NOVA LITERARY MAGAZINE

Sunny Ajitabh (she/her)
Sunny is a third year undergraduate student and the editor-in-chief of NOVA. She loves writing realistic fiction stories, reading fantasy books, and is a big-time fangirl. She’s also a dancer in her free time and loves hanging out with her friends. She founded NOVA after being inspired by her high school literary magazine, and has found a passion in the work she does with her team members in creating an inclusive and accessible space for youth to share their voices.

Basia (any pronouns)
Basia is a Linguistics and English double major, and is a part of NOVA’s editorial team. Basia is trilingual in Polish, English, and Spanish, and explores reading and writing in all of her languages. She plans to work in either linguistic research, or enter the publishing industry, with a goal of making a difference in the world through language and creativity. Basia writes to learn about herself, and joined NOVA to showcase the value of creativity within the lives of all people.

Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle is a high school senior from Philadelphia, PA. She works as a Supervising Lit Editor for NOVA. Emmanuelle also contributes to the WAi project and digital writing team associated with Write4Change. She recently served a one year term as the editor-in-chief of The Keystone, the state publication for the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League. She has a passion for all things creative writing, but primarily focuses on creative nonfiction and poetry. She hopes to write more fiction again though. Her work can be found in The Incandescent Review, The National Youth Poet Laureate Poetry and Shelter Anthology, and the Alcott Youth Magazine. She has also attended the Kenyon Review Young Writers Winter Workshop. In her free time, she can be found learning Indonesian, doing photography, filmmaking with friends, penpalling, and recently, cooking and baking.

Lalin (they/she)
Lalin is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Philadelphia, PA and one of the layout artists for NOVA! They are currently in their second year of undergrad for Art & Design, and hope to start a small business post-grad. Off-duty, she loves reading, indie games, cooking for loved ones, and fighting bad guys. Lalin joined NOVA because safe spaces for fledgeling creatives to put themselves out there and uplift one another are worth fighting for.

Ayr Ajitabh (they/them)
Ayr is a senior at Conestoga High School. They are a youth researcher who works on researching a variety different of topics from social media to Ai. Ayr is also an art enthusiast as well!

Kalyn
Kalyn is a high school junior in Wisconsin, USA, and will graduate in 2027. She is an Outreach Lead and Literary Editor for NOVA, as well as a Copy Editor and Writer for The Teen Magazine. She loves writing in a multitude of genres, but she specializes in poetry and informational essays. Her other hobbies include photography, badminton, and music! She joined NOVA because she was interested in helping compose a youth-led and international magazine, along with diving deeper into the world of creativity!

Faith (she/her)
Faith is a senior at Conestoga High School and an Outreach Coordinator for NOVA. She loves to write anything from journalistic articles to lines of poetry. Outside of words, she draws, knits, reads, and works as a student-journalist. In her free time, she often finds herself sucked into random fictional media. Faith joined NOVA to connect with others regarding the importance of youth artists and voices, which she hopes to continue spreading through the literacy magazine.

Laylah
Laylah is a third-year undergraduate student and a social media manager for NOVA. She really enjoys video editing, music, hanging out with friends and family, and watching cartoons (specifically the Peanuts franchise). She is currently studying public relations, and outside of school, she works for an apparel company! She joined NOVA because she loves graphic design within digital media and how that can help display a certain meaning/message that someone is trying to convey.

Zoan
Zoan is in their first year of cosmetology classes, and is a literary editor and social media manager at NOVA. She lives for all things expression and art, such as creative writing, watercolor painting, and hairdressing. Having come from an artistic background, with both parents forming their respective arts into their jobs, (with their father making and selling fairy apparel and their mother braiding hair) Zoan has always believed that art is among the most important things a community must focus on. They joined NOVA because they are passionate about the change youth voices can bring through art.

Sarah
Sarah is a high school junior from Southern California. She is a TikTok social media manager for NOVA, where she also assists with layout design and literary & art critique. In her free time, she enjoys reading romance books, listening to music, and playing guitar. Sarah joined NOVA because she is passionate about providing fellow youth with accessible spaces where they can share their creative ideas.

Maira
Maira is a high school sophomore who is a part of NOVA’s social media team. She’s an animal lover and an avid squash player. She aspires to be a part of the Indian Team one day. Maira loves spending time with friends and family, and also enjoys reading and writing. She joined NOVA because she loved the idea of having a platform where young minds can come together to express their thoughts in a creative manner.

Eunsoo Lee (she/her)
Eunsoo Lee is a high school senior from Seoul, South Korea, with a passion for creative writing and art. She loves reading and writing stories that span across the genres of surrealism and fantasy. As a literary editor and layout manager at NOVA and outreach creator at Write4Change, she enjoys connecting with other youth writers and artists from around the world. Eunsoo has also participated in the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, The Kenyon Review’s Young Writers Workshop, Juniper Young Writers Online, Sewanee Winterim, The Stanford Daily’s journalism workshop, and more. From time to time, she dabbles in drawing cartoons and has published ADHD Family Life, a Korean eBook based on her Instagram cartoon account (@koala.turtle.mom). During her free time, she can be found thrifting, sewing, or watching videos of capybaras.

Zahra
Zahra is a high school senior who loves writing, editing, and finding new ways to be creative. She’s a literary editor for NOVA and writes for a few teen publications, where she talks about movies, books, and life as a student. She’s also really into poetry and started a mental health zine to share art and writing with others. She likes volunteering, working with people, and organizing things—whether it’s flyers for school events or meetings for clubs. Outside of school, she enjoys playing badminton, making Canva designs, and finding quiet corners to read. She joined NOVA to be around creative people and help bring more teen voices into the spotlight.

Kayla Dudley
Kayla Dudley, also known as KayTheePoet, is a poet and artivist whose work explores societal issues, identity, and the intersections of race, gender, and justice. Writing since the age of 11, Kayla has utilized poetry as both a form of creative expression and a tool for activism, crafting narratives that challenge perceptions and amplify the voices of marginalized individuals. She currently serves as a Literature Editor for NOVA Lit Mag, where she uplifts emerging writers and curates work that speaks truth to power. Through her art and editorial voice, she is committed to building spaces where literature heals, disrupts, and reimagines what’s possible.

Stuti
Stuti is a teenage girl going into her sophomore year of high school. She loves reading, writing, and everything to do with language. You can find her in the art studio or working on her latest project. She is involved in 8 different writing organizations and is an editor here at NOVA.

The profile picture is a piece by Stuti’s favorite artist, Claude Monet, called “Monet’s Impression, Sunrise.”

Anna
Anna is a junior in high school and a literary editor here at NOVA. She has a deep passion for reading as well as writing, whether that be short stories, poems, or longer projects.Through NOVA, she hopes to connect with other young artists and writers. Outside of her word-related endeavors, she enjoys music (particularly playing the flute), running, and watching TV with her cat.

Bahar
Bahar is a high school senior from Southern California. She has been a literary editor for NOVA for almost a year. In her free time, you can find her watching a Wes Anderson movie, reading news articles, or scrolling on Pinterest. She loves writing poetry and short stories, and hopes to major in either journalism or English in college! Alongside her role in NOVA, she is an editor of her school newspaper and writer for a cultural magazine.

Karma
Karma is a developer, juggler, and author, as well as being a lit editor and website manager for NOVA. He writes mostly psychological short stories, poems, and technical essays in his free time. He plays the piano, sketches, reads too much, caffeinates more, and finds it rather difficult to present himself in the third person. Karma joined NOVA to assist other artists and be a part of a like-minded team!

Gowri
Gowri is a high school junior, and a literary editor for NOVA. She’s very interested in short stories and poems, and loves analyzing grammar, organization, and craft. Recently, she’s been focused on literacy advocacy across America, as well as sustainability in art and fashion.  She joined NOVA to showcase the works of young artists and authors, and loves being surrounded by other people who love writing!

Opal
Opal is a first year undergraduate student. She’s an art editor, as well as a social media manager. She designed the website you’re looking at right now! She loves writing fiction, reading romance and mysteries, and is deep in fandom. She loves going to the gym and getting into random hobbies (blogging, fiber arts, dancing, you name it). She joined NOVA to help out with the magazine, and to have a place to share her art.

Mayon
Mayon is a high school sophomore at Conestoga High School. Originally from India, he has a deep passion for writing and enjoys composing texts of all kinds. As a general editor for NOVA, Mayon aims to ensure that newer generations—who are increasingly immersed in technology—do not lose sight of the traditional ways information has been shared. He is committed to sparking interest in writing among future generations by merging classical skills with modern technology, thereby encouraging youth to explore and appreciate the field from a fresh perspective. In his free time, Mayon enjoys playing video games, practicing piano, and spending time at the beach. He is also a member of the newly established robotics team FRC 10989, which is currently in its beta phase and seeking funding and participants. Additionally, Mayon is involved with Gilded Kin, a recently formed nonprofit organization from Jersey that is dedicated to supporting the elderly in various ways.

Clara
Clara is a W4C moderator, grad student at the University of Pennsylvania, and former elementary school teacher. She joined NOVA because she loves creating zines and is interested in arts-based research. In her spare time, she can be found making arts and crafts, going on jogs and cooking extravagant brunches, always with a hot tea in hand.