Our Writers

Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, educator, Pushcart Prize nominee, and publisher. Lofton is the author of more than thirty-five collections of poetry and more than one-hundred and seventy spoken word albums. His poems have appeared in Clock House Journal, Revenge, UpStreet, Experience Reality Magazine, Quay, Dissident Voice, The Skinny Poetry Journal, Mid-Atlantic Review, and Blue-Collar Review. He earned both a B.A. in Creative Writing and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College. He has held teaching positions at Chesapeake Bay Academy, Norfolk State University, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Elizabeth City State University.

Vivian F. Washington is the Central Library Manager for Chesapeake Public Library and President of the Virginia Library Association, with over 11 years in public libraries and 8 years in academic libraries. She serves as Treasurer of Spotlight News, supporting inclusive community journalism, and is a board member of R-E-A-D (Rejuvenating Excellence, Accomplishing Dreams), promoting education and personal growth. Vivian is also an active member of the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She holds degrees from James Madison University (History), Hampton University (Elementary Education), and the University of South Carolina (Library and Information Science). Her leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, education, and community empowerment.

Isaiah Reed is a college student at Averett University, on track to earn a B.F.A in Acting & Directing. He’s been part of several theatrical productions, participating in all areas of performance with the goal of eventually becoming a director down the line. Alongside his performances onstage, he saves his free time for writing, primarily writing plays, novellas, and poetry.

Katie Brownfiel graduated from William & Mary in 2020. After completing publishing internships with Blue Dragon Publishing and Penguin Random House, assisting former Poet Laureate of Virginia Henry Hart, and teaching 8th grade English, she is now teaching 11th grade English and yearbook in a private school. She also actively volunteers with Bacon Street Youth and Family Services and 2nd Sundays. She blogs about books in her spare time.

Chris has been doing theatre for over 25 years now and has had the opportunity to work backstage, on stage and as a director and fight choreographer in most, if not all, of the Hampton Roads community theaters.

Denise Bishop (she/her) is a freelance volunteer writer with Spotlight News, having previously written theatre reviews in Hampton Roads for Antonym/ AltDaily. After receiving her BA in theatre and music, she was a freelance stage manager in theatre, dance & opera including: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Joffrey Ballet, Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Chamber Theatre Productions, TriArts Sharon Playhouse, Louisville Ballet, and Redmoon Theatre. She was a production supervisor at Busch Gardens Williamsburg; stage-managed dance productions at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & opera productions at Northwestern University. Immediately prior to relocating to Norfolk, she helped open the new Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at James Madison University as Stage Manager/Assistant Technical Production Coordinator.

BA Ciccolella is a professional production manager, technical director, lighting designer, stage manager, hospitality manager, artist liaison, rigger, stage electrician, scenic carpenter, and painter, as well as a writer, editor, and administrative assistant. She is a past president of the Board of Directors at the Little Theatre of Norfolk and President of Spotlight News Hampton Roads. BA was also a legislative assistant for one of the Delegates in the Virginia General Assembly, and a field director for that Delegate’s successful campaign. She has a black belt in HapKiDo. You can see her portfolio here: https://bachicportfolio.wordpress.com/

Frank Connelly is the VP for Spotlight News and a board member of Williamsburg Players.  He is employed as a computer consultant for Core Consulting.  He resided in Williamsburg along with his wife Cindy and two dogs.

Louise Casini Hollis is a local actor and teaching artist.  She holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Theatre Pedagogy and a MALS in Performance Studies from The University of Memphis where she studied presence in performance.

Katelyn is local costume designer and seamstress, as well as a former writer for the theatre section of AltDaily. She resides in Ghent, where she enjoys drinking craft beers, responsibly parking Lime scooters, and attracting every mosquito in the Weyanoke Bird Sanctuary. You can check out her work at KatelynJacksonCostumes.com

Moriah Joy is originally from Richmond and is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelors in Theatre Performance and a Minor in English. 

Christina is a micro influencer on Instagram and blogger sharing her story of recovery from alcoholism and mental illness in order to end the stigma surrounding these conditions and provide hope to others who may be struggling. When she isn’t speaking or writing she can be found running, shopping or cuddling her two cats. 

Penny Neef is on her fourth (or fifth) career as a freelance writer. There’s been plenty of time to be an art teacher, an early elementary teacher, a reading specialist and the youth services coordinator at a large public library.  Along the way, she has always written and created.  Even though she’s officially old, she has not lost the joy she finds in yoga, art of all kinds, children, bubble tea and a good marble rye. 

Jeff Seneca is a fifth grade teacher in Suffolk Virginia. When he is not trying to mold young minds, he enjoys being on the board of directors for the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. He has enjoyed the many different aspects of the theatre from being on stage as Edna, to directing shows such as Spamalot and And Then There Were None. He really loves being part of the Hampton Roads Theatre Community.