Ella

Ella (she/her) is a 21-year-old author from Salisbury, Maryland. She is an English major at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Stone Carved" is Ella's first published piece with Shout Mouse Press. Her other works include "Seven Feet Wide," awarded second place in the UMD's Inaugural 2024 Sadat Arts for Justice and Peace Program's poetry competition. She enjoys her work as a carpenter and occasional spotlight operator at UMD's theater, and spends her free time playing video games and writing. Ella plans to obtain an MFA in Creative Writing and eventually go on to publish young adult fantasy novels. She hopes readers of this anthology see themselves in its stories.

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The Light Looks Like Me

By the young writers of Shout Mouse Press

“…a balm for loneliness and validation amid an increasingly hostile political climate for LGBTQ+ Americans…” —Booklife

“The Light Looks Like Me is meaningful, moving, and often surprising as it explores different experiences of queer love.”—IndieReader

“Powerful, affirming, and important reading for young people and the adults in their lives.”—Kirkus Reviews

Amidst a fraught regime where assaults on queer and trans rights are leveraged for political clout, the voices of queer youth are more important than ever. In this anthology, 28 DC-area writers aged 13-24 share their thoughts, feelings and vulnerability through poems, stories, comics, and art exploring love in all its forms. Running the gamut from self-love, to romance, and the love they show to their family, friends, and community, their work will resonate with readers of all ages. With authors representing varied sexualities and gender identities, as well as diverse ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, this tender anthology offers hope and validation to queer young people and cultivates greater understanding in supportive allies. Foreword by award-winning YA author Malinda Lo.

This project was created in partnership with The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, SMYAL, and Split This Rock.