Girlistic Magazine contributors

Ashley Ambirge is pretty much just a wannabe pro salsa dancer, but unfortunately her feet don't seem to favor the idea. Ashley has a B.A. in Communications, another in the Spanish language and will forever be obsessed with the year she spent abroad in Costa Rica, as well as the word "hippopotamus." Visit Ashley and her new eBook, "Become a Costa Rican in 30 Minutes Flat," online at www.ashleyambirge.com.

An artist, illustrator and full time single attatchment parent in the music city, Ayjey (Ayjey Illustration) has worked with the La Leche League and Untitled Artists Group, as well as in solo gallery shows and magazine illustrations.

Jesika Babylon lives in Boston and does many odd jobs to support her habit of riding her scooter around the city, writing about anything involving women, and going on dates with anyone she can. She's been writing since she can remember, and is an ardent supporter of women's sports, animal rights, and fixing everything that's wrong with our culture today. Visit Jesika on the web.

Raven Baker enjoys the three Rs: reading, 'riting, and roller derby. Her work has appeared almost nowhere, but glimpses can be found at Beatbots and in a couple long-defunct zines.

Atessa Banda is extraordinarily opinionated and outspoken about everything going on in her immediate life and in the world around her. Always looking to express her views, it comes to no surprise to anyone who knows her that she has pursued an MA in English Literature, focusing her attentions on delivering a feminist perspective on everything she encounters. Master of her own universe, she is often heard saying, "I reserve the right to change my mind." Working today as a technical editor, she dreams of being an author one day when she grows up.

Michelle McKnight Barto lives in Southern California with her husband, two cats and soon-to-be newborn daughter. She works as a business consultant and tries not to forget everything she learned from her degree in computer science. For fun she likes cooking, sewing, driving fast cars and stumping people with long words.

Dana Bedingfield lives in Columbia SC with her husband and son and a pack of dogs and cats. Her daughter is a political professional who currently works for the John Edwards Presidential campaign, and so Dana wants you to know that if she is seen wearing the Hillary T-shirt, it is not meant as an endorsement of Senator Clinton:)

Megan Mayhew Bergman is a consultant and freelance writer who lives in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband, three dogs, and a cat. Megan has a BA in Anthropology from Wake Forest University and is now wrapping up an MA in Liberal Studies at Duke University. Megan has studied creative writing at Oxford University and will complete a writer's residency at the Millay Colony for the Arts in November. She is an occasional contributor to Bitch Magazine and the Independent; her short fiction has been featured in the Raleigh News and Observer and McSweeney's Internet Tendency .

Jen Hitomi Bond is an attorney based in Madison Wisconsin. Her firm, JH Bond Community Law Office, provides low cost legal services to immigrants, renters, and the LGBT community. You can find her on the web at: www.jhbondlaw.com

Amber Campion is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Yoga Instructor, Private Chef, and a Youth Educator. She is working on her first cookbook (CIY-Cook It Yourself: A DIY Punk Rock Approach to Wholesome Cooking). As well, she is very involved with youth empowerment, using movement and music as her tools. She developed a body awareness program (BAMM! Body Awareness through Movement & Music) that is implemented into a few all girl schools around Manhattan. Amber is also an ever evolving musician, mainly focusing on guitar and vox.

Jennifer Chen, writer & craftster, loves Brooklyn, books, sewing, yarn, knitting needles, Hello Kitty, theater, Rachel Ray, cooking, her boyfriend, and her tuxedo cat, Bentley. In addition to knitting, crocheting, and jewelry-making, she writes plays, fiction, young adult novels, and haikus. Check out her blog, Craftsters, for her latest crafty creations!

Christie Church is an editor in Washington, D.C., and a regular contributor to Beatbots.com. She lives in Baltimore, and is counting down the days till the end of her 25-hour weekly commute.

Sascha Elise Cohen is a recent graduate of UCLA's Women's Studies program and a freelance writer in Los Angeles. She has also contributed to Off Our Backs magazine.

Mara Collins has been trained as an archaeologist, a project manager, and an economist, currently works in higher education to fund her. She currently resides in the Boston area.

Kaitie Conway grew up in Chicago and recently moved to the San Francisco Bay area. She graduated in 2005 from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a degree in Sociology. She enjoys running, riding horses, working out, reading, and writing in her spare time.

Katherine Craft is a playwright and teacher currently living in Austin with her recently acquired husband. In the fall, she will leaving the sunny state of Texas to study theatre education at Goldsmiths College in London.

Chelsey Delaney is a second-year student at the University of Texas at Austin, where she studies Journalism and Woman and Gender Studies. She is currently an officer in the UT pro-choice organization and an intern for NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. She enjoys writing, graphic art and design, hip hop, and boxing.

Assemblage artist Denise DiJoseph, 47, is known for her thought-provoking works regarding the societal influences she encounters as a female human being. DiJoseph provides inspirational self-expressive workshops for the young women’s unit in a juvenile detention center. She displays her work in museum and gallery exhibitions and is a member of The National Museum of Women in the Arts and the International Society of Assemblage and Collage Artists.

Katherine Don is a freelance writer and editor living in Brooklyn, New York. She also works as an assistant editor at a nonprofit group, and in her free time salsa dances, reads, writes, and worries about the state of the American healthcare and penal systems. She plans to return to school for a dual masters in social work and public health.

Kelly Dougherty was raised in the Northwest, where she fell in love with music, math, and progressive politics. Kelly combined her love of numbers and public policy by studying Economics at Willamette University and pursuing a career examining fiscal policy. Currently living in Brooklyn, Kelly kindles her creative side by writing, playing bass, and wandering the world taking pictures.

Julie R. Enszer is a writer and lesbian activist living in Maryland. She has previously been published in Iris: A Journal About Women, Room of One's Own, Long Shot, the Jewish Women's Literary Annual, and the Harrington Lesbian Literary Quarterly. You can read more about her work at www.JulieREnszer.com and email her at

Rita Flórez is a staff writer for El Informador, a weekly Spanish-language newspaper based in Dalton, Ga.

Joel Fowler is an entertainment writer and critic who has served the Washington D.C.area for over the past four years. He's currently serves as the music editor at The Alexandria Times, a music columist for The Times Community Newspapers, and a regular contributor to the on-line sites BlownPotential.com and YTIC.com.

Stacey May Fowles' written work has been published in various magazines and journals, including Shameless Magazine, Kiss Machine, and subTERRAIN . Her non-fiction writing has been anthologized in the widely acclaimed Nobody Passes: Rejecting the Rules of Gender and Conformity and First Person Queer. She currently lives in Toronto and is the publisher of Shameless Magazine. Be Good is her first novel.

Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch is a member of the class of 2009 at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where she majors in neuroscience and minors in classical tradition. She is a sister of Zeta Omega Eta, the only feminist sorority in existence, and is a member of the executive board. She is the co-editor of Women Unite! and the Feminist Scholarship Review at the Women and Gender Resource Action Center at Trinity, and writes a feminist blog on CampusProgress.org under the name sekai.no.kakumei.

Ayla Marie Harrison is a playwright and performer. She has worked with La MaMa Experimental Theatre Co, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. Ayla earned her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Central Florida in 2006. For her upcoming digs and info on THE F-WORD visit: www.myspace.com/currentproductions

Jaymi Heimbuch is the founder and editor of Girlistic.com and Girlistic Magazine. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in Creative Writing and Women's Studies, and enjoys all forms of artistic expression. She and her partner, cat and dog live on the Central Coast of California where she volunteers for various women's groups and holds down a "real" job.

Christine Hennessey is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Library Science. When not hitting the books, she spends her time playing roller derby with the Nacogdoches Rollergirls, being walked by her 106 pound mutt Seamus, and working on first novel, which promises to be an instant cult classic. More of here writing can be found here.

Chelsey D. Hillyer is a writer based in of exotic Urbana, Illinois.When she's not watching movies, she enjoys dressing her dog in ridiculous sweaters and using entirely too much garlic when she cooks.
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Laura Jacquez is a 28 year-old ardent Deadhead, wife, student, feminist, and friend. She is entering her last year at Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Women’s Studies. Laura plans to go on to get her masters in Human Resources and Organizational Development and work with companies in her area to develop realistic women and family friendly health plans. This is her first feature article. Contact Laura via MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/feministlaura

Corey Janssen is a copy editor by day and a freelance writer by night. She lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her two Basset hounds and is currently pursuing a master's degree in English. More of her writing can be seen at The Feminist Review and on her blog, Senseless Acts of Vanity.

Jen Karetnick works as the features editor for Wine News; the dining editor for SoFlorida; the restaurant critic for MIAMI; and the Arts and Culture Expert for VISIT FLORIDA. Her poetry chapbook, Necessary Salt, is available from Pudding House Publications. You can keep up with her culinary and travel adventures at www.kitschn.blogspot.com or visit her at www.jenkaretnick.com.

Joan Kelly is the author of the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller The Pleasure's All Mine, a memoir about some of her experiences as a knee-jerk feminist working in professional domination and submission. She lives in Los Angeles.

Bess Korey is a freelance writer from Chicago. She likes to focus her work on female musicians from the past whom have not gotten their due. If you’d like to learn more about her writing, please visit her My Space page at www.myspace.com/glitterpunkgirl

Josefine Kristensen is a digital artist. In the last few years she’s been developing a voice in what and how she wishes to speak. All the aesthetic knowledge she has acquired through traditional mediums (sculpture, drawing and painting) and more modern mediums (computer) are synthesising into one. Her work also explores the synthesis of art and design.

“Why should I help you go to college? Women just get married and have babies - and you don’t need an education for that!” Susan Llewellyn admits to having chosen her first profession in part to satisfy her father’s requirement that she should choose “something practical.” After years of taking care of people (like a “good woman should”), Susan finally took a deep breath and followed her lifelong passion for history and writing. And she is happy to report that her father, who has come a long, long way, now actively supports her. (But she’s strong enough now that she’d do it whether he did or not.)

Mary Lowry has a Masters in English/Creative Writing from the University of Texas. She has worked as a forest firefighter, lifeguard, teacher, carpenter and as a counselor at a shelter for battered women.

Meghan Mac Rae will be graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this spring, with a degree in broadcast journalism. She is passionate about opening people’s eyes to the many world issues that are not covered in American media. In her free time she plays beach volleyball, racquetball, and enjoys hiking.

Johanna Madjedi is a mom, wife, manager of an IT department and admits to being a geek at heart. She recently was told she was a feminist, while all along she just thought she was simply looking out for herself. She enjoys tinkering with the written word as a no pressure hobby at random times when her head is above water.

Allison McCarthy is a junior undergraduate, double-majoring in creative writing and women's studies at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. Her short stories have previously been published in the literary magazines "Wild Child" and "The Write Side Up," as well as in the print anthology "Into Our Clothes: A Collection of Prose and Poetry" (Writer's Lair Books, 2006).This is her first feature article.

Robin Meredith writes Pretty Maids, a blog about (trying to) claim her stake in the world of freelance writing. She also wrote four plays, three of which were produced, and wrote for a now-closed literary magazine. Before that, she got a really useless degree, but she's glad she got it. She lives in San Francisco

Stephanie Nolasco is a young writer born in Washington Heights. Nolasco is currently attending Eugene Lang College in Greenwich Village and concentrating on non-fiction writing and journalism. Nolasco often dedicates her time to roaming around the city, spending time with friends in poetry readings and dedicating spare time to various writing projects. You can contact .

Tiffany Owens is a freelance writer and avid travel enthusiast, currently living in midcoast Maine. Visit TiffanyOwens.com for more information on her current writing projects and latest adventures.

Amanda Michelle Pavletich graduated from Arroyo High School in 2006, and is now attending a local college to receive an Associates in Arts. She has always loved all types of art, and plans to pursue a career in the art field. She also sews and designs her own clothing which she sells online in her Ebay store.

KL Pereira is a poet, writer, and pop culture junkie who is obsessed with cats. When she’s not writing, she pursues such radical activities such as reading, teaching, and halting the demise of cockney rhyming slang. She’s the editor of Lotus.zine and writes the column Painstakingly Thought Out Puns in Whats Up Magazine in addition to working on an M.F.A. at Goddard College.

Mary Ann Petersen is on the brink of graduating with a Master's degree in Chinese Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Before diving into the healing arts, she published articles in Advocate, Animal Wellness, and Just Out and worked as an associate producer with a national PBS gardening television program.

Mary Petrosky is a freelance writer and poet. Her feminist roots go back to the 1970s, when she was among the first women to attend Rutgers College, earning a degree in communications. In 2005, she received a Masters in Fine Arts from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Petrosky lives in San Mateo, CA, with her husband, two children, two cats and a large white rabbit.

Corey Podell is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She hails from Florida by way of Boston but will never ever leave the West Coast now that she has experienced authentic Mexican food. You can find out more about her and her writings at her website.

Becky Ramsey lives in Chicago and has recently returned to school full-time to complete her Master of Public Health degree. Prior to her return to school, Becky was a breastfeeding advocate at a national organization. Her advocacy work also includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation. While Becky loves travel, the city, film and books, she is deeply saddened by flying,traffic,Lindsay Lohan's current career, and the end of the Harry Potter series.

Tessa Rawlinson lives with her husband and daughter in Northern California. She currently is a freelance writer and works from home. You can read more of her works at her blog.

Stephanie N. Rotondo has spent the last five years writing and editing for various publications throughout the United States. She lives in Vancouver, Wash., with her husband, Reed, and their four children -- Kity and Karl, the felines; and Sydney and Luci(pictured), the canines. She is currently a financial market journalist for an e-mail newsletter based in New York.

Maddie Ruud is a performance artist and freelance writer out of Berkeley, California. Nationally Certified in Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork, and an Internationally Certified Aromatherapist, Maddie is passionate about body-mind integration, and to that end, currently pursuing her degree in psychology. A regular contributor to various underground and independent webzines, more of her work can be found on her blog at

Bonnie Rue lives and loves in Austin, TX. She is the main brain at Model Citizen Clothing When she isn't drawing or shipping off new merchandise, she is probably at her day job booking bands... but if she's lucky you can find her playing badminton in the front yard.

Juliet Bennett-Rylah is a student at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI, majoring in professional writing. Juliet is an active performer and musician, a bartender, a staff-writer for Revue Magazine, and the proud owner of a six-footed cat.

Stephanie Saujon is a happily married mother of none, living and loving in Nashville, TN. While not working at Vanderbilt University Library, she spends time reading, writing poetry, and modeling. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Middle Tennessee State University and her poetry has been published in the Louisville Eccentric Observer.

Abby Schwartz is a freelance writer living in San Diego. When not chillin' with her two fat cats, she performs as MC Flow, feminist femcee extraordinaire.

Katie Schwartz considers herself a feminish, meaning, Feminist Jew-girl. When she's not writing comedy, you can catch her obsessing over something inane, feeling guilty or second guessing herself. Though Katie isn't very third person savvy and she hates writing about herself, she's an essayist, playwright and aspiring television writer like every other Jew-broad who schlepped from New York City to Los Angeles. The only difference is she hasn’t caught silicon or skinny yet. If you want to know more about Katie, .

My name is D.R. Scott and I'm a freelance movie critic. Whether it's a noisy, testosterone-fueled, shoot-'em-up adventure flick or a moody, character-driven B&W foreign film, I'm open-minded. I just want to see a good movie that has Something To Say. Other than shouting incoherently at the TV whenever Fox News is on, I don't have any bad habits.

Deborah Semel is a visual artist and writer who is fully committed to life as a cultural producer, cultural critic and American expatriate. She is currently organizing traveling painting workshops in Turkey, where she lives with her partner and their four-legged daughter. Contact to learn more about her various projects, or read her weekly column The Basement Tapes .

Ai Shimizu is a recent Fashion school grad who reads, thinks, talks and knits too much. Her other hobbies include drawing,sitting on fences, daydreaming and astrology. She would like to meet more feminists, artists, crafters and designers and is going to start her own D.I.Y-meets-designer business soon.

Stefanie Sigurdson is a Feminist, Writer, Marketing Manager and MBA based out of Toronto, Canada. She is interested in is the changing roles of women in society and in the workforce. She applies the analytical rigor she learned in school and business to every day situations (sometimes with hilarious results). You can find her blog updated daily.

A naturalized urbanite, Laura Spence grew up in Colorado and received her undergraduate degree from universities in Denver and England. Her interests in human rights, great wine, damned good coffee, and her next big break (both in surfing terms and otherwise) have since led her to long-term stints in Central America, California and Europe. She has yet to outgrow her childhood hopes to one day change the world, and currently lives in Spain.

KRISTEN STREZO is a writer and musician currently based out of Atlanta, GA. She has covered topics such as gender equality in the classroom and nutrition and the female body. When she is not writing, she is performing and touring with her band, STREZO, whose latest album has been re-released by Stickfigure Recordings. Visit her online at: www.myspace.com/strezomusic or www.strezo.com

Emilie Tarrant has a BA in Art History from Goucher and works at LACMA. She was introduced to feminism with her first Take Back the Night rally at age 4. She became an activist of her own agency at 6 when she petitioned against the hypocrisy of Nancy Reagan campaigning to “Just Say No” while her husband’s Administration shipped cocaine into the U.S.

Shira Tarrant is a political scientist teaching women's studies at California State University, Long Beach. Her first book, When Sex Became Gender, was published in 2006. She is editing an anthology by feminist men titled Men Speak Out which will be available in November 2007.

Raechel Tiffe lives in Chicago with the two most wonderful cats on the planet. She is currently working on her masters degree in Multicultural Studies at DePaul University, where she is also a Teaching Assistant for Intercultural Communication courses. When she is not busy subverting the dominant paradigm through various forms radical activism, you can find her riding her bike, baking vegan goodies, or organizing shows for The Castaway Collective, where she lives. Raechel just released her first personal zine, "Darling and Discontent," and was able to do a reading in conjunction with Ladyfest Chicago this past fall. For now you can contact her at www.myspace.com/veganraechel.

Annie Tucker is a graduate student who writes about the portrayal and performance of disability. She lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, a cat, and a dog. She blogs at www.apekabuki.blogspot.com.

Rebecca White is features editor of Souldish. She watches words, plays her flute in the subways, and writes in pencil on her walls. She is very passionate about the future of American Healthcare.

Meika Yates is originally from Norman, OK. She has always aspired to be a freelance writer, and has graduated with a bachelor's in journalism and work as the University of Central Oklahoma's PR/News writer. She is also an aspiring freelance writer/author, focusing her attention/reflections on racism, sexism, feminism, classism and an assortment of other "isms" that shape and mold our society.

Rebekah Young is a writing professional currently residing in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. She holds a BA in English and a minor in Women’s studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.