Biography
I am a queer, neurodiverse 3rd generation San Diegan now living in LA County. I am also the first (AFAB) woman in my family to have ever attended any college or university, and the first person in any of my family to graduate. I am a lifelong Anteater, having attended University of California, Irvine. I hold a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English, with honors, minoring in Creative Writing. While at UCI, I was a peer educator in the subject of graphic memoirs. After graduating, I was awarded an internship with Phi Beta Kappa's national magazine, The Key Reporter. I also teach my original course concept, "Starting Your Memoir" through the Orange County Library circuit. I am an MFA graduate candidate in CNF at Antioch University, Los Angeles working on my original short story collection fusing horror with memoir. I collect graphic novels, I'm a Trekkie and board game nerd, and am absolutely horror-obsessed. Follow me on Instagram: @writerdeerichards
Publications
“Book Notes: Philosophical Siblings by Jane F. Thrailkill.” The Key Reporter, June 2024.
“Creating Connections through the Visiting Scholar Program with Natalia Molina.” The Key Reporter Magazine, June 2024.
“Digging Deeper on Wild New World with Author Dan Flores.” The Key Reporter, April 2024.
“Book Notes: Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi.” The Key Reporter Magazine, March 2024.
“Continuing the Conversation: Revisiting a Visiting Scholar.” The Key Reporter Magazine, February 2024.
“Condemnation” Hecate Magazine Anthologies, Print Issue 2: Decay. November 2021. Order Here
“Investment” October 2021. Cape Magazine, Issue 3: Unamused. "Ritual Language" October 2021. Analogies and Allegories Magazine, Issue 6: Magic.
“Meine Geschichte.” Cardigan Press, Byline Legacies Print Anthology. September 2021. Order Here
“Thoughts Before I Am Sawed in Half.” The Cabinet of Heed Literary Journal: Issue 42. January 2021.
“The Day After Christmas.” The Daily Drunk. January 2021.
"The Static" Winter 2021. Epoch Press Literary Journal : Issue 1, "Beginnings". [Out of Print]
Awards & Achievements
- 1st Place Regional & Nation Winner, JACS National Essay Contest 2004
- 2nd Place Grossmont Community College Science Writing Contest 2009
- Grossmont Community College's President's List Selectee, 2020, 2021
- University of California Grant Recipient, 2021-2023
- Bernard Osher Foundation Scholarship Recipient, 2021-2023
- University of California, Irvine Humanities Honors Grant Recipient, 2022
- University of California, Irvine Undergraduate Digital Humanities Fellow, 2022
- UTeach for UCI Selectee for Original Course Concept, "Graphic Memoirs"
- University of California, Irvine Humanities Honors Program Prize Recipient for Literary Style, 2023
- Phi Beta Kappa writing internship selectee, 2024
- Cum Laude Graduate
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society, Mu Chapter
- Member, Tau Sigma National Honors Society for Transfer Students
