Rachel Turney
Educator · Poet · Editor · Advocate
ABOUT RACHEL
Dr. Rachel Turney (she/her) is an educator and artist based in Denver, Colorado. Her work sits at the intersection of poetry, research, and advocacy — driven by a deep passion for immigrant rights, teacher support, and empowering other artists.
Her perspective is shaped by her time in higher education, her life as a global citizen, and her experience as a woman navigating expectation versus reality. Whether through verse, essay, or editorial work, Rachel writes with a critical eye to the state of womanhood in society—and a hopeful heart for what it can become.
She is a Writers' Hour prize winner and a Best of the Net nominee. Her photography has appeared on multiple magazine covers. Beyond her own writing, Rachel runs the popular online reading series Poetry (in Brief), serves on staff at Bare Back Magazine with her monthly column Friday Night in the Suburbs, and reads for The Los Angeles Review.
ABOUT TO BE (A WOMAN)
To Be (a Woman) is a poetry collection that examines womanhood through the past, the workplace, relationships, mental health, travel, and metaphor. Poetry, nonfiction, and storytelling converge in a compelling journey of self-discovery and self-love. This book embodies everything redrosethorns stands for: examining societal expectations, reclaiming identity, and empowering voices.
To Be Released: May 2026
JOIN THE BOOKLAUNCH
We are hosting the book launch at Honey Art Gallery in San Francisco on 19 May 2026. Click below to get your tickets.
OTHER BOOKS BY RACHEL
Rachel has an exciting array of collections you can find below:
Record Player Life (The Poetry Lighthouse)
Retired Wannabe Club Kid (Parlyaree Press)
Women Making Soup Together (Vinegar Press)
This, My Ligurian Sea [TBA]
SELECTED PUBLICATION CREDITS
Rachel's poems, articles, reviews, and drawings have appeared widely. Selected credits include:
Literary Magazines & Journals
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Mediterranean Poetry
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Major 7th Magazine
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The Los Angeles Review (as a reader)
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Bare Back Magazine (monthly column: Friday Night in the Suburbs)
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Numerous other poetry journals and anthologies
Editorial & Literary Citizenship
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Founder & Host: Poetry (in Brief) — a popular online reading series
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Staff Columnist: Bare Back Magazine
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Reader: The Los Angeles Review
Podcasts
Recognition
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Writers' Hour Prize Winner
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Best of the Net Nominee
Additional Work
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Cover photography featured in multiple magazines
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Research articles and academic publications
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Book reviews and critical essays
SAMPLE POEM
The poem below was originally published in redrosethorns journal and will be included in To Be (a Woman):
Gotta
My mom’s dad told me
you can be anything you want to be,
but you gotta get an education.
My mom’s mom told me
you can buy anything you want to buy,
but you gotta invest in property.
My dad’s dad told me
you can go anywhere you want to go,
but you gotta learn and know the dangers;
respect other people.
My dad’s mom told me
you can be alone; you can do it on your own,
but you gotta be wise and shrewd.
My mom told me
you can have a great career and help others too;
but you gotta keep your balance.
My dad told me
you can be an athlete, strong and capable,
but you gotta train and practice.
My sister told me
you can be an artist,
but you gotta ignore the critics.
My brother told me
you can overcome,
but you gotta be tougher than the pull.
My kid sister told me
you can love completely,
but you gotta accept that it’s not a weakness.
My friends told me
you can do it; you can do absolutely anything
you want to do,
but you gotta stay realistic; stay grounded.
I told myself
I can achieve any and every goal,
but I gotta decide
which ones are mine.
~ Rachel Turney
PRAISE & RECOGNITION
"Rachel Turney writes with a critical eye to the state of womanhood in society and a hopeful heart for what we can become."
— Kirsty Anne Richards, Founder & Editorial Director at redrosethorns
CONNECT WITH RACHEL
Website: turneytalks.wordpress.com
Instagram: @turneytalks
Bluesky: @rachelturney
Substack: @rturney
For press inquiries, readings, or collaborations: contact@redrosethorns.com
