Andrea Vepley 

I am 1 out of 6 siblings. Growing up I never really liked to read or write about anything, but when COVID hit in 8th grade the quarantine really messed with my mental health. So I turned to write about my feelings and made it into something that everyone can enjoy and possibly connect with. When I write, I tend to write about my life events that majorly affected how I think and process things and people, even today. 

Faith Curtis 

I am a junior, I'm in Choir, marching band and theater. When I graduate high school, I plan on going to a college in St. Louis to major in animal science, biology and theater, or possibly minor in theater. I'm not technically a writer, however I was walking down my street and got the inspiration to write a poem about the beauty of my neighborhood, which most people on the outside looking in don't see. 

Yara Mashaleh 

After immigrating to the US at only 8 years of age and learning to speak English in one year’s time, I started to write. Eventually, writing became my source of happiness. It gave me peace and comfort. It is where I express my emotions, my thoughts, and myself. It is my passion and I hope to inspire others to write as well. 

Amya Wren

I am a senior and this is my second and last consecutive year participating in writers week. I joined writers week because I saw it as a place to express myself and maybe connect with some peers who could understand what I was going through on some level. Writers week to me means putting myself on paper and being truly honest with who I am. 

MaKayla Keune 

Hi my name is MaKayla Keune, I am 15 years old, I like to make fiction stories including stories with powers or mystery and even plot twist. 

Matthew Welch 

Good day, my name is Matthew Welch (Matt or Mathew I don't care which). My interests are mundane and my life is Milquetoast. There is nothing note about me however here lies my one special attribute, I am broken. Grinned down into a shambling mess of emotions, broken into pieces by the monotony of life day in and out for years on end. I write for one reason and one reason only,  to ask "Am I alone or are there others alongside me?". 

Bishop Holt 

In all fairness, I really don't think there's one descriptor that encapsulates all of me. I do a somewhat wide spectrum of things, from drawing monsters and machines to writing stories. Though I would say I am a person of science, to the point of my creature designs being more speculative evolution than pure science fiction, I can certainly appreciate the fantastical.

When it comes to writing, I would say my region lies within a mesh of cosmic horror, sci-fi, and thriller, with a little comedy sprinkled in. I've always had an affinity for gritty stories with unforgiving locales and nightmarish sights to behold within them. Media such as Peter Jackson's King Kong and 9 (movie) awakened that within me long ago, and I have stuck with it since. Sometimes, I would wager embracing something hellish or feral can lead to the creation of a timeless product of one's imagination. 

Isabela Adkins 

I am a Junior at Hazel Wood West High School. I love to read and write. As I get older I hope to travel the world and own a successful business. 

Destiny Snead

Hi I am Destiny Snead. I am a junior, I am 17 and born and raised in St.Louis, MO. I have been into poetry since I was little and have been writing for about 3-4 years now. I used to get bullied in middle school so I always wrote about my feelings then instead of being sad about it I made it into poems so other people could relate. I finally expanded it to not only depressing stuff but to love stories to and that is what I will be reading.