Ashley Elston
Ashley Elston is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick, First Lie Wins. First Lie Wins has been optioned for television by ABC Signature with Octavia Spencer and Krista Vernoff attached to the project. She is also the author of six YA books. Ashley lives in Louisiana with her…
Read MoreNew Orleans Writing Marathon
TWFest is proud to offer two New Orleans Writing Marathons as part of our programming. Sign up below, and continue reading for more about the NOWM. Background: In her book, Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg introduced the idea of timed writing sessions, each followed by a “read-around” where participants, one by one, shared their…
Read MoreSusan Langenhennig
Susan Langenhennig manages communications for the Southern Deltas region for The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit. Previously, she was the director of communications for the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and editor of its award-winning magazine, Preservation in Print. Prior to joining the PRC, Susan was a writer and editor for The Times-Picayune…
Read More2025 TWFest Very Short Fiction Contest Finalists
Congratulations to our 2025 Very Short Fiction Contest Winner, Runners-up, and Finalists. Thanks to our very short fiction judge, Annell López, and our contest coordinator, Morgan Hufstader. Pictured above from the top, left to right, our finalists are: Glenn Bering is the product of twelve years of Catholic school in southwest Detroit. He earned…
Read More2025 TWFest Fiction Contest Finalists
Congratulations to our 2025 Fiction Finalists, Winner, and Runners-up! Thanks to our fiction judge, Chin-Sun Lee, and our contest coordinator, Morgan Hufstader. Pictured above from the top, left to right, our finalists are: Sarah Ang is a writer from Singapore. She has won multiple international and national awards for her writing, including first place in…
Read More2025 TWFest Poetry Contest Finalists
Congratulations to our 2025 Poetry Contest Winner, Runners-up, and Finalists! Thanks to our poetry judge, Karisma Price, and our contest coordinator, Morgan Hufstader. Pictured above from the top, left to right, our finalists are: Sable Alysse is an up and coming artist hailing in from the [American] South. This young creative recently completed undergrad, earning…
Read More2025 One-Act Contest Finalists
Congratulations to our 2025 One-Act Contest Finalists, Winner, and Runners-Up! Thanks to our one-act judge, Justin Maxwell, and our contest coordinator, Morgan Hufstader. Many thanks to our One-Act Contest sponsors, Janet and Stanwood Duval! Pictured above from the top, left to right, our finalists are: Born in New York City and raised in Marietta, GA,…
Read MoreMichael Allen Zell
Michael Allen Zell is a New Orleans-based novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and playwright. His most recent crime fiction novel was The Last Shadow. Its follow-up, Black Ice, launches in April. His previous Bobby Delery series received the following accolades: The L.A. Review of Books praised with, “Zell demonstrates a gallows humor and a fine ear for…
Read MoreYlva Mara Radziszewski
Ylva Mara Radziszewski (she/they) is a traditional witch and artist of Romani and Eastern European heritage; residing in Bulbancha (New Orleans) the traditional land of the Chitimacha Nation. Their ritual and art practice are interwoven; for them magic is art and art is healing. Founder of the School of Traditional Magic, author of A Practical…
Read MorePaulina Stevens
Paulina Stevens (she/her) was raised within her Muchwaya Romani family’s fortune telling and wellness traditions. Inspired by the holistic health movement, she earned a wellness coaching certificate in 2018 and later began collaborating with nutritionists and herbalists to serve clients. She opened Romani Holistic Healing in Newport Beach, CA, a spiritual shop that also offers…
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