Contributors Staff
Staff
Robert Johnson,
Johnson is a professor of justice, law, and society at American University and a widely published author of fiction and nonfiction dealing with crime and punishment. His short story, “The Practice of Killing,” won the Wild Violet Fiction Contest in 2003. His best known work of social science, Death Work: A Study of the Modern Execution Process, won the Outstanding Book Award of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Sonia Tabriz,
Tabriz is an award-winning honors student at American University majoring in Law & Society and Psychology. She is a published author of fiction and commentary as well as an artist. Tabriz serves as Editor-In-Chief of Tacenda Literary Magazine. She has also designed the text for both Origami Heart and A Zoo Near You.
Liz Calka,
Calka is an award-winning photographer and undergraduate student at American University majoring in Visual Media and minoring in Graphic Design. She created and maintains the BleakHouse website. Calka also designed the covers for Origami Heart and A Zoo Near You, BleakHouse Publishing books.
Susan Nagelsen,
Nagelsen is a Professor of Writing at New England College. A prolific writer and editor, Nagelsen's most recent book is Exiled Voices: Portals of Discovery (New England College Press).
Rachel Cupelo,
Cupelo is a graduate student at American University, majoring in Justice and Public Policy. Her short story, "A Cycle of Casualties," and her award-winning poem, "Execution Man," appeared in the 2008 edition of Tacenda Literary Magazine.
Christopher Dum,
Dum is a doctoral student in Criminal Justice at University at Albany, Statue University of New York. His poem, "Hey, CO," and his short story, "The Monument," were published in Tacenda Literary Magazine.
Erin George,
George, a life sentence inmate, has received a PEN Award and a Tacenda Literary Magazine Award, both for poetry. Her first collection of poetry, Origami Heart, was published by BleakHouse Publishing.
Victor Hassine,
A life sentence prisoner, now deceased, Hassine is best known for Life Without Parole (4th edition; Oxford Univeristy Press) and The Crying Wall (WilloTrees & Infinity), a book of fiction he co-edited and which features serveral of his short stories and plays. Hassine is the recipient of a PEN Award for his short stories.
Charles Huckelbury,
Huckelbury is a life sentence inmate and a widely published poet. His first collection of poetry, Tales From The Purple Penguin, was published by BleakHouse Publishing. Huckelbury also writes an op-ed column for the Concord Monitor.
Shirin Karimi,
Karimi is an award-winning honors student at American University majoring in Literature and pursuing the Pre-Medical Program. She is a writer for the Catalyst science magazine, a chemistry research assistant, and a volunteer at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Chris Miller,
Miller is a award-winning writer specializing in poetry and nonfiction prose. A collection of his poetry won the Gold Key award at the Scholastic Writing Competition in 2007. He also selected and introduced BleakHouse Publishing book, A Zoo Near You. Miller maintains a strong interest in prison reform and often uses writing as a means to advocate for those whose voices remain unheard. He hopes to become a criminal defense attorney.
Jonas Varnum,
Varnum is an Honors student at American University studying Law and Society. His focus is on cultural law and his studies have led him to write several fictional pieces, including the play Just a Formality. Jonas is an Associate Editor for Tacenda Literary Magazine.
Melissa Lang,
Lang received her Master's Degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. Reading and editing fiction are her favorite hobbies, and her deepest commitment is to the publication of fiction that explores the contours of social justice in modern society.
