Haley is 24 years old, a graduate of Smithsburg High School, and a U.S. Army Veteran. She is currently an English major at Frostburg State University with a focus in creative writing. She plans to enroll in the MAT program to obtain her Masters in Arts and Teaching to become an English Professor.
Haley enjoys many forms of art including poetry, fiction writing, music, video games, and performance theatre.
She is grateful for the opportunity to be Editor-in-Chief and hopes you enjoy this years issue!
Zaria Holmes
Zaria is a 21 year old senior at Frostburg State University. Having a degree and minor in Mass Communication and Graphic Design, she was able to create Bittersweet Issue 36 of Spring 2024 before graduating.
Estella Lepore Estella Lepore is a Junior at Frostburg State University studying English with a concentration in creative writing. Estella plans to publish a poetry chapbook about grief and loss called the love remains. She also plans to publish an autobiographical collection of essays and poems about navigating identity and love after sexual assault, yet to be titled.
Aurora Mahoney Assistant Editor
Aurora is 20 years old, a graduate of Bishop Walsh School, and a current sophomore here at Frostburg State University. She is happy to be following in the footsteps of her great grandfather who graduated from FSU in 1929 by working in publishing for the college. Aurora is an English major with a focus in creative writing. Already, Aurora has written and published two YA novels, with the most recent book being released in April of 2024. You can find her books in local bookstores as well as online!
Although school, work, and writing keeps her plenty busy, Aurora loves to spend any free time she has performing in local theatres as well as relaxing in coffee shops.
This is Aurora’s second year working with Bittersweet and she is once again grateful to be a part of the team, and hopes everyone enjoys issue 36 of Bittersweet!
Lucy Randall Lucy is 20 years old, and graduated from Damascus High School in Damascus, MD. She is a Social Work major and a minoring in creative writing at Frostburg State.
She owns two cats Butterscotch and Latte
Pyper Saeler
Mary Wolodkin
Mary is a major in English with a concentration in professional writing. She serves in the FSU Center for Literary Arts and is quite fond of her two cats and the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
Gerry LaFemina Faculty Advisor
Gerry is a graduate of Sara Lawrence College and holds a MFA in Poetry from Western Michigan University as well as an MA in Literature with an emphasis on Twentieth-Century Literature from WMU.
Gerry has taught at Kirtland Community College, West Virginia University, Wheeling Jesuit University, Sara Lawrence College, as well as Frostburg State University.
Gerry is known for his work in poetry, fiction, and music.