Melissa Ruth Rotert is a writer and artist from Western New York with degrees in theatre, arts, and education. She has shown work at the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University. As the fiction editor of Epistemic Literary Magazine and Nimblewitlit Magazine, Melissa is more accustomed to celebrating the art of others, but she felt inspired about Issue 8: Righteous Rage to share a piece of her own. She has co-designed all of the covers for her middle grade series The Ridders which starts with Sue B and the Ridders (available everywhere). Her work and more information can be found by following her on IG and Bsky @melruthwrites or on her website: melruthwrites.com.