and nonfiction. She has a BA in English from Douglass (the women’s college) at Rutgers University and, as a late bloomer, is still scratching her head, wondering why she didn’t figure out her sexual orientation while part of a student body filled with radical lesbian feminists. When not working or spending time with the woman she loves, Nikki is writing poetry and fiction and furthering her education online at the University of California San Diego. She is a Golden Crown Literary Society member, has a Facebook fan page at Nikki Busch Editing Services, can be found on Twitter @NikkiBuschEdit and via email: NBwritethink@gmail.com.


Ngaire Curtin
About the Poet and Artist: Ngaire Curtin

Ngaire Curtin is a Pointillist Artist and budding poet, who discovered her creative talent while residing and working in the small seaside town of Greymouth in New Zealand. Her initial artwork focused on the LGBTI community and issues surrounding sexuality. While residing in Queensland, Australia, a later piece of artwork was selected as one of twelve finalists in the Kenilworth, Maroochy Mayoral Art Prize Competition. This encouraged the artist to continue with this style and technique. Ngaire has contributed artwork and/or poetry for the Tulips Touching, Wet Violets, and Roses Red: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, volumes 1 through 3. Her artwork has been featured on the back covers of each of these volumes. 


Kate Dana
 About the Poet: Kate Dana

Kate has been writing short stories and poems since she was eight years old. Writing provided a healthy outlet for the overwhelming emotions of living in a chaotic unstable home. After a long, fulfilling career as a dental hygienist Kate went back to school in 2009 to become a certified massage therapist and reiki practitioner, which she happily discovered is exactly what she is meant to do. Working with hospice and elder care are future dreams. Kate currently lives in Santa Cruz California with her two Bichon Frise pups, Oliver and Toby Tyler- the “boysie boys.” 



Jae Dee
About the poet: Jae Dee

 Jae Dee has been writing poetry since adolescence. Much of her work has been lost, but these love poems at least have been rescued from obscurity. Some of her poems were published in Wet Violets and Roses Red: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 2 and 3. A number of additional poems have been unearthed and will be added to the love poetry that is being published in the Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series. This will soon be published as The Poetry of Jae Dee by UltraVioletLove Publishing.


Gloria Jean Dugger
About the Poet: Gloria Jean Dugger

Since 1983, Gloria has called Glendale, Arizona her home. She has traveled much of this beautiful country, and cherishes all of her experiences. She has many talents, but this is her most personal. She is a passionate romantic, both in writing style and in reality.

Published works include poems within:
Sappho's Corner Poetry Series, Volume 1-Tulips Touching, Volume 2-Wet Violets, and Volume 3-Roses Red
Fictional short stories in small magazines, and contest publications.

Various newspaper articles and political activist pamphlet articles. 


HDum
About the Poet: Heidi Dum

Heidi grew up in the Willamette Valley in the heart of Oregon. She currently lives just outside of Salem, Oregon in the small town of Silverton. She received her bachelor’s degree in Health Education in the late 1990’s from Western. She obtained her masters in teaching from Oregon State University. She has completed a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, web design in March of 2012 from Westwood College. Heidi grew up writing both short stories and poetry, encouraged by her parents and teachers alike. Over the years her writing has been influenced by the many varied experiences in her life. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors, umpiring, writing, teaching, hanging out with friends, and working with computers in a multitude of facets.

Also by HDum:
Twilight of the Dawn, And The Music Goes On, Two Bits Time: Poetry Through the Years (forthcoming), Contributing poet in Tulips Touching: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 1 and Wet Violets: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 2, and Roses Read: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 3.

Contact HDum :
hdum@amethystdreamsdesigns.com
www.amethystdreamspublishing.com
www.amethystdreamsdesigns.com



Cheri Fry
About the Poet: Cheri Fry


Cheri Fry is published in Taj Mahal Review, Green Silk Journal, Parallel, and Quills Poetry, and also on the web site, PoetrySoup.com.  She has also drawn since she was a child and has studied art and design at various schools throughout the years.  She mainly does flower illustrations as a theme, and has had showings of her multimedia art (tissue paper and ink on glass). She is on Facebook and is working on getting her website up and running. She is also working towards compiling a manuscript of lesbian poetry, complete with illustrations, which she plans to self publish in the future.


Elizabeth Gajewski- Riggin
About the Poet: Elizabeth Gajewski-Riggin

My name is Elizabeth Gajewski-Riggin. Just call me Liz. I am of Cherokee and Polish descent. I went to Catholic school for twelve years. I grew up in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. I now live in Eagleville, Pennsylvania. I have three sons ages 28, 26, and 13. We share our home with my beautiful girlfriend, Ree, the love of my life. We have one dog, a Chihuahua named Pepe, and Tux, Diva, Cashmere, Suede, Jazmine, and Gizmo, our six fun-loving cats. I just recently came out on September 22nd 2013. I finally feel free and happy to be me. I wrote my first poem when I was eighteen in 1976, the year I graduated high school. Then I became more dedicated to writing poems since the 90's. It is truly a wonderful way to express our feelings.

Lisa Hurt
About the Poet

·         Lisa Hurt grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She spent the last twenty five years building and creating her home “from the land” and Organic farm in Poulsbo, Wa. She loves the outdoors and is deeply connected to the earth and all her creatures. She is as a massage therapist, painting contractor and carpenter. For fun she loves to read, bike, swim, fish, walk on the beach, hike, and dabble in poetry and writing. She has a blog http://rainbowzen1.blogspot.com  if you want to know how it all began and where the journey has taken her.

Caren Littman
About the Poet: Caren Littman

Caren Littman grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she began writing poetry as a way to express her emotions.  Caren relocated to the warmth of South Florida where she and her dog reside in the suburbs of Ft. Lauderdale.  While she has a multitude of friends, she is still searching for the woman of her dreams.  While not having lived in Philly for much of her adult life, she is still an avid Eagles fan.  In her spare time she enjoys playing softball, golfing, and has a voracious appetite for reading.

Caren has lost her fear of putting her poetry out there to be read by allowing Sappho’s Corner to publish her poetry. Her published works include poems in Tulips Touching: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 1, Wet Violets: Sappho's Corner Poetry Series, Volume 2, and Roses Read: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 3.


Doreen Merriman
About the Poet: Doreen Merriman

The following poems were written on 7th November 2013 to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the death of my partner and soulmate Ruth. For five years we were inseparable. Knowing that she was terminally ill, I thought I was prepared for the inevitable but how wrong I was. For many years the music and poetry stopped for me. Ruth was my inspiration and still is.


 jaynes pehney
About The Author: jaynes pehney

jaynes pehney has poems in all three volumes in the Sapphos Corner Poetry Series: Tulips Touching, Wet Violets, and Roses Read. Anyone interested in lesbian poetry or fiction can send me a Facebook friend request and then join my Facebook group LesficREADER ; )


Mary Margaret Perry
About the Poet: Mary Margaret Perry

Mary is a Viet Nam Era Vet. She worked for twenty years for the Department of Defense as a Fire Inspector/Firefighter and was a Safety Director for a heavy highway construction firm. Mary retired in October 2010. She has a 2nd-Degree Black belt in Taekwondo. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, cooking, gardening, reading, and writing. The loves of her life are her partner of 16 years and their dachshund Ditto.

Mary has in the works a children’s book called, Butter Bean and Peggy Pea Get Fit. She had has her poems published in Roses Read: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series Volume 3 and in the e-magazine for writers Long Story Short.  You can contact Mary on Facebook. Her web page is called A Poet’s Journey. You can find it at: https://www.facebook.com/marymargaretperry.    


         Elaine Roth-Nichols
About the Poet: Elaine Roth-Nichols

Born in the 1950's in Germany, of Belgian and American heritage, Elaine Roth-Nichols lived abroad and around the U.S. until eventually settling near Nashville, Tennessee.  She unapologetically came out "without a moment's hesitation" in 1973 after a lifetime of androgynous identity expression.  She met the love of her life in 1988 and the couple finally married in 2009 on Cape Cod after 21 years together.  The pair was included in the March 2009 issue of GO MAGAZINE'S ("America's Most Captivating Couples") and was featured in the September 2011 issue of 10,000 Couples, "I am the face of Marriage Equality: Elaine and Ramona Roth-Nichols" by John Szlachetka.  Her interests include philosophy, music, the internet, gourmet cooking, antique hunting and Egyptian art.  Her most treasured moments are spent at home with wife Ramona and their four cats and two dogs.  Elaine is currently working on a semi-autobiographical project though there is no established timeline.  "Writing should follow a path of natural progression." she says.  Her philosophy has always been: If you are comfortable with your own personal identity, others will be as well. 

Elaine Roth-Nichols’ published work includes being a contributing poet in Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 1-3: Tulips Touching, Wet Violets, and Roses Read.

Leah Rouse
About the Poet: Leah Rouse

Leah Rouse lives in London, England and has been writing poems for over four years. She takes her inspirations from all over from the eye of the street and music too. She listens to a lot of music and writes not just poetry but scripts and lyrics too. She is also interested in singing, dancing, and cooking.

After successfully publishing my first collection of lesbian love poems for Roses Read: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 3, I am delighted to be in another collection, including a special poem, (You're Amazing, You Know That Right,) I wrote for my girlfriend. I am currently creating and producing my second film (part two of Don't Stop Believing, a three part lesbian film about life after death). In my spare time I make and create Word Patch Hats www.allroadsleadtoyou.me.uk 




Wallis Stern
About the Poet: Wallis Stern

Wallis Stern is touted as a remarkably talented Wordsmith, a highly inventive and wildly creative writer of Poetry and Prose. Her early childhood was quite Dickensian but she began reading spontaneously in her orphanage, which was her saving grace, and has been reading and writing ever since. She is the only member of her entire adopted family of Chasidic Jewish Holocaust Survivors and offspring who has ever graduated High School, let alone gone to University. The greatest "compliment" her rabbinical father ever paid her was, "Ach! You’re so brilliant you should have been a boy!" so she felt oddly hermaphroditic growing up as a Yeshiva Girl in Brooklyn since she apparently had both female and male organs: a uterus and a BRAIN! Wallis escaped her "Fiddler on the Roof" captivity by forging her father's signature on college applications. Scholarships in hand, she ran away from home to New Haven, CT, collecting several essentially useless degrees in Creative Writing, Poetry, Theater Arts, and Linguistics, and teaching her own courses in Creative Writing.

Her new book, "THE LOVE CHILDE WALLIS STERN: a Thinly Veiled Genre-Defying Faux Autobiographical Queer Bildungsroman," slated for publication in 2014 also by UltraVioletLove Publishing, has been hailed already as a "BREAK-OUT book" with several excerpts submitted for your delectation amongst the petals of our DAISIES. Ms. Stern is a professional ghostwriter, has been published under various pen names, and finally got nagged into overcoming her shyness and writing as herself, contributing to lesbian publications. Wallis Stern is very hopeful that her new writing will speak amply for itself and its own merits, and welcomes your friendship on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.


Brigitte Stolwijk
About the Poet: Brigitte Stolwijk

Brigitte Stolwijk was born 20th of June 1968 in Amstelveen,The Netherlands.
She still lives there with her wife and daughter. She has worked as a Security Officer for ten years. After discovering poetry, she decided to write some herself. She is still developing as a writer and she has not been a poet for that long. She uses everyday life and people around her as her inspiration and to express her feelings. She had never written poetry before. Now she writes a lot, not only love poems but also other subjects too.

 Past Publishing Credits:
Wet Violets: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 2
Roses Read: Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series, Volume 3


Kieran York
About the Poet: Kieran York

Kieran York authored the Royce Madison mystery series, published by Third Side Press, Chicago. That includes: Timber City Masks, 1993; and Crystal Mountain Veils, 1995. Kieran also is author of a collection of lesbian short stories titled, Sugar With Spice, 1989. Her romance, published in 2012 was Appointment with a Smile, and is a 2013 Lambda Award Finalist. Also published by Blue Feather Books is her latest book, published in 2013, titled, Careful Flowers.

Kieran’s lesbian love poetry has been published in the collection, Sappho’s Corner Poetry Series: Wet Violets, Volume 2; and Roses Read, Volume 3, published by UltraVioletLove Publishing. Roses Read was an Amazon best seller, and was named a 2013 GCLS Award Finalist in the poetry category.

Kieran’s blog is http://www.kieranyork.com. She has written mainstream work including poetry and general fiction. Her journalism career has been varied. She worked reporting, reviewing, and was a magazine publisher for three years. She wrote and performed songs with a woman’s band, has given numerous campus and coffeehouse poetry readings, and taught poetry and creative writing workshops. She currently lives in the foothills of Littleton, Colorado with her schnauzer, Clover. 


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