Editors of Issue 13.2
ISSUE 13.2
SPRING 2026
welcome
issue contents
> fiction
> nonfiction
> poetry
> art
contributors
interviews
our editors
Lead Poetry Editor | Mariele Wassom | she/her
Hello! I’m Mariele Wassom. I’m originally from Pennsylvania and am a junior studying creative writing with minors in English literature and business administration. You can read some of my own poetry in The Aubade Literary and Art Journal, Moonstone New Voices: Spring 2025 Anthology, and Apotheca Magazine. Enjoy issue 13.2!
Favorite piece: “Micro-invasive carcinoma of the right breast” by Elizabeth Fogle
Lead Fiction Editor | Emily Bailey | she/her
Hello! I’m Emily, Lead Fiction Editor for the 13.2 Issue! Majoring in Creative Writing and enrolled in the College of Education, I am like Miss Frizzle had she turned to writing about the woes of running out of outfits to wear. I’m deeply passionate about storytelling and am honored to have helped bring this issue to life. My work can currently be found through the Academy of American Poets, and I hope to continue sharing my writing in new spaces soon!
Favorite piece: “Love(d) as They Faint” by Arjun Razdan
Lead Nonfiction Editor | Lukas Fick | they/them
Hi! My name is Lukas, and I’m a Creative Writing Major. I had the pleasure of being this issue’s Lead Nonfiction Editor, and I have truly loved every moment of working on this journal. In my free time you can find me playing video games like Terraria and Hades II, writing a healthy mix of fiction and nonfiction, and debating pointless topics with my friends.
Favorite piece: “The Valley of Obligations: Impressions of Amsterdam’s Canals” by Bruce Crown
Nonfiction Art & Layout Editor | Olivia Hinton | she/them
Hello everyone! I’m Olivia, the Arts and Layout Editor for Nonfiction! I love all things literature, and that’s why I’m majoring in English! When I’m not gushing about literature, I’m all about creating concept character art and editing audios. For 13.2, I had a great time analyzing the well-crafted and photographed art pieces we recieved. I’m so happy to share them with all our readers!
Favorite piece: “The Strange Poetics of Delusion” by Lis Anna-Langston
Poetry Art & Layout Editor | Daniel Miller |
Hi! I’m Daniel, a senior English – Creative Writing student. I’ve also been involved with UMW Galleries, and work as a performance art assistant/technician. My art and writing interests combine in my sculptural bookmaking practice, and of course(!) in working as one of RR’s Arts editors.
Favorite piece: “Woodpile Reliquary” by Katherine Gekker
Poetry Copy Editor & Social Media Editor | Kitti Pierce | they/them
Hello! My name is Kitti and I am a creative writing major with a minor in entrepreneurship. I have deeply enjoyed getting to work on the journal and read about the human experience in these pieces. Enjoy the journal and I hope everyone finds something in it that they are able to connect with.
Favorite piece: “Yellow Rice” by Matt Coonan
Poetry Copy Editor | Sierra McKinley | she/her
Hi I’m Sierra, I am a Creative Writing major with a minor in journalism! I got the opportunity to be one of the copy editors for poetry and have had a blast getting to see so many original creative pieces! Hope you all find something that speaks to you in this journal!
Favorite piece: “Atmospheric Spectrum Disorder” by J.M.C. Kane
Fiction Copy Editor | Fiona Stevens | she/her
Hello, my name is Fiona. I am a senior double majoring in Creative Writing and theater. When not elbow-deep backstage, I prefer to be reading or writing anything fiction.
Favorite piece: “Discontinuation Plan” by Trae Stewart
Fiction Copy Editor | Alex Keisling | he/him
Hi! My name is Alex, and I’m currently a junior majoring in Creative Writing, with a minor in Professional Writing. I primarily write fiction, focusing on romance, fantasy, and science fiction, but I love reading all kinds of stories. I look forward to everyone reading our accepted pieces, for they were all colorful, insightful, and entertaining! Enjoy!
Favorite piece: “Junebug” by Faith Thiebaud
Nonfiction Copy Editor | Sophia Nelson | she/her
Hi! I’m Sophia, and I’m a junior double majoring in Mathematics and English Literature. I primarily write fiction, and I’m a lover of fairytales, but I had the greatest time in nonfiction. I hope you enjoy the journal!
Favorite piece: “The Groucho Debacle” by Kevin Bain
Nonfiction Copy Editor | Kam Frias | she/her
Hi! I’m Kam, one of the Copy Editors for the nonfiction team! I’m a double major in creative writing and theatre. I work in sound design and playwriting. When I’m not writing or in Klein theatre, I’m typically headbanging at a concert.
Favorite piece: “Secrets” by Judith Shapiro
Poetry Design Editor | Aaliyah Anderson | she/her
Hey! I’m Aaliyah, a Black and Asian student majoring in English: Creative Writing and American Studies. In 2024, I won the Poetry Society of America’s Student Award, and my poems appear/are forthcoming inThird Coast, The Cincinnati Review, Brink, and elsewhere. I’m deeply invested in intersectional storytelling and want to go into publishing and/or literary programming!
Favorite piece: “Abstention” by Ehsan Ahmed Mehedi
Fiction Design Editor | Elizabeth Kyne | she/her
Hi, my name is Elizabeth. Design editing has been a fascinating job thanks to the intricacies and complications of Word Press’s software, but the stories I’ve been able to put out have been more than worth it. Hopefully the journal can continue to publish meaningful pieces. I hope for more horror literature in the future.
Favorite piece: “Common Pursuit” by Joel Streicker
Nonfiction Design Editor | Lily Daichman | she/her
Hi Hi! My name’s Lily. I’m a junior majoring in English Creative Writing and Psychology. I love writing fiction of all subgenres whether is gory mystery or romantic comedy. It was such a pleasure to read all these pieces and I hope you enjoy them just as much too!
Favorite piece: “Secrets” by Judith Shapiro
Poetry Interview Editor | Annalisia Worrell | she/her
Hello! I’m Annalisia, a Junior majoring in Creative Writing. I love reading and writing poetry and I’m very excited for you all to read this new issue!
Favorite piece: “Tanka, Snow Falling” by Emi Miyaoka
Fiction Interview Editor | Kaden Crim | he/him
Hi! My name’s Kaden, the Interview Editor for Issue 13.2. I’ve worked extensively with the team with some brilliant pieces, but have most enjoyed fantasy and science-fiction submissions. Hopefully one day, I’ll send in a submission of my own!
Favorite piece: “Love(d) as They Faint” by Arjun Razdan
Nonfiction Interview Editor | Chloe McCann | she/her
Hi! My name is Chloe McCann. I serve as the Interviews Editor for the nonfiction section of the Rappahannock. I am a sophomore majoring in communication and digital studies and minoring in journalism. When I’m not writing articles and editing for our school paper, I am listening to music and podcasts. I hope readers will enjoy this issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together with my fellow team of editors.
Favorite piece: “The Strange Poetics of Delusion” by Lis Anna-Langston
The current editors of the Rappahannock Review would like to pay tribute to the groundbreaking work of the journal’s founding editors:
Sam Akridge
Alice Baldys
Kerry Blanton
Marina Bonanno
Courtney Cherico
Morgan Deacon
Danielle DeSimone
Katie Diemer
Kyle Finley
Amanda Grace
Lizzie Greene
Christine Grilliot
Colleen Huber
Melanie Jankovits
Katelyn Leboff
Elizabeth Lewan
Angela Mather
Will McCarry
Kate Ricchetti
Josh Roberts
Mike Stange
Kaci Sutton
Regina Weiss
