MEET THE EDITORS

Destiny Abbott is a Las Vegas native turned Portland transplant as of 2023. Traditionally, she is an illustrator, but she has been interested in creative writing since high school. She is working on an Associate’s Degree in Art and intends to pursue a Master’s in Art Practice. Destiny aspires to be a graphic novelist, so she is pursuing editing to further develop her writing practice. The Bellwether Review is her first experience with professional editing. While she isn’t active on social media, you can follow her on Instagram @deliri_arts. 

Elijah Acosta is an aspiring poet and writer currently pursuing an Associate of Science degree. Growing up in East Los Angeles in Southern California, he has always strived to be a positive role model. He has also been actively involved in his community, being elected as the president of his high school’s GSA, as well as studying environmental sciences and anthropology in India and Nepal with the student travel organization Carpe Mundi. Finding the goodness in things while daydreaming, stargazing, and living is something he always enjoys. He lives in Portland on a little street called Joy Avenue, where he continues his educational goals. You can see more about him or contact him through Instagram @ell.eaell. 

Paul Buchholz is a poet born and raised in Beaverton, with a lifelong passion for music, comedy, and writing. This edition of The Bellwether Review is his first foray into editing, and he’s grateful to be a part of letting the artistic voices of the PCC Rock Creek community be heard, especially at a time when art and connection are more important than ever.

Katie Friend is a student at PCC with a growing interest in the literary world, especially in poetry and scriptwriting. New to editing teams, Katie joined to explore the behind-the-scenes process of content creation and editing. Katie was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys nothing more than lying down with her cat and reading a book to unwind after a long day.

“Listen, three-eyes. Don’t you try to out-weird me. I get stranger things than you free with my breakfast 
cereal.”  
—Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Restaurant at the end of the Universe

Look at him go, back for round two! Once again typesetter and special pages editor, but this time he took his shot and submitted his own stuff. He didn’t know photography was right up his alley, but when Adam Idris picked up that camera, he knew it was right for him. With a passion for photography and love of Gunpla, he combined the two, inspired by the likes of Mitchel Wu and Kim DM Simmons.

Karah Kemmerly has been working on journals since she started a creative writing club at her high school in 2009, but this is her first year as the faculty adviser for The Bellwether Review. In addition to teaching writing at PCC, she also makes zines with Conjunction Press, works on fiber arts projects, and watches a lot of Robert Pattinson movies. She lives in Northwest Portland with her partner and two orange cats.

Everest Looney is an artist and poet living in a tight-knit neighborhood in northwest Oregon. Growing up in southern, sunny California, Everest found his love for the outdoors. As a trans student at PCC, he works his life into his art and writing. The Bellwether Review is his first experience in the world of published editing, with all past experiences being in the writing classes he’s taken at Rock Creek.

Megan McGrory is an avid consumer of media who’s lived in Washington, Alaska, and finally Oregon. She has been writing since before she could technically write, getting her mother to write down her stories for her. Her greatest passion is prose, particularly fantasy and science fiction, though she’s started to dabble in poetry. Aside from writing, Megan loves to read, watch movies and TV, perform on stage, and analyze media through a feminist lens. One of her greatest passions is napping with her cat, Spooky. 

Marie Rubio is an editor for The Bellwether Review. For a full bio, see Moriendi Lenore's author bio. 

A lifelong love of reading in magic and self-discovery, Kaitlyn Thursam is now finding a new passion hidden deep within her: writing poetry. Her writing is inspired by climate action and political topics and is written through a feminist lens. She hopes that her work inspires others but also allows people to reflect on the interconnectedness of complex issues. Although this is her last year at PCC, she will be transferring to PSU to major in English and pursue her career in helping others publish and edit their work.

Izzi Veeiriia (real name Gloria Isabella Pagui Vaire) is a layout and prose editor. Friends describe her as “eccentric,” which is a fun way to say “completely out of pocket.” Pictured is not her, but rather her (and her best friend’s) husband working and residing at the Tillamook Cheese Factory: Jason. Izzi has many hobbies, such as intentionally misspelling her last name, writing, having existential crises, retail therapy, and wasting hours dressing up only to stay inside all day. Her favorite question is “what is the color of day?” Other fun facts? Her favorite color has been lavender since she was 13. She has another fiancé aside from her husband: Diego from JoJo Part 7. She is going to be bitten by a vampire in her ’30s and will go on to fulfill every career option possible over multiple millennia.