Our esteemed founder, editor-in-chief, and general ego-maniac: Mateo Keegan Burbano.
Mateo, as editor-in-chief and founder of SlashnBurn, reads things and comments on them. Based on his comments, something or other happens. Mateo received his MA in creative writing from Northern Arizona University where he served as assistant managing editor for Thin Air. He also was on the staff of Fiction International out of San Diego, CA, and editor for online journal, Four Ties Lit Review. Mateo has been a writer, playwright, college educator, adult educator, social worker, grill cook, and professional safecracker. He enjoys making things up and writing them down, be it stories, plays, or grocery lists containing fantastical items like bologna-chainsaw-hands. His work has been performed at the Northern Arizona Playwriting Showcase, has appeared in the inaugural editions of Four Ties Lit Review and the Narrow Chimney Reader, in multiple issues of Hocus Pocus and other zines, and online at NomadArtx.com. He has read his work at community events and academic conferences. Mateo does not currently have an agent or book deal. He is grateful to have pants.
You can contact Mateo at slashnburnrmkb@gmail.com
Managing Editor and official haberdasher: Case Duckworth.
Case Duckworth primarily reads picture books to preschoolers to make his living. In his spare time, he reads fantasy and science fiction, crochets, and makes up writing challenges for himself, which he rarely completes. He’s uncomfortable with the concept of favorites in general, but holds strong opinions. He likes to say that he is mercurial, a word he came across while reading about a famous author (he thinks Mark Twain, but can’t be sure) that means he has strong opinions but holds them loosely. He’s been writing seriously, if not well, since seventh grade, and reading well, if not seriously, since first. He has two dogs and fosters more.
Fiction editor and professional card counter: Emily Hoover.
Emily Hoover’s recent poetry publications include Potluck Magazine and FIVE2ONE Magazine, her fiction has appeared in tNY. Press, 0-Dark-Thirty’s The Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Wraparound South and others, and her book reviews have been featured in Southern Literary Review, Fiction Writers Review, Flag Live, and Ploughshares blog. She lives in Las Vegas and is currently working on a short story collection about her home state of Florida.
“I look for diverse fiction that slices open the heart and invites each reader to bleed, shed perceptions, and emerge changed. Life begins at the edge of one’s comfort zone, and the same is true of good fiction. I do not discriminate – I enjoy experimental work as well as traditional, flash as well as classical short stories. Shock me, scare me, move me with authenticity.”
Editor and expert examiner of small things: Chelsea Burk.
Chelsea Burk received her MA in Literature from Northern Arizona University, where she also served as managing editor of Thin Air literary journal. She is originally from Illinois, and currently lives in Phoenix, where she teaches. The hope is, that her efficiency skills and no-nonsense, will make-up for the lackadaisical approach SlashnBurn’s founder takes to both work and living.
Visual arts editor and douche-culture scholar and enthusiast: Kevin Baird.
Kevin Baird is moving to Alaska and he thinks your face is a work of art. He wrote for newspapers in New Mexico and Arizona. He probably found inspiration for his bio on a bathroom stall wall.
Nonfiction Editor and Chief Diversity Officer: Shyla Dogan.
Shyla Dogan is a nonfiction writer originally from Florida. Bits and pieces of her are from other parts of the southeast and half of her is from the Middle East. She mostly writes about topics related to class warfare, race, her eccentric family, and the fact that the struggle is real. When not actively attempting to decolonize her mind, she works toward finishing her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Arizona. She has a Master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Arizona and a Master’s of Education in Anthropology and Education from Columbia University.
Poetry editor and feline-wrangler: Khara House.
Khara House received her MA in English with a Creative Writing focus and Poetry thesis from Northern Arizona University in Arizona, where she also served as an Instructor, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Poetry Editor for Thin Air Magazine. As a founding editor for Bloodstone Review, Khara is devoted to the discovery of meaningful, touchable, poetry and poetic voices. Khara is passionate about poetry, as well as all her personal, professional, and creative pursuits. She is also passionate about her cats, but don’t hold that against her; she is equally passionate about wine.
Music and visual arts editor and general about-town expert: Daphna Ron.
Daphna Ron was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Before moving to Tucson, she roustabouted in Madison, Wisconsin and Boston, Massachusetts. Daphna plays drums in Sockfight!, Things That Aren’t Words, and fills in with many other acts. Daphna’s love of the arts and music “transcends” (whatever that means) many genres.
Geek culture editor, dweeb overlord, and office party caterer: Corwin Scott Gibson.
Kate Meyer is from a small NYC suburb in New Jersey, where spent much of her formative years in The City. Favorite urban activities of her teens included attending punk shows, the Limelight, and random art events in the Village and SoHo. She discovered animal rights, feminism, Amnesty International, and the Grateful Dead. Kate relocated to Tucson, in 1994, to attend the Fine Arts program at the University of Arizona. Kate spent the next twenty-two years working on arts events, after parties, pop up galleries, performance art, burlesque, backup dancing/signing/percussion with the Zsa Zsas, and had a downtown art gallery. Her time at a number of non-profits further stimulated her passion for helping our community and provided valuable experience working with vulnerable populations including at risk youth, developmentally disabled adults, the elderly, and SMI individuals.
Kate has been able to combine her skills in arts event planning to help organize community events such as Take Back the Night, Denim Day Tucson, the Youth and Peace Conference, and the Body Love Conference. Kate was ready to move back east in 2004 when she happened upon the love of her life. Together with their (recently adopted) foster son (they are quite sure) they make the perfect family. Kate readily admits all of the above would not be possible without the love and support of her amazing husband and son.
