foto by @allisongowerphotography
writer : artist
mother : mentor
she : her
Loie Rawding (née ____ Merritt) grew up on an island off the coast of Maine. Her personal work exists as hybrid monster, a cocktail of prose, poetry, and personal reflection that weaves together her lived experience and the subconscious or fantasy spaces she’s been building since she was young. When necessary, she dabbles in auto-theory, critical essay, and literary review.
She studied dance theater and writing at Emerson College (Boston) and Pace University (New York City). While living in Brooklyn, she worked with independent publishers and artists, cultivating a wide breadth of knowledge and diverse experience. In 2013, she moved to Boulder to pursue an MFA in Fiction at the University of Colorado. While studying, she taught undergraduate courses and served as Fiction Editor, then Art Editor, of Timber Journal. In the spring of 2016, she received her degree, completed a novel, and gave birth to twins.
The following year, she served as an adjunct professor in the CU English Department where she continues to teach when asked to do so. Loie conducts private workshops and mentorship for all ages and experience levels. To inquire about book reviews, editing or coaching services contact her here.
In September 2017, Loie moved with her family to Nashville, Tennessee where she pursued new collaborative projects with visual artists and musicians, completed her next novel, and fought for the equity and safety of the LGBTQIA+ community, among other vital campaigns. She joined the ranks of Teaching Artists at The Porch Writers Collective where she learned the nuances of arts nonprofits.
Loie’s debut novel, TIGHT LITTLE VOCAL CORDS, was published by KERNPUNKT Press in November 2020. She is currently available for speaking engagements.
In Summer 2024, Loie and her family returned to Boulder, CO. She completed a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and facilitates arts workshops in the Boulder Community Health system. Loie is the co-founder and co-executive director of Fireside Ink Writers Workshop, a grassroots nonprofit with the mission to build a supportive writing community in the heart of Boulder County. Today, Fireside Ink hosts multi-level and multi-genre workshops, literary readings and events, as well as private mentorship, supporting writers from all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether someone is crafting a memoir, exploring fiction or poetry, or discovering the joy of self-expression for the first time, Fireside Ink provides the guidance, encouragement, and community needed to turn ideas into meaningful, lasting stories.