Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

I'm a Mexican American poet, painter, wife, mother and aspiring micro-farmer. In my work, I explore myths and folklore as well as motherhood, plants and the lineages of all things.

I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida and I grew up there with my parents, brother and sister. I studied fine art for many years, specializing in painting, both in high school and college. I have a B.A. in cultural anthropology from the University of West Florida and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

My work has been published or is forthcoming in Rattle, Luna Luna and Fairy Tale Review, among others. My first collection, Dirt and Honey, is available from Green Writers Press. My chapbook, Tales From the House of Vasquez, is the winner of the 2018 Rattle Chapbook Prize and is available from the Rattle website.

I'm represented by Elizabeth Bewley of Sterling Lord Literistic.