Kennesaw State University - Emerging Student Writers

Join us in the Fourth Floor Gallery & Event Space at the Decatur Library for the Emerging Student Writers Stage! This special event features talented student writers from Georgia colleges reading their original work in 45-minute sessions throughout the day. The stage will be situated alongside The Book As Art v.13: Mixed Messages exhibit, creating a vibrant atmosphere where visual art and creative writing come together.

This event will be held on the Fourth Floor of Decatur Library. To reach the Fourth Floor, you'll need to take the elevator on the right (when you're facing the elevators--it's labeled). If the other elevator opens when you call, please take it to the third floor, exit, and press the up button again to call the correct elevator.

About the Kennesaw State University Emerging Student Writers

Reagan Brady is a 21-year-old MFA student who is new to publishing but has been writing since she was a child. She enjoys coffee, cats, and rainy weather. She has been described by friends and family as having “goblin-like qualities” in relation to her personality.

Bill Fortenberry is a seasoned journalist and health care communicator with over 40 years of experience. He began his career as a reporter, editor, and columnist for the Rome News-Tribune, a daily newspaper in Rome, Georgia. Currently, he serves as a senior communications strategist for a large, not-for-profit health care organization while pursuing a Master of Arts in Professional Writing at Kennesaw State University. Bill is the author of two novels and an occasional blogger. His first novel, Lint Head, published in 2024, draws inspiration from the characters he encountered while working in a small-town beauty shop to fund his college education. His second novel, Aunt Connie’s Old-Fashioned, New-Fangled, Electric-Powered County Road Christmas, is set to be released in October 2025. Bill and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 32 years and are proud parents of Ethan, a Nashville-based musician, singer, and songwriter, and Autumn, an elementary school teacher in Gwinnett County. You can explore his musings on faith and family on his blog at bfortenberry.com.

Laura Hoefener is a student in the Master’s in Professional Writing program at KSU with a concentration in creative writing. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from UGA and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a former children’s librarian and is currently the Youth Literacy Specialist at Bookmiser independent bookstore in Marietta, GA. Her favorite types of books are children’s picture books, poetry, and historical fiction. Much of her own writing is born out of her passions for dance, art, and the natural world. When she is not writing poetry or reading, she can usually be found ballroom dancing, hiking, or practicing yoga.

Seema Kumar, Ph.D., is a designer who now works in the technology domain and is currently pursuing her second master’s degree, an MA in Professional Writing, at Kennesaw State University. She holds a B.A. in Drawing and Painting (Hons.) and English, a Master of Design (M.Des.), and a Ph.D. Dr. Kumar has extensive, multidisciplinary experience in senior design roles and academia. Captivated by poetry and storytelling from an early age, she is passionate about exploring diverse perspectives through art, design, and the written word. Her writing includes poetry, storytelling, research, and professional communication. Her research and creative work have been published in journals and exhibited in art galleries. Originally from India, Seema has lived in the Atlanta area since 2016 and now resides in Cherokee County, where she appreciates the tall trees and lush greenery. She aims to further explore the intersection of design, technology, poetry, and storytelling to craft impactful narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Savannah Peat is a Media Relations Specialist at the University of Georgia, and this is her first semester in the MAPW program. She grew up in Georgia and earned her bachelor's in journalism from UGA. She just moved back to the peach state after five years in New Mexico, where she worked as a news producer and communication specialist. There, she published her children's book: Detective Maurice's Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Milk, which she will be reading a portion from at the event. 

Veronica Pérez is a queer creative writer and editor from Kennesaw, GA. Managing Editor of The Headlight Review, she is pursuing an MA in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University. She also holds a BA in Asian Studies and a minor in Japanese from the same institution. Her poetry is forthcoming publication in Issue 4 of wildscape. literary journal under the name Veronica Berry-Pérez. She can often be found singing, crafting, and contemplating the myriad beauties of life.

Islah Rahmaan is a writer and grad student born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, obtaining her master's degree in professional writing at Kennesaw State, focusing on creative writing and rhetoric, and composition. With a background in poetry, journalism, and creative nonfiction, she hopes to teach in the future on a University level, publish her work, and inspire others to be themselves in creative spaces.

Kelly Vislocky  is a writer with her heart in the past and eyes looking toward the future. Kelly graduated with a BA in History in 2020 during which she was trained in academic writing and research. Since graduating she has taken classes through local and online adult learning and enrichment programs in writing and editing. She began her career as a professional writer in 2022. She publishes content on multiple platforms including Substack and Medium. Kelly writes articles, personal essays, short stories, reviews, and vidcasts. She also offers freelance services in book reviews, editing, and beta reading.

Heather Voraphongphibul is a creative writer and graduate student in Kennesaw State University’s Master of Arts in Professional Writing program. She is also a Teacher of Record within the university’s English department, where she teaches English 1101 courses. Her creative work has been featured or is forthcoming in Modern Haiku, Poetry Quarterly, and Nota Bene, among others. She won Phi Theta Kappa’s 2020 Reynolds Scholarship Award for her poem “Clara’s Releve,” and she also recently self-published a children’s book with funds from the Office of Undergraduate Research. When she’s not writing or teaching, Heather loves to camp in the Smokies, sing Disney karaoke, and admire cool insects that her cat doesn’t get to first. She’s also a huge film nerd, especially when it comes to comedy and horror. Her current projects include a poetry collection, a romantic comedy film, and a presentation for the South Atlantic Modern Language Association.

Tiffany Wells (she/they) is a writer based in Georgia. They are wrapping up their MA in Professional Writing and starting applications for a PhD in Creative Writing. You can find Tiffany on social media platforms using the name: TeaWritesStuff.

Full Schedule:

• 10:00 – 10:45 AM: Emory University

• 11:00 – 11:45 AM: Mercer University

• 12:00 – 12:45 PM: Kennesaw State University

• 1:00 – 1:45 PM: Agnes Scott College

• 2:00 – 2:45 PM: Georgia State University

• 3:00 – 3:45 PM: University of Georgia

• 4:00 – 4:45 PM: Georgia College & State University

  
  

Come celebrate the next generation of writers as they share their work!