Niki Herd grew up in Cleveland and earned degrees in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and Antioch in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in several journals and anthologies, and has been supported by organizations including Cave Canem, the Astraea Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Language of Shedding Skin, her debut collection of poems, was a finalist for the Main Street Rag Poetry Award.

Jeffrey McDaniel is the author of three books: Alibi School (Manic D, 1995), The Forgiveness Parade (Manic D, 1998), and The Splinter Factory (Manic D, 2002). His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Best American Poetry 1994 and New (American) Poets. The recipient of an NEA Fellowship, a translated volume of his poems, Katastrophenkunde, is coming out this summer on Lautsprecherverlag in Germany. He lives in Brooklyn and teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College.

Daniel S. Solis is a lifelong lover of and student of poetry. He has published three books and a cd of poetry. He has taught and performed poetry for audiences of all ages all over the US. Solis has won numerous Poetry Slam awards, including, in 2005, the Individual World Poetry Slam Championship in Oxford, England. He has also performed in London, Scotland and France. Solis is currently working with Keshet Dance Company on a multimedia performance titled “Worthy of your wild mouth, a journey through the poetry of Pablo Neruda”, the first performance of which took place at the Alvin Ailey Theater in NY City.

Luci Tapahonso grew up learning both English and Navajo in Shiprock, NM. She is a Professor of English at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she teaches Poetry Writing and American Indian Literature. Tapahonso is the author of A Radiant Curve (University of Arizona Press, 2008), Blue Horses Rush In (University of Arizona Press, 1997), Sáanii Dahataal/The Women Are Singing (University of Arizona Press, 1993), and many other books. Her poetry has been published in Diné Be Iina, Frontiers, Caliban, Sinister Wisdom, and The Beloit Poetry Journal.