edited by Xequina Maria Berber, Giovanna Capone, Cheela Romain Smith

Giovanna Capone is a poet, fiction writer, playwright, editor, and filmmaker. She was raised in an Italian American neighborhood near the Bronx, whose strong immigrant influence still resonates in her life. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2014, Bedazzled Ink published her first full-length book, In My Neighborhood: Poetry & Prose from an Italian-American.

Giovanna’s play Her Kiss, was produced and performed to sold-out audiences in San Francisco by Luna Sea Women’s Performance Project, in their first drama festival. She also co-edited two anthologies: Hey Paesan! Writing by Lesbians & Gay Men of Italian Descent, and Dispatches from Lesbian America: 42 Short Stories & Memoir by Lesbian Writers. She also guest co-edited two issues of the lesbian literary journal Sinister Wisdom, one on Italian American women #41, and one on Lesbians and Class # 45.

Xequina is a storyteller, writer, artist and law librarian. The inspiration for The Mermaid Girl came from the very first dream she had about a mermaid when she was five years old. Xequina is also a cartoonist, and draws and paints mermaids as well as many other magical and spiritual themes. She authored a column on Mexican spirituality, La Post Modern Curandera, for The New Mission News in San Francisco. She is currently working on another children’s book, The Witch Tree, set in northern California. Xequina has degrees in Literature, Art, and Women’s Spirituality. She lives in Oakland, California with her partner and their two bad cats