A Reading to Celebrate the 2025 Graduates of the University of Baltimore MFA Program

We’re celebrating the 2025 graduates of the MFA program at The University of Baltimore! Come help launch these writers into the next stage of their careers as they share their work with us. Full list of authors to come–mark your calendars for an afternoon on the patio full of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and plenty of Baltimore camaraderie.

Drinks (alcoholic and non) will be available for purchase from the Bird in Hand Coffee & Books pop-up bar.

Featured authors: Brianna Coleman, Diana Clarke, Jack Livingstone, Kayla Tellington, Kristy Towson, Kylie Catena, Rosanne Singer, and Shay Potter.

Books will be available for sale at the event.

Yes I’m Changing by Brianna Coleman

Brianna Coleman is a Baltimore native, poet, and fiction writer. She received her BA in English & Creative Writing at UB and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore. She has poems and stories published in Amaranth. Her writing is inspired by the art and films she grew up studying. She has a passion for teaching and discovering new authors & entertainment that changes the way she views the world.

Under Water: Stories by Diana Clarke

Diana Elizabeth Clarke is a creative writer, artist, book designer, and founder of Elizabeth Publications. Her goal is to bring the world unique and impactful stories for readers to enjoy. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Science in English with a Creative Writing emphasis from Utah Valley University. Diana’s writing focuses on Weatherlore, a literary technique and literary criticism she developed that pays close attention to weather imagery and its metaphorical elements. She prefers to write women-focused literary and fantasy fiction, looking to the sky and nature for inspiration. You can visit her publishing site at elizabethpublications.com.

Trouble: a Seventies Memoir by Jack Livingston

Jack Livingston is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and educator who lives in Baltimore, Maryland and has taught at Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and Towson University. He is a regular contributor to BmoreArt magazine and has published creative nonfiction in Ligeia Literary Review. His artwork is in the Menil Collection in Houston. He holds an MFA in Studio Art from Towson University and an MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore. More information at jacklivingston.net

Cold Girls Stay Quiet by Kayla Tellington

Kayla Tellington is a writer and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland. She writes YA-centered thrillers and horror with sharp edges, and she is the Chief Editor of KayTell Ink: a literary magazine she launched in 2020. Kayla holds a BA in English with a minor in Business, as well as an MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore.

Kayla values the lifelong exchange of knowledge as a tool for growth—both personal and communal. Her goals are simple: to share, write, teach, and always strive to be a better version of herself. You can learn more at www.KayTellOnline.com.

After the Fire by Kristy Towson

Kristy Towson is a serial entrepreneur and mental health advocate. She earned her MFA at the University of Baltimore, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in English. Kristy lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her husband, Ronald. When not working and writing, she enjoys interior decorating, making music with her singing bowls, playing UNO with her family, and spending time with her two granddaughters, Hazel and Milani. www.kristytowson.com

www.instagram.com/kristytowson

www.facebook.com/kristytowson

Because I Loved You by Kylie Catena

Kylie Catena is a fiction writer based in Maryland whose work explores themes of mental health, resilience, and personal reflection. With an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore and a background in Psychology, Catena brings a unique lens to her storytelling that bridges clinical understanding with authentic human experience. Her academic foundation in Psychology and Political Science informs her nuanced approach to character development and societal contexts. Through her writing, Catena invites readers to journey through the complexities of the human mind while discovering paths toward healing and self-discovery. For more information, see her website www.kyliecatena.com

Home Theater by Rosanne Singer

Rosanne Singer is a poet and memoirist who was born in Baltimore and returned in 2019. She is an editor at Passager, a publisher of writers over 50, and for 25 years she worked as a teaching artist in the Maryland schools. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and can be found in Allium, Grist and I-70 Review, among other journals. Her collection, Little Red Dot, came out in 2018. Recent memoir appears in Baltimore Fishbowl and Fatal Flaw Literary Magazine. Since 2020 Rosanne has facilitated a memoir workshop at Roland Park Place, a senior residence in Baltimore.

Impressions of My Father by Shay D. Potter

Shay D. Potter is a visual journalist and writer with a passion for storytelling through photography, narrative journalism, and multimedia. After 20 years of service as an Army Intelligence Officer, they transitioned to pursue their love of creative writing and visual storytelling. Shay earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Baltimore, co-wrote a storytelling podcast, Crack This ShXt Open!, and a debut autobiographical novel, Two Roads Back Together. Shay resides in Glen Burnie, MD.

RSVP here!