Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Anne Schwartz

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Anne Schwartz is our first signed author. Her poetry collection, “Ave Marianna,” I set to release October of 2025.

Elizabeth Anne Schwartz (she/her) writes sapphic fiction and poetry, and loves all things dark, lyrical, and confessional. She earned her BA in Creative Writing at Purchase College. Her chapbook, Nine Stages of Coming Out, was released by tiny wren lit. If you’d like to read more of her work, visit her website at elizabethanneschwartz.carrd.co/ and follow her on Instagram @elizanneschwa

An Interview with the Author

1. How long have you been a poet and what prompted you to start your journey?

I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember—but as a kid I mainly wrote prose, then majored in Creative Writing with a focus on fiction. Over time, I’ve grown to love poetry and to embrace my identify as a poet. I appreciate how poignant and beautiful stories can be within the brevity of poems. 

2. What was the first poetry book, or poem, that brought you to tears?

For years, I’ve been obsessed with Sharon Olds’ raw, unapologetic confessional poetry! Satan Says and Stag’s Leap are a few of my favorite collections. Mary Oliver’s dog poems always make me cry. One of my favorite sapphic poems is “When I Was Straight” by Julie Marie Wade. 

3. What inspires you to write a poem? What subject matter do you focus on?

I write poems that tell stories—sometimes my own, sometimes fictional accounts that still touch on emotions I want to process and explore. I’m a private person (and neurodivergent masker), and I love that poetry allows me to be vulnerable and connect with others in deep and meaningful ways. I often write about my experiences as a woman and a late-blooming lesbian. 

4. Where and when was your first piece published?

My first poem was published years ago in my high school literary magazine (I still know it by heart). I published my first poetry chapbook in 2024 through tiny wren lit. Nine Stages of Coming Out is a chapbook of micro poems dedicated to my fellow late bloomers. It was fun to fit as much emotion and imagery as I could into as few words as possible!

5. Are there any controversial topics that you want to explore, but haven’t yet?

I’d love to explore my experiences as a neurodivergent woman in future fiction and poetry. This theme is always in the background of my work, but I’m hoping to bring it front and center!

6. How would you describe your upcoming collection, “Ave Marianna?”

Ave Marianna is poetry at the intersection of queerness, Catholicism, and womanhood. I grew up Catholic, and that experience shaped me into who I am today, including my love of all things dark and mystical. My faith was also constantly at odds with my identity as a queer woman. This collection gave me an outlet for my frustration, grief, and gratitude.

7. What’s your favorite poem, or line of a poem, from this collection?

I have so many favorites! But I especially love the poems about biblical women and saints, and the impact they’ve had on me (St. Lucy, St. Brigid, and Judith are just a few examples). 

8. Why were you motivated to write and publish this collection?

I think many people can relate to the experience of having a complex, love-hate relationship with faith. Writing these poems helped me to reflect, heal, and reclaim parts of myself. I hope readers will find the collection cathartic and hopeful. 

9. Do you have future plans/goals for your writing career?

I’m currently editing my queer middle grade novel, DEAR SAPPHO. I love working with this age group and hope to write and publish the sapphic stories I needed as a kid.

Be sure to subscribe to the Grey Coven newsletter or follow us on Instagram @greycovenpublishing if you would like updates on this collection. Presale date is TBA.