featured authors
Robert Anthony Gibbons
*Robert Anthony Gibbons, a native Floridian, migrated to New York in 2007 in search of his muse Langston Hughes. He has been published in over thirty literary magazines and several notable anthologies. His first collection of verse, Close to the Tree was published in 2012. Subsequently, his chap books, You Almost Home, Boy (2019) and Flight (2019.) His most recent published work; Some Little Words (2021) is inspired by the words of Zora Neale Hurston's writings. It is a collaboration with visual artist Amy Williams. Robert is an Obsidian and Cave Canem Fellow. He received residencies from both Norman Mailer Foundation and the DISQUIET International Literacy program. He completed his MFA at City College. Robert has made and continues to make featured performances at various venues abroad, New York City and other parts of the country.
Instagram: @anthonyrobertgibbons
*The Official host of FATA Events.
Tantra-Zawadi
Brooklyn-born, award winning, international performance poet and recording artist, Tantra-zawadi is a 2020 Brooklyn Arts fund grantee.
She is the author of three books of poetry: alifepoeminprogress (Chuma Spirits Books), Gathered at Her Sky, Bubbles: One Conscious Breath (Poets Wear Prada).
A passionate educator and instigator, she has collaborated with the Senegal America Project. Dr. Muzvare Makoni GirlChild Network Worldwide
and Black Art in America.
To learn more or hear her latest house music releases,
please visit: http://tantrazawadi.com or
https://www.traxsource.com/artist/29323/tantra-zawado
Shari Bailey
New York native, Shari Bailey, has worked with young adults in Brooklyn NY for over 13 years in educational and career development. Her first work published in 2011, Life Love & Liberty is a collection of poems. Ensued by The Prelude (2013) and Tainted Souls on the Horizon (2015.) In April of 2020, Bailey self-published her memoir F-A-T: For the Woman Who Looked In the Mirror and No Longer Saw Beauty. Shari describes F-A-T as a hybrid between self-help and autobiographical. “It’s a slim narrative, sure to make a big impact!” She received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her Masters from DePaul. Instagram: @ f_a_tmemoir
Poetic Melody
Poetic Melody considers herself a Modern-Day Shakespearean Poet, with a little hint of Edgar Allen Poe. Writing since she was 9 years old, Melody found solace and comfort in words. She soon came to realize that she was able to help put into words what others couldn’t. As a child, she created the stage name “Bronx Baroness of Poetry” but felt she didn’t have what it took to deserve the title, just yet. “Like B.B.O.P, I’m Rock Steady, says Melody and from there, Poetic Melody was created. Her life-long dream has been to re-create the style of poetry in a way that changes the way we perceive the world around us.
Instagram: @bronxbaronessofpoetry
Amaryllis Maritza Greene
Amaryllis Maritza Greene is the teenage author of The Stolen Princess (under the pen name K.O.) and Poets Are Children Too! She is also a model and aspiring actress. Amaryllis envisions being on the big screen as a lead in a famous movie. She is also an activist. Most notably, at 9 years old, she challenged Mayor Bill DiBlasio at a Queen’s town hall meeting to answer tough questions. It was covered by and featured on NY’s NBC News and can be seen online. Amaryllis believes that children are the next generation and they deserve to be in the know in order to help make this world a better place. She enjoys martial arts, reading, painting and great food!
Instagram: @amaryllis.greene524
Ramsey Kasse
Native New Yorker, Ramsey Kasse (aka RK) is a Spoken Word Artist
advocating for Mental Health and the prevention of domestic violence and childhood neglect. Using writing as a tool for self expression, RK began her craft at the age of twelve. At seventeen, she was introduced to the world of spoken word by a professor who saw potential in her writing. Here she found her home never left this art form of expression since. Now at twenty three, RK is the author of her 1st book, Shattered Beauty in the Loss, a collection of poems that encapsulates mental health, addiction and self victimization. Currently RK is a host for Sofa Soul by Souletri Family and performs at various venues throughout New York City.
Deneise Jennings-Houston
Deneise Jennings-Houston, pen-named djHouston has been writing poetry for 40 plus years. She has one self-published Poetry collection entitled Matter of Time. She also has a new and emerging body of work entitled Almonds Must Be Banned with poems written since 2010.
Zena Aset Zechariah
Zena Aset Zechariah is a published author and writer from Brooklyn, New York, currently living in Harrisburg, PA. As an avid poet, poetic spoken word artist and recovery aficionado, she publishes words of healing through cutting-edge writing about Aboriginal LGBTQ culture. Zechariah is CEO of Aset Zechariah LLC., a Metaphysical Spiritual Counseling Service.
Gina Lynn Pearson
After nearly eighteen years in the child welfare and children’s mental health system, Gina Lynn Pearson attended Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where she obtained her master’s degree in Social Work with an area of emphasis in Child Welfare Management. Currently, she is the New Jersey Statewide Youth Ambassador. When she is not advocating for those most vulnerable via her work, Gina Lynn travels the tri-state, speaking to young people, families, providers, stakeholders, and professionals, speaking of her lived-experience, enhancing the youth voice(s), and trauma informed care. Gina Lynn is a freelance makeup artist, nail tech, and hairstylist. Gina Lynn is also a plus size actress, model, and spoken word artist who lives by finding the intersection of one’s passion and the potential for world-shaping positive impact.
Learn more about Gina on Instagram: @ginalynnpearson
Daphne Denis (aka Dee Journey)
A native Brooklynite, Daphne has always had a passionate love for storytelling as a performing art for as long as she can remember. She was regarded as a soft-spoken child. Then, a transformation occurred that led her to be called upon by the spirits through dreams. Manifested by adulthood, she is grateful to be utilized as a portal to give voices to the voiceless spirits and transform their words, ideas, messages into a symbolic performance. Her most recent work was published in the Power in the Pen 2020/2021 anthologies. A Whispering Rage (2020) and Save The Children (2021) is a collection of spell-binding story-writing performances. She was recently featured in the PNMC Debut Readers Series: Highway 8 as the leading protagonist. Ms. Denis is a practicing licensed clinician and has recently advanced to a doctoral candidate. She is presently working on her first novel entitled, I Am Ayiti which will be released in 2022.
Instagram: @journeydaphne
Support Pen to Passion
Your help enables us to meet our goals and maintain our high-quality standards. Thank you for your generous donation, which funds our mission to showcase new literary art.
WE NEED YOU
Various opportunities exist to engage with The FATA Fund, including volunteering and contributing financially. By becoming part of our community, you can assist in creating positive change in individuals' lives via the transformative power of the arts.