Photo taken at the Patterson Poetry Festival 2024
MEET KARINA:
Karina is a writer, poet, and educator with words that wander and stories that stay. She is a multifaceted writer whose writing explores life experiences, human perspectives, and the human condition. As a writing coach and consultant, she nurtures writing development, helps establish writing routines to meet goals, and cultivates confidence in writers. Through her workshops and creative tools, she aims to inspire writers to tell their stories.
BIOGRAPHY:
Karina Guardiola-Lopez is a New York City–born writer, poet, and educator now based in New Jersey. She was a finalist for the 2024 Palette Poetry Previously Published Poem Prize, and her work has appeared in Press Pause Press, Arts by the People, Acentos Review, Indolent Books, Great Weather for Media, Poetic Pathways, and other publications. Her poetry and presence have also been featured on BronxNet Television, Queens Public Television, and Univision.
Karina has shared her work at venues and festivals across the region, including Poetry at the Barn, the 25th Annual Food and Music Festival, The National Black Theatre, the Nuyorican Poets Café, the Bowery Poetry Club, the Patterson and New York City Poetry Festivals, among many other locations.
Photo taken at the National Black Theatre in 2018
More Information
Karina, a Honduran-American Jew, is a poet, educator, and author from New York City, now resides in New Jersey. She holds an M.S.Ed. from Baruch College and a B.A. in English with a focus on Creative Writing from City College.
Karina co-wrote and starred in the play “Live Big Girl,” which premiered at The National Black Theatre, The Tank, and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD). Delving into themes of self-celebration in a society that often marginalizes certain bodies, this poetic production captivated audiences, leading to sold-out performances at all three venues. The play, created alongside Vanessa Chica and Rebeca Lois Lucret, evolved into a movement that included writing workshops, poetry readings, and a book. Directed by Peggy Robles Alvarado.
Photo of a Panel Reading at the New School with La Pluma y La Tinta’s Raquel Penzo, Jose Daniel Older, y Annette Vendryes Leach in 2014.
As a creator, Karina spearheaded The Pen, Pad, and Poet series, an initiative offering publishing, poetry workshops, and performances tailored for teens. Expanding its reach, the series has birthed Pens, Pads and Poets on Facebook, a hub of resources for writers. Amidst the pandemic, Karina extended the workshops to include adults. Karina also serves as a co-manager for the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) and Live Big Girl (Movement) social media accounts.
Karina has created an array of creative resources, including poetic magnets, stickers, a deck of cards for writers, and, most recently, a coloring book for creators. Additionally, she produces educational videos focused on writing and poetry called Writing Wednesday Series and has collaborated on a project called A Year Into You: Generative Writing Series with Vanessa Chica and Rebeca Lois Lucret under the umbrella of Live Big Movement. Both projects are designed to inspire writers of all levels and genres.
When Karina is not writing she is listening to music, collecting world bank notes, and traveling.
Photo of “Cell Tango” theater performance at Polaris North 2018.
kglopez.com 