Ari Koontz is a queer & trans writer, artist, and freelance editor. Their work encompasses nearly every genre, including short & long fiction, poetry, essay, literary analysis, stage scripts, book reviews, recipes, and collage. In each of these, he explores subjects such as gender & sexuality, coming of age, pop culture media, and the natural world.

Ari is an MFA candidate at Northern Michigan University and an editor & social media manager at Wizards in Space Magazine, an independent print literary magazine dedicated to uplifting diverse voices and paying all contributors. They have served as a reader for Under the Gum Tree, an intern at Oyster River Pages, and an Author Mentor Match mentee.

Ari’s favorite tea blend is lavender mint cacao, and on a rainy day he’ll probably be found at the beach.