iō has two distinct origins
Greek Mythology: iō’s role in Greek mythology represents both transformation and displacement. She was first altered from her physical form into a white heifer and later wandered the world after being exiled from Argos, her home. Her bodily and spatial banishment speaks to iō Lit’s focus on the theme of marginalization and those considered “other” who inhabit the sociopolitical outskirts.
Gemology: The mineral iolite has many interpretations, some of which include its ability to release creativity. Iolite’s physicality also attests to its multifaceted nature; when one turns this gemstone, it exhibits three colors in three different directions.
iō Lit aims to embrace all forms of creative writing and artistic expression, even those works that expand the genre beyond conventional interpretations. In doing this, we hope to showcase the spectrum of experience of all people, especially those in underrepresented groups whose voices are silenced in mainstream culture. Diversity is present on the surface, but it isn’t until perspectives are bent that inequality becomes visible. Three diverse women came together in 2018 to found iō Lit, an annually published journal that will highlight voices that do not conform to traditional expectations of creativity.
Founding Editors |
Meet the women behind the journal
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Crystal, Isabelle, and Laura met as undergraduate English students at the University of South Florida. Their friendship blossomed over the years and, under the tutelage of a great mentor, so did their love for multicultural literature. After a few years of talking about creating a literary journal, they finally took the leap in 2018.
Crystal Bonano
Crystal returned to Tampa, FL, May 2019 after graduating with her master's in TESL. She currently works a little too much, juggling jobs as an adjunct EAP instructor and remote social media manager while focusing on iō and reading/writing YA in her spare time. An avid gamer, Crystal plays ungodly hours of Genshin Impact when procrastinating.
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Isabelle Cavazos
Isabelle holds a master's in Teaching English as a Second Language and resides in San Antonio, TX, where she enjoys running, reading (mostly) nonfiction, writing, and going on long, breezy walks with her pup, Nadia.
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Laura Flores
Laura holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of South Florida, with a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean studies. She currently lives in California, where she will be starting law school in the fall of 2019 at the University of California, Irvine.
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