Hala Alyan is a poet, novelist, memoirist, and clinical psychologist whose literary work explores generational and familial trauma, Palestinian history, and motherhood.

Novelist Jessamine Chan’s debut book, The School for Good Mothers, was an immediate NYT best-seller. Her short fiction, essays, and reviews can be found in places like Tin House and NYT Book Review.

Roxane Gay is an internationally acclaimed essayist, novelist, and cultural critic. Her work has won Lambda Literary Awards, an Eisner Award, and multiple PEN awards.

R.O. Kwon is a novelist whose books explore Korean-American identity, religion, sexuality, and intimacy. Her most recent novel, Exhibit, was named a Vogue’s Best Books of 2024.

Carmen Maria Machado is a novelist, memoirist, and short story author. Her memoir, In the Dream House, traces womanhood, queerness, and fairy tales.

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a historical fiction writer whose stories follow Black women throughout American history.

Junauda Petrus is a creative activist, award-winning novelist, playwright, performance artist, and 2025–2026 Poet Laureate of Minneapolis.

Amber Tamblyn is an acclaimed author, actress, director, and political organizer. She’s earned Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit Award nominations for her work in TV and film.

Luis Alberto Urrea is the bestselling author of 19 books. A Guggenheim fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist, his books have been selected by more than 100 different cities and colleges for community reads programs.

Kevin Wilson is the author of five novels, including bestsellers Nothing to See Here and Now Is Not the Time to Panic. His 2025 novel, Run for the Hills, was called “a touching and generous romp of a novel” by the NYT.

Rachel Yoder is the award-winning author of Nightbitch (2021), a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction and adapted into the 2024 film starring Amy Adams.