Cave Canem fellow and Affrilachian poet, Amanda Johnston has performed internationally for various causes and events. Honors include multiple Artist Enrichment grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Christina Sergeyevna Award from the Austin International Poetry Festival. She has served on the board of directors for the National Women's Alliance and the Kentucky Women Writers Conference and is the founder & executive director of Torch Literary Arts, and editor of TORCH: poetry, prose, and short stories by African American Women. Currently, Amanda is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Stonecoast through the University of Southern Maine.