MyrtleHaus Books & Publishing

GEM MILLER

Gem Miller (they/them) stands as a luminary from the heart of St. Louis, their intellectual voyage crowned by an English Literature degree from Webster University. Within the realm of their craft, Gem's narratives unfurl like petals, casting a poignant light on family bonds and the scars of religious trauma. Amidst the tides of their work, the relationship between spirituality and gender becomes a compelling narrative undercurrent.

JAVIN HENRY

Javin Devaughn Andraus Henry (he/him) has carried his ardor for expression across the stages of his life. From his boyhood days, his love affair with creativity found voice through a myriad of channels: drawing, painting, short stories, and the harmonies of music. As time unfurled its chapters, his focus shifted toward the melodies of music, until an accidental embrace of poetry during a college creative writing course illuminated new dimensions of his artistic journey.

CHELSEA JENKINS

Chelsea Jenkins (she/her) is a girl who appreciates the simple things while working hard for the extravagant life she’s destined to live. She’s degree’d, employed, blessed, and grateful to say the least, and she’s trusting God to do the rest. A focused writing & web professional during the week and a living, breathing Bratz doll on the weekends, life’s good and getting better for the 28-year-old. Just like many other millennials of today, she’ll admit, “life be life-ing”. Nonetheless, as an optimist at heart, she always looks on the bright side.

SARAH THOMPSON

Sarah Thompson (she/her), a captivating blend of photographer and illustrator, has dedicated the past years to crafting her artistry. Her journey unfolded through the tactile medium of 35mm film, and in a recent chapter of her creative evolution, she has begun developing and scanning her own negatives from the comfort of her home.

While her current address lies in the vibrant pulse of Los Angeles, her origins span the city of St. Louis and the serene landscapes of Cambridgeshire, England. In her creative realm, Sarah employs photography as an intimate lens to distill the poetry of everyday life, documenting moments that become threads weaving the fabric of human connection.

AMBER LAURENT

Amber Laurent (she/her) finds solace in the company of her feline companion, often sharing quiet moments on the patio with a cigarette in hand. Embracing the art of rejuvenating catnaps and immersing herself in the realm of YouTube, she paints her leisure time with hues of relaxation. Recently, the palette of watercolors has become her favored avenue of creative expression. Within her artistic endeavors, Amber is dedicated to the "everyday", capturing relatable vignettes with a playful vitality that's underscored by an elegant finesse.

BEE BAUMSTARK

Bee Baumstark (they/them), an 18-year-old prodigy of the digital canvas, emerges from the embrace of Saint Louis. With a kaleidoscope of creativity at their fingertips, Bee conjures enchanting and vivid illustrations that dance with whimsy. Drawing from a wellspring of inspiration that encompasses everything from folklore to high fashion and graphic storytelling, Bee's artistic signature becomes a mirror reflecting their human experience and life narrative.

CAITLIN METZ

Caitlin Metz (they/them) is a queer parent, a wayward design professor at Maryville University, a delightfully chaotic online teacher, an accidental author, a perpetual mark-maker, and a spicy introvert living their best life from a hammock while parading about the internet as an extrovert. They're captivated by the sky, will always say yes to pizza, and are waiting for you to sign up for a Brain Orgy to talk all about your creative practice.

They also house their work on Patreon which is available on a sliding scale from $5-25 a month, with an archive of their work dating back four years, and a monthly online gathering, plus all the shit they keep making.

ERIN ROUX

Erin Roux (she/her) is an autistic writer, amateur comedian, and stage actress who obviously works for free, living in the stomach of Illinois, surrounded by prairie and corn sweat. She has a creative writing degree that almost barely relates to her current corporate job. Her work appears in After Hours, Crook and Folly, and The Rectangle, and she was a semi-finalist at the 2019 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards.

ANNA FELIXIDOCIOUS

Anna Felixidocious (they/she), a ranger witch nurtured at the confluence of the Mississippi & Missouri Rivers, stands as a testament to the enchanting energies of the natural world. Embracing roles as a practicing witch, intuitive guide, bodyworker, prolific writer, and devoted parent, Anna weaves their intricate tapestry in the heart of South City, St. Louis, Missouri.

Their social media channels are great avenues to witness this blossoming interplay of art, mysticism, and community.

SOPHIA ASHER

Sophia Asher (she/her) is a 22-year-old film photographer hailing from St. Louis, MO. As August approaches, she prepares to journey back to California, where she will embark on her final year of undergraduate studies, delving into the realm of healing the mind and spirit through the avenues of creative expression. Gazing ahead, she envisions not only a path paved by photography, but also dreams of attaining her yoga teacher certification. Her aspirations encompass collaborating with retreat centers and utilizing the potent fusion of yoga and creativity to facilitate healing in others.

RENAE ADAMS

Renae Adams (she/they) is an advocate and artist, a singer and songwriter, an actress and an auteur, a comedienne and composer, a director, event planner, filmmaker, gardener, host, illustrator, ‘jill’ of all trades, lyricist, model, never to confine to one label such as painter, poet, producer, she is a renaissance woman, or rather, a ‘Renae’-ssance ‘hue’-man. Renae has studied performance art at Washington University in St. Louis, Marymount Manhattan College, and Actors Studio London. Honored to have lived and performed professionally on both stage and screen in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Dublin, Ireland, she is grateful to again call Saint Louis her home and wholeheartedly believes that our entire city lives up to the Forbes Magazine title of “the most exciting emerging arts district in America”.

SHAELEE COMETTANT

Shaelee Comettant (she/her) is a multifaceted artist and writer, currently residing and crafting in the vibrant locale of St. Louis, MO. Her artistic pursuits delve deeply into the intricate dynamics between our memories and physical presence. Shaelee's artistic expressions vividly capture the multifaceted process of memory formation and conservation, while also underscoring the profound significance these personal narratives assume in our everyday existence. Through the adept utilization of mediums such as printmaking, photography, installation, and memoir, her portfolio transforms into a haven that safeguards her own narrative with care.