Contributor

Ashley Wilda

Ashley Wilda is a writer living in eastern Virginia. They particularly enjoy writing young adult fiction and poetry but love reading any work whose words sing and whisper magic to the reader. Their debut novel The Night Fox, a YA magical realism tale written in poetry and prose about mental health and nature, was published in 2023 with Penguin Random House, and her following YA contemporary novel, Cleave, will be published by Penguin in 2026. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In addition to writing, they love rock climbing, exploring the mountains, creating art, and adventuring with their husband, Ethan, and rescue pup, Phoenix. Find Ash on Instagram: @ashleywilda_ or at www.asheywilda.com.

Dandelion Dreamer

Ashley Wilda

Dandelion root. Pulled up from the tired grass. Shake the dirt loose. Rinse in the creek. Chew. Bitter. So bitter. I wonder why I did it… maybe I thought it would taste like the rest of the plant. Like the milky, squeaky stalks that taste like spring green. Like the silky, fluttery heads that peel […]

Hollow

Ashley Wilda

Here’s what I have learned. The holes don’t go away, but something else moves in. You’ve been hollowed out, a cracked oak yanked wide open by unyielding, unforgiving hands, They don’t care what they break as they scoop out the most precious, spongy part of you and squeeze. As the footsteps fade, and the ache […]

Jericho

Ashley Wilda

One crisp autumn morning, Cary Zeiglman almost punched a twelve-year-old in the face. Emphasis on almost. She didn’t, but she comforted herself with the fact that she could have if she had really wanted to. Instead, she plastered a smile on her face, reminded the snotty little twerp that yes, he did have to wear […]