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Desert Rose is a platform for femmes of color whose multitude of voices and experiences have so often been silenced, warped, or disregarded by the dominant literary landscape. This issue features poetry and short fiction encapsulating so many different walks of life and revolves around the theme of belonging.

Each issue of Desert Rose features a writing prize awarded to an author with an exceptional ability to move us. This year’s prize goes to Mai C. Doan, author of WATER/TONGUE. The writing prize was judged by Joy Frances of Words of Colour Productions; Farhana Shaikh, of The Asian Writer; Erika T. Wurth, professor and author; and Dr. Nora De Hoyos Comstock, founder of Las Comadres Para Las Americas.

This issue was edited by Rachel Mazza and Cherise Lopes-Baker, and designed/ illustrated by Anastasia Nikitovic.