Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 22-year-old student, feminist, lesbian, Puerto Rican (and an amalgamation of other labels, I’m sure) who has lived primarily in Boston, MA and Frederick, MD. I’ve been reading zines since I was 13 but only started making them about a year ago. I love cat videos on the Internet, dresses with boots, and the People of Color (PoC) Zine Project.
Who or what are your influences?
I played a lot of video games (especially RPGs) when I was growing up, which first got me interested in storytelling. More recently, the perzines I’ve read, punk rock music, and the works of radical women of color like Angela Davis have helped encourage me to talk about my experiences and analyze how they’re situated in the larger picture.
What subjects do you touch upon in your work?
Racism, weird things people say on the Internet, the intersections of aspects of our identities that make us who we are, my mother and her influence on me, assimilation/resistance… basically whatever I’m having deep thoughts (or not) about at any given time.
What is your most recent work?
Vital Signs – it’s a perzine about leaving nursing school and the factors that led to that decision, as well as what has been happening in the aftermath. I’m hoping this becomes a multi-issue thing instead of a one-shot like all my other zines.
What are you looking forward to most at the fest?
Well, this is the first fest I’m tabling at which is really exciting! I’m also looking forward to visiting Scranton (I don’t think I’ve ever been) and seeing the scene there, and couchsurfing for the first time. All sorts of firsts!
Fuck yeah, Rachel! Hit Scranton hard.