Alejandra Oliva
First-generation child of immigrants, Mexican American, Spanish speaker, queer.
Experience
Editorial assistant in children's publishing. Professionally knowledgeable in immigration policy and its effects. Lived experience
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Trae Hawkins
Black man, LGBTQ+, Depression, ADHD, generalized and social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, Black in majority non-black spaces, Family trauma, Workplace discrimination
Experience
Lived experience, BA & MA in English w/a focus in creative writing. MFA Candidate in Creative Writing. Teaching experience at a university level. Published author.
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Tina Catania
Ableism, Classism, Sexism, Medical literature and representations, Catholicism/Christianity, Feminism
Experience
Lived experience, BA in Women's Studies, Italian, Social Science MA/PHD in Social Science & Women's Studies, Academic/nonfiction copy editor and developmental/structural editor. Taught high-school creative writing workshops, published non-fiction author
Reading Interests
All genres welcome except horror and erotica
Sossity Chiricuzio
Fat, white, disabled, anxiety, depression, PTSD, dissociation, and eating disorders, non-binary/gender spectrum, queer identities, survivor experiences (sexual, emotional, and mental), communal living, and rural communities, poverty/working class experience, low income housing, and social welfare systems.
Experience
Lived experience, BA in Gender and Women's Studies/Humanities, and decades of personal research, lived experience, and grassroots activism on a range of relevant topics. Broad range of fiction, academic and business nonfiction experience.
Reading Interests
All genres welcome except horror, and I read and enjoy literature from all age groups.
Sarah Clark
Native/Indigenous American (Nanticoke); LGBTQ+ (transgender, non-binary, queer, bisexual); Mental Illness (PTSD, eating disorders, anxiety, depression); Neurodiversity (ADHD, autism, selective mutism); Disability (physical/chronic illness), Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence, Trauma Survivor
Experience
Lived experience, BA in English, Russian Studies, and International Studies with a concentration in Arts in the Global Perspective, minor in history. Former board member of VIDA: Women in the Literary Arts. Extensive experience in literary magazine publishing and editing. Independent research and activism.
Reading Interests
All genres are welcome
Sabrina Toppa
Muslim, South Asian, Pakistani, Middle East, immigrant background. Social anxiety.
Experience
Lived experience writer
Reading Interests
All genres are welcome
Rue Dickey
Trans (trans man, nonbinary), queer (ace/bi), Native/Indigenous (Arapaho), Romani, Disabled (cane user and an ambulatory wheelchair user), generalized anxiety disorder, autism, ADHD, and major depressive disorder, Jewish, Practicing Witch.
Experience
Lived experience
Reading Interests
All genres are welcome. Particularly fond of SFF
Renee Harleston
Black women and girls, Urban Black culture, Suburban Black culture, Black in majority white spaces, Chronic illness/pain
Experience
Lived experience, Masters degree in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on identity, immigration, nationality, and race. American History, race, and DEI educator and trainer
Reading Interests
All genres welcome. Particularly fond of historical fiction and magical realism
Nathaniel Glanzman
Transgender, Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger's Syndrome, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Asian American/Filipino
Experience
Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, teaches sensitivity reading
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Mikaela Moody
Disfigurement, Hearing aid use, Trans female existence
Experience
Lived experience
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Marcella Lopez
Mexican American
Experience
Lived experience, BA Psychology with minor in History (focus on Latin America), Master of Public Health degree (specialization in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science), editor, global travel, professional experience working in community-based health programs for the underserved.
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Lauren Embling
White, Muslim (a convert), a hijabi/niqabi, autistic, deaf, bipolar 1, C-PTSD, chronic degenerative joint disease, bisexual and grey ace
Experience
Lived experience, teaches sensitivity reading
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Kimberlee Walker
African American woman/girls, Sexual assault and rape, Depression and Anxiety, Celiac Disease, Baldness due to alopecia, Black person in majority white spaces, Blended Family, Progressive Black Christianity, Interracial Romantic Relationships, Suburban Black culture, Performing Arts
Experience
Lived experience, Professional experiences as an actor working with writers and playwrights, former museum educator, teaching artist
Reading Interests
All genres welcome, except horror. Particularly fond of scripts, magical realism, and genre-bending stories.
Kayla Dunigan
African American/Black American Culture, LGBTQIA+, Christianity, Southern U.S./Rural/City Lifestyle/Corporate Culture, Poor/Working, and Middle Class
Experience
Lived experience
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Kashinda Carter
Black woman, monocular, history of blindness, wife of disabled veteran, interracial marriage (White husband), mother of biracial daughter, diagnosed Alpha Thalassemia, diagnosed moderate-severe asthma, PTSD (resulting from CSA) history of weight-loss surgery, extensive medical treatment across multiple subspecialties
Experience
Lived experience, beta-reader, BA in history, concentration in 19th century British social history, lived abroad in England, MA in intelligence studies and analytics.
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Juno Baker
Black (African American), LGBTQIA+ (Transfeminine, Nonbinary, Queer, Lesbian, Asexual Spectrum), Disability, Mental Illness (Social Anxiety), Black in Majority White Spaces
Experience
Lived Experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, Literary & cultural analysis courses, Extensive extracurricular reading in women's and gender studies
Reading Interests
All genres welcome, especially fiction
Jessica Wu
Chinese-American (bilingual Mandarin speaker), Asian American. Expertise in both mainland Chinese and Hong Kong culture, First gen immigrant American family.
Experience
Lived experience, professional experience with Hong Kong government
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Jenna Beacom
Deaf, ASL fluent, hearing loss as a teenager
Experience
Lived experience including the use of hearing aids. Experience in advocacy and media criticism
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Isabelle Felix
Black, Haitian American, Afro Latina/e, Chronic migraines, Hard-of-Hearing (HoH), Physical rehabilitation (regarding mobility), Survivor of Natural Disaster, Family member with mental and emotional health disorders
Experience
Lived experience, background in Psychology (research and therapy), experience as a sensitivity reader
Reading Interests
All genres welcome
Hana Ali
Arab, Yemeni, Muslim Woman, Hijabi, Muslim American, Social Anxiety, Anxiety
Experience
Lived experience, academic research on Muslim women representation in media.
Reading Interests
All genres welcome, especially fond of adult, New Adult, Young Adult. Sci Fi, Fantasy, Contemporary, Romance.