Born in Honolulu, raised in Houston, Elizabeth Smyser, also a singer and cellist, has been writing poetry, off and on, ever since she learned she could write poetry. As a college student, she was one of the youngest attendees of the Norman Mailer Writers Colony Fiction and Poetry Workshop in 2010, as well as a National Semi-Finalist in the organization’s Community College Writing competition that year; but due to bouts with depression, left school and ceased writing. In 2015, a familiar voice began to stir for the poet, and she began writing again. Smyser now lives in Abilene, Texas, with her sister and nephew; and has for the last six years pursued careers in Sales and Media Marketing. She has become very active as a volunteer in the local political and non-profit communities, and is pursuing a new career in the field of Grant Writing and Non-Profit Development. She hopes to continue poem-writing and has aspirations to return to University to complete her education.