Each year a group of teachers, librarians, writers and others interested in children’s literature meets to determine the new FOCAL winner. The winning author is presented with the award — a unique puppet representing a character from their award-winning book which has been created for them by Carol Onofrio and is now being created by

I am part of the amazing roster of speakers over at The Shipman Agency. They are now representing me for all speaking engagements. Check out my page at https://www.theshipmanagency.com/arisa-white.

This current exhibition at the Maine Historical Society is on view until December 31, 2021, and it examines the roots of social justice topics and aims to stimulate civic engagement and foster dialogue among Mainers on race and equity through a physical exhibition and a virtual program series. As a part of this exhibition, I

Starting Monday, April 19th, SPACE will connect the 2021 Poetry Hotline, a 24/7 call-in number featuring a new poem every week. Throughout the Spring, call 1-207-828-5607 to hear poems by Myles Bullen, CA Conrad, Stacey Tran, Myronn Hardy,  Éireann Lorsung, Shelley Wong, Alessandra Nysether-Santos, and Arisa White. Schedule (hotline updated every Monday morning):Myles Bullen: April

“When I hit that point where a wall is met with my writing, the sensation is gone and the train is gone, and my immediate environs lose their contemplative harmony. My focus is broken, so I find some pleasure. . . .” Read the full article here.

The first lines of a dozen noteworthy books, and Who’s Your Daddy is included. Take a read and listen here.

I was interviewed with seven others–scientists, restaurateurs, an astrologist– about how time felt in 2020. Read the entire piece here.

Who’s Your Daddy is a lyrical genre-bending coming-of-age tale featuring a young, queer, Black Guyanese American woman who, while seeking to define her own place in the world, negotiates an estranged relationship with her father. In this exclusive, I share how I came about selecting the cover art, The Drinking Gourd, by Sydney Cain, aka