Mateal Lovaas Ishihara holds an MFA in creative writing from Iowa State University and a B.A. in international studies from Middlebury College. She works as an English teacher and has taught second-graders up through college students. When she’s not teaching, she writes fiction, usually for children and young adults. Her research-rich work focuses on environmentalism, social justice, and LGBTQ issues. She is the recipient of Middlebury’s Alison Fraker Prize for feminist writing. Her most recent short story, “Crossing Harvard Yard,” was published in New England Review. You can read more about Mateal and her writing process for this story at NER’s Behind the Byline. Mateal is currently working on several writing projects, including a historical novel for teens. She lives with her wife, young daughter, and rather hyper Jack Russell terrier in Southern California.