Whipple, Allyson: - Allyson Whipple is the author of the haiku chapbook Postcards from Texas (Cuttlefish Books,2023), as well as the free-verse chapbooks Come Into the World Like That (Five Oaks Press,2016) and We're Smaller Than We Think We Are (Finishing Line Press, 2013). Born inCleveland, Ohio, she earned a BA in English Literature at Kenyon College and an MA inEnglish Literature at Case Western Reserve University. During the 14 years that Allyson lived inAustin she was active in a range of poetry activities, including three years co-editing the TexasPoetry Calendar (Dos Gatos Press / Kallisto Gaia Press) and serving first as administrativedirector and second as board president of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review. While living inTexas she earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. Apracticing poet since the age of 13, Allyson became serious about haiku during COVIDlockdown and joined the Austin Haiku Study Group. After a move to St. Louis, she MississippiMud Daubers Haiku Study Group. She is the founding editor of Haiku Girl Summer andcurrently serves as the managing editor of Frogpond: The Journal of the Haiku Society ofAmerica, and is a Confluence councilor for the 2025-2026 year. Allyson is also at work on herhaiku reference work A Culinary Saijiki, and hosts a quarterly ginko in her neighborhood.Becan, Sarah: - Sarah Becan is a comics artist, author, illustrator and designer, and the creator of "I Think You're Sauceome", a food-centric autobiographical webcomic.Her work has appeared in various publications, including Saveur Magazine, Eater.com, Chicago Magazine, The Chicago Reader, and Tasting Table. She was awarded a Xeric Award and a Stumptown Trophy for her first graphic novel, The Complete Ouija Interviews, and her work has twice been nominated for the Ignatz Award.Becan's second graphic novel, Shuteye, was released in early 2012. In 2014, she wrote and illustrated Luna de Cuernos, a long form graphic story for Fifth House Ensemble's spring 2014 concert series.Becan illustrated the cookbook The Adventures of Fat Rice, published 2016 by Ten Speed Press, and is the coauthor and illustrator of Let's Make Ramen! (July 2019), Let's Make Dumplings! (June 2021), Let's Make Bread! (May 2024), and the author and illustrator of Let's Make Cocktails! (April 2026).
