Fiction
Bayo Aderoju is a writer from Nigeria. His work is found and forthcoming in Agbowo, Stellium, Brittle Paper, Africa in Dialogue, and Michigan Quarterly Review.

POETRY

Lily Kate Anthony is a third-year MFA candidate at the University of Memphis and the current art editor for the Pinch. She is a lifelong Memphian, a lover of Beale Street, a collector of crystals, and a tarot card reader, featuring both her hometown and her love of divination in her fiction.

FICTION

Emily Binkley is a second year MFA candidate in the University of Memphis' creative writing program. Her fiction is self-described as realism with speculative influences. When she isn't writing, she is working at the local animal shelter. She lives with her dog Cooper and cat Fango.

NONFICTION
Joshua Carlucci is the Poetry Co-Editor of The Pinch Journal. He is a current MFA candidate in the creative writing program the University of Memphis. He writes essays, nonfiction, and poetry. His food journalism has been published in local publications, such as The Daily Memphian and Edible Memphis. He loves cooking, running, and playing with his cat.

POETRY

Marissa Corleone is studying to get her MFA in poetry. For Corleone, words are not just written things - they are physical manifestations that have impact, weight, and sound. A large portion of her own work relies on this interplay of textures. She hopes to provide her readers with a unique sensory experience with each piece and is currently working on her first graphic poetry anthology.

When not writing, she can be found collecting retro video games or taking a good nap with her dog Roxxy."

POETRY

Mia Day is a poet and writer from central Mississippi who currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee. She is studying to get her MFA with a concentration in Poetry at the University of Memphis. Scheduled to graduate in May of 2024, Mia aims to publish her poetry collection that is currently in progress. Dog mom of two, Mia’s work has been featured in Sledgehammer Literary Magazine, Adanna Literary Journal, The Champagne Room Literary Journal, as well as Black Fox Literary Journal. Follow her poetry page @by_mia_d on Instagram!

POETRY

Bethany Rose Datuin is a Filipino American poet based in Tennessee. She is currently completing her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. A firm believer in food as a source of comfort and inspiration, her work focuses on identity as it is defined by culture, love, and cuisine. When she is not penning new poems, her sights are usually set on watching underrated television shows, trying out tabletop roleplaying games, and baking whatever she possibly can.

FICTION

Victoria is a second year MFA Fiction writer working on a few current projects. In her free time, she can be found staying up late watching anything comedy or horror.

FICTION

K.M. Hardwick’s work has been featured in MTSU’s literary magazine, Off Center, The Bangalore Review, and SHIFT: A Publication of MTSU Write. She is currently a second-year MFA student in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis and is set to graduate in 2024. She enjoys writing and reading psychological thrillers featuring female protagonists.

POETRY

Aether is a poet working on their thesis of love, decay and longing at the University of Memphis’ MFA program. Their work has been featured in Hunger Mountain. They are the poetry editor for UofM’s literary journal, The Pinch. When they are not writing or reading at least three books at a time they can be found working out or on the phone with their friends.

POETRY

J Clark Hubbard is a poet/teacher/bartender simply existing in West TN with his partner, Abbey. He is an MFA candidate in Poetry at the University of Memphis, where he also teaches & works as Contest Coordinator for The Pinch—U of M’s literary magazine. During his free time, Clark bartends & serves as the Interview Editor for Beaver Magazine. He can be found on social media @jclarkhubbard & online @ jch.news.

POETRY

Obiageli A. Iloakasia is a Writer, Social Critic, Changemaker, and Volunteer. She is the author of two books of poetry (October Blues, 2021 and Kàmbílí, 2022) Obiageli is a semi-finalist for the 2022 SprinNG Women Authors Prize, for her book, Kàmbílí. Her works have appeared in Poetry Potion, The Hearts Magazine, SpringNG, and elsewhere. She is very passionate about Leadership, Teaching, and Learning. Obiageli is from Nigeria.

POETRY
Denise Kerlan is snail-blazing her way through her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. Born and raised in the mid-south, Denise holds a BA in English from the University of Tennessee and a BS in just about everything else.

When she’s not writing, you can find her shaking her sass all over Memphis as a Zumba instructor and spending time with her crazy family and not-so-miniature schnauzer, Petunia.

Currently, Denise’s work can be seen in Word Travels—a sidewalk poetry collection that’s also featured on the Memphis Greenline. She hopes her poetry finds its way into your hands and beyond in the near future.

FICTION

Baylee Less is pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis and is writing her first novel. She loves fiction in all its forms, but lengthy historical fiction novels will always win the 1st place prize in her heart. She currently serves as the Director of Development for Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab and on the Board of Directors for Music Export Memphis. During her free time, she enjoys traveling to small towns with no cell reception, cooking delicious vegan food, and hanging out with her husband, Monte, and their cat, Miso.

FICTION

Gloria Mwaniga Odary is a writer and educator from Nairobi, Kenya. Her fiction has appeared in, or is forthcoming from Mukana Press, Isele Magazine, The Johannesburg Review of Books, The White Review and elsewhere. She has published book reviews and author interviews in The East African and the Nation newspapers. Mwaniga has also written children’s books, school textbooks and business articles. Her writing has been awarded the Miles Morland Writing Scholarship and the African Land Policy Centre Story Prize.

FICTION
Liberty O’Neill is a third-year MFA student at the University of Memphis with a BA from the University of South Florida in English and philosophy. Her fiction has been published by Thread Literary Inquiry, Z Publishing House, and her self-published zine Get Well Soon. Aside from writing, finds joy by spoiling her pet hamster, Everglade, and talking to alligators wherever she may find them.

FICTION

Chelsea Panameño (she/her) is a first-generation Salvadoran-American writer, bookworm, and videogame enthusiast. Born in Newark, NJ as the second of four children, she now lives in Memphis, TN. She graduated summa cum laude from Christian Brothers University, where she double-majored in English and in Creative Writing. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction at the University of Memphis. She enjoys writing about magic, mythology, queerness, and everything in-between. When she isn’t writing, she also enjoys tabletop roleplay games, listening to horror podcasts, and trying not to kill plants. Her short story “Before the Sea Foam is Gone” won second place in the Fiction category of the 2023 Southern Literary Festival, and her story “The Lamb Leads Itself to Slaughter” won first place in the Castings Fiction contest, where she has published several other short stories.

POETRY

Sabrina Spence is a second-year MFA student at the University of Memphis as well as the Event Coordinator for Pinch. Sabrina holds a BA in English (Creative Writing) from Washington University in St. Louis. Her poetry has appeared in Beyond Words, Waxing & Waning, NonBinary Review, and Papeachu Review, as well as some WashU student publications. She was shortlisted for Palette Poetry's 2023 Resistance and Resilience Prize. When not writing, she can be found watching copious amounts of Star Trek, talking about stage managing, or enjoying being back in her hometown of Memphis, TN.

FICTION

Jacob Williams is a writer, student, and older brother from St. Louis, Missouri. He hopes that by writing, like dreaming, meditating, or going to therapy, that the world will make more sense for everybody involved and be easier to enjoy. And by reading this, he truly believes you are helping, so thank you! Currently, he studies at the University of Memphis, alongside teaching and working as a lead fiction editor for The Pinch Journal.

FICTION
Sam Williams is a first-year MFA student at the University of Memphis. A Memphis native, she received her BA from the University of Memphis in the Spring semester of 2022. In her fiction, one will find frequent exploration of safe spaces, and what it means to find strength in community, especially for those who face widespread and systemic alienation. Most of her free time is demanded by her 1.5-year-old dog, Juniper, but when she manages to get a spare second, she can be found taking her car for music-listening joyrides and ordering caramel frappes from McDonald’s to-go. If she is not doing either of these things, she is most likely watching Tigers or Grizzlies basketball.