Name: Elizabeth Rose Straight (aka Dizzy Lizzy aka ‘Lizzabuth aka Lizz Straight aka Lizzard aka Lizz M.F.O.P. Straight —Don’t ask)

Sign: Taurus

Born in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Favorite color: gray.

Preferred pass times include writing, reading, crochet, binge watching well written shows, karaoke, naps, and devouring delicious food.

Storytelling is my (professional) love language. I discovered this first as a child writing poetry and fiction, and drowning in books.

In my tumultuous teenage years, I honed my skills as a storyteller by lying and deceiving my parents at every turn. Living in South Philly, the allure of its underbelly drew me in, and I constructed a version of myself that purposely left behind the foundation of my Catholic, family-focused upbringing. Needless to say, shit got real. Once my family moved to Jacksonville, Florida (thank God for the Navy; which is something I never thought I’d say) I retreated into myself and my journals more deeply than ever before. But in the 12th grade, I realized that I was searching for a light through poetry. Educators who noticed my struggle to be reborn through my writing shifted the trajectory of my life, and I owe them my life in a sense. Reading books like Toni Morrison’s Beloved and John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, presented the invaluable opportunity to discuss the work of these craft masters with like-minded AP English students. And more importantly, this experience opened my heart and mind to the possibility of being in their company as a creative writer.

I’ll fast forward through basic training in the U.S. Army that ended with an injury forcing me to return home with nothing to show for it but an adherence to long-distance running. Once I began college at the University of North Florida, I was in full-fledged metamorphosis mode. I cut my relaxed hair and became a natural, embracing Black American culture and generic African culture like a shelter dog that had found its forever family. I began to grapple with the idiosyncrasies that had always left me feeling not black enough, and definitely not white at all. I joined an African dance troupe, I acted in local Black theater productions, and by the grace of God, I shared my poetry for the first time at an open mic. It was here, on stage, behind a microphone, where I found my power.

I tapped into something that was dormant inside of me and I never looked back. Slam wins across the country, featured artist opportunities at poetry venues around the world, and nothing to stand in my way I ran toward the adventure in full sprint. I hosted the longest-running poetry radio show in the country, taught and performed poetry in the Florida prison system, and became somewhat of a local celebrity. It was fun as hell. Then, I landed my dream job with StoryCorps.org (before I realized that my dreams don’t involve a job at all) and moved to New York City.

With my home base in Forest Hills Gardens (Queens) and my office in Brooklyn I joyfully discovered so much of the city that despite being known as the Big Apple, is known to eat people alive. When I wasn’t enjoying live music, delicious food, and theater in NYC, I traveled the country and recorded stories for the national audio storytelling archive at Library of Congress. (You can find many of my recorded stories on my website, many of which were chosen for international broadcast on NPR’s Morning Edition.) Then, unexpectedly, I became impregnated. Yes, I had sex. And made a baby. Wowzers! What a blessing in disguise.

The term unplanned pregnancy isn’t usually used with positive connotations attached. However, it was the best thing that happened to me hands down. My daughter, born June 23, 2011, changed me in an instant and was the true catalyst for my metamorphosis. After becoming a mom, and loving every second, I became an educator in order to be a better mom. That path led me to so many amazing people I cannot include them here, but let’s just say that teaching is something I was called to do.

Now, as an MFA candidate (‘26 Queens Univ. of Charlotte) I will soon be able to check off professor from my bucket list. As I work toward that achievement, I am exploring many of my talents and gifts and using this website to share what’s discovered in that exploration with you.

-Lizz