Saraciea J. Fennell & Desiree Evans

Saraciea J. Fennell is a Brooklyn-born Black Honduran American writer, publicist, and social entrepreneur based in the Bronx. She is the founder of The Bronx is Reading, a community initiative that promotes literacy and cultural engagement through various events and programs. Additionally, she created Honduran Garifuna Writers, a platform celebrating the literary contributions of Garifuna authors. As a book publicist, Saraciea has worked with numerous award-winning and bestselling authors. She has also co-edited anthologies such as Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed and the young adult horror anthology The Black Girl Survives in This One. Saraciea’s writing and commentary appear in several publications, and she serves on advisory boards dedicated to supporting Latinx and people of colour in publishing.

Desiree S. Evans is an award-winning writer, scholar, and activist from South Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans. She writes fiction for children, teens, and adults, often incorporating elements of the supernatural and cultural heritage into her stories. Desiree holds an MFA in Fiction, along with degrees in journalism and international affairs. Her creative work has been nominated for prestigious awards and published in various literary journals. Desiree is also a co-editor of The Black Girl Survives in This One, a young adult horror anthology that has gained notable recognition.

Together, Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans co-edited The Black Girl Survives in This One, a groundbreaking anthology of young adult horror stories that center Black girls as protagonists. This collection challenges traditional genre conventions by amplifying diverse voices and experiences within horror. The anthology has been praised for its contribution to diversifying the genre and was featured at major literary events.

Both Saraciea and Desiree are committed to fostering representation and equity in literature, using their voices to highlight underrepresented perspectives and inspire new generations of readers and writers.