Flagstaff-Based Poet and Editor with National Recognition
Cymelle Leah Edwards is a rising literary voice from Flagstaff, Arizona, whose work echoes across page and stage. A Pushcart Prize nominee and recipient of the prestigious Diana Gabaldon Creative Writing Award, Edwards is quickly earning a place among the most vital poets in the Southwest. With a strong commitment to both craft and community, she balances creative output with leadership roles in Arizona’s vibrant literary scene.
Academic Excellence and Literary Leadership
Edwards holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Northern Arizona University, where her passion for poetry blossomed into a broader commitment to publishing and editing. She formerly served as the Poetry Editor for Thin Air Magazine, NAU’s long-running literary journal. Her editorial insight also extends as an editor at Kelp Journal, where she cultivated voices across genres.
Community Organizer and Advocate for the Arts
Cymelle is not only a powerful writer, but also a champion of literary culture in Northern Arizona. She served as a board member for the Northern Arizona Book Festival, helping to organize and support one of the state’s most important annual literary events. Her work as an organizer underscores her dedication to amplifying diverse voices and creating inclusive platforms for poets and writers throughout the region.
Publishing Credits and Performance Poetry
Her written work has been published in respected literary journals such as Elm Leaves Journal, Contra Viento, and Ghost City Press. Beyond the page, Cymelle has made waves in Arizona’s spoken word scene, winning the Phoenix Poetry Slam at the downtown art venue Megaphone PHX, a hub for poetic performance and creative experimentation.
GCU Roots and the Arizona Connection
Before pursuing her MFA, Cymelle attended Grand Canyon University, an institution known for producing talented artists and thinkers. Her creative trajectory remains deeply tied to Arizona—from the desert landscape to the mountain views of Flagstaff—and her poetry often reflects the natural, cultural, and emotional terrain of the Southwest.
A Voice to Watch in Contemporary Poetry
Cymelle Leah Edwards represents the best of contemporary Arizona poetry: talented, thoughtful, and unafraid to confront personal and political truths. Whether through her haunting verse, her curatorial insight, or her work behind the scenes in the literary community, Edwards is a vital part of Arizona’s poetic identity and an emerging force on the national literary stage. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.