Alahna Vallone is a poet in her senior year of Creative Writing at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. She focuses on confessional poetry and poetic fiction. Alahna’s an alumni of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference. Her work discusses womanhood, lost youth, and the tragedies we witness, and has been recognized by Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and First Coast Young Voices. 

Vallone will read her work at in the Student Showcase, which starts at 3 pm in the Main Auditorium F-128.

JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival X, a celebration of Jacksonville Writers Writing Jacksonville, will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1, 2, and 3, 2023 at FSCJ’s Kent Campus, 3939 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32205. JaxbyJax is grateful to our generous sponsors: FSCJ, Alternate Roots, Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, 904WARD, Chamblin’s Bookmine and Uptown Café, Jacksonville Literary Arts Alliance, Bab’s Lab, JaxPsychoGeo, San Marco Books and More, Scribbles, and Brad Kuhn & Associates, LLC.

Ben Atkinson’s first poetry collection, Spider Lightning explores human nature – with a deep reverence for all things wild. His work has appeared in A.C. PAPA, Cadence, Chelonian Conservation and Biology, Facets, FM Quarterly, Stockpot, and other outlets. A Flagler College assistant professor of natural sciences, his research focuses on the conservation ecology of tortoises and freshwater turtles. Ben has taught Ecopoetics workshops at MOCA and a class for Flagler’s Honors Program.

Atkinson will read his work on Saturday, December 2nd at 12:15 PM in the Main Auditorium F-128.

JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival X, a celebration of Jacksonville Writers Writing Jacksonville, will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1, 2, and 3, 2023 at FSCJ’s Kent Campus, 3939 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32205. JaxbyJax is grateful to our generous sponsors: FSCJ, Alternate Roots, Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, 904WARD, Chamblin’s Bookmine and Uptown Café, Jacksonville Literary Arts Alliance, Bab’s Lab, JaxPsychoGeo, San Marco Books and More, Scribbles, and Brad Kuhn & Associates, LLC.

The JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival wishes to thank Alternate Roots for the generous grant that made this year’s event possible. Here is their mission: “Alternate ROOTS supports the creation and presentation of original art that is rooted in communities of place, tradition or spirit. We are a group of artists and cultural organizers based in the South creating a better world together. As Alternate ROOTS, we call for social and economic justice and are working to dismantle all forms of oppression—everywhere.”

As Jacksonville writers writing Jacksonville, the participants in JaxbyJax epitomize the creation and presentation of original art that is rooted in a community of place, tradition, and spirit – our hometown.

Come celebrate 10 years of JaxbyJax Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at FSCJ Kent Campus. Go here for details: https://www.jaxbyjax.com/

Jenna Cox grew up in Jacksonville and attends UNF as a first-year grad student. After obtaining her B.A. in English, she decided to persue her master’s degree to watch Jacksonville adapt and the UNF writing program grow–and unlock the stories hidden on the home front. Jenna has been an avid reader and writer since childhood and credits her supportive English teachers and family for her success. In her free time, she can be found exploring various pockets of Jax with friends.

Cox will read her work in the Student Showcase at 3 PM in the Main Auditorium F-128.

JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival X, a celebration of Jacksonville Writers Writing Jacksonville, will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1, 2, and 3, 2023 at FSCJ’s Kent Campus, 3939 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32205.

JaxbyJax is grateful to our generous sponsors: FSCJ, Alternate Roots, Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, 904WARD, Chamblin’s Bookmine and Uptown Café, Jacksonville Literary Arts Alliance, Bab’s Lab, JaxPsychoGeo, San Marco Books and More, Scribbles, and Brad Kuhn & Associates, LLC.