Melissa Lozada-Oliva

Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a Guatemalan-Colombian-American writer, poet, and educator whose work spans across poetry collections, novels, and screenplays, known for her ability to integrate humor and horror within her narratives. After winning the National Poetry Slam Championship in 2015 for her poem ‘Like Totally Whatever,’ Melissa Lozada-Oliva became a prominent voice in contemporary literature, with her work gaining widespread media attention and going viral. Lozada-Oliva, a writer, poet, and educator, began performing slam poetry while attending Simmons University, graduating in 2014. Her early career included the publication of chapbooks such as ‘Plastic Pajaros’ in 2015 and ‘Rude Girl is Lonely Girl!’ in 2016.

‘Candelaria’ garnered significant critical acclaim, earning recognition as one of the best books of 2023 by both VOGUE and USA Today. Expanding her reach into other media, Lozada-Oliva co-hosts the popular podcast ‘Say More’ with Olivia Gatwood, which launched in December 2018. She also engages with her audience through her active newsletter, ‘READING SUCKS,’ where she documents her reading experiences and conducts interviews with fellow authors. Lozada-Oliva’s versatile storytelling has earned her features in a diverse array of prominent publications, including NPR, VOGUE, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post, showcasing her broad appeal and critical recognition.

Her forthcoming short story collection, ‘BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT, JESUS IS ALIVE!,’ is scheduled for release in September 2025. Through her various platforms and projects, Melissa Lozada-Oliva continues to solidify her position as a compelling and distinctive voice in contemporary literature, engaging audiences with her unique perspective and genre-bending narratives.