Vendors: Books
Alyssa Palazzo
Alyssa Palazzo is a new-found poet who began writing her first novel at the young age of 16. Her novel dear body… is a beautiful piece of work that addresses her battles with mental illness, trauma, and an eating disorder.
Palazzo grew up in Littleton, Colorado and for twelfth grade she moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a pre-professional career in ballet. The turmoil she faced while away from home paved the way for her activism surrounding body positivity and mental illness.
Palazzo graduated from The University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 obtaining a journalism degree with a Summa Cum Laude distinction.
Her works are a continuation of her drive to help other people battling eating disorders and depression. Her career as a poetry novelist and a self-love activist is just beginning. She hopes to inspire body acceptance in as many people as possible and hopes that her willingness to share her experience may pave the way for decreased stigma surrounding mental illness.
For more information visit her author site at https://www.alyssapalazzo.com/.
Qandeel Ahmed
Qandeel Ahmed was born in Chicago, IL and raised outside of Atlanta, GA. From the age of 6, she started writing, keeping journals of short stories, poetry and diary entries. Her mother, an artist, nurtured her artistic inclinations and provided an environment where she felt encouraged to stretch her imagination and experiment with new creative endeavors: sprinkle toast supper, sidewalk perfumes and pool-side bakery stands. Her father, an engineer, stoked her competitive spirit in academics and sports - areas that she valued in addition to her creative pursuits.
Having grown up in a mixed-race and mixed-religion household in the South, her writing inspiration included feelings of wariness & unacceptance from those around her, in addition to general reflections about relationships, growing up and reconciling with lessons learned along the way. At the age of 17, she published her first book of poetry “Growing Pains”.
After college at the University of Georgia, Qandeel moved to New York City where she started participating in poetry slams and further nurtured her writing style, having found an environment where she felt she could be unapologetically herself.
She hopes to, through her on and offline presence, relate to others undergoing similar experiences in love and life, accruing their own ‘stretch marks’.
She now resides in Denver, CO, where she finds inspiration and solace near the mountains and continues to pursue her passion for writing.
IG: @bare_poet
SnippetsBooks
As a mom of 4 boys, I am constantly entertained / astonished / bent over laughing at the things that come out of their mouths. I learned the art of bookbinding and immediately fell in love with it. So when my mom suggested I fill my handcrafted books with quotes from the boys, each facing a picture of them at the age they said it, I know that was exactly how the pages should be filled. The idea has expanded, and SnippetsBooks are used for travel journals, baby books, “Grandma & Me” books, bridesmaids gifts, and other meaningful life moments. I hope that in our highly digital world, you enjoy filling this handcrafted keepsake with printed photos, tangible souvenirs, and handwritten memories.