The Coterie 2025-2026 Blog Team

Jesse is a fourth year Huron student pursuing a double major in English and Linguistics. He edits posts for the Coterie blog, fueled by a passion for the intricacies of grammar and style. Jesse has an interest in interdisciplinary approaches to literary studies, especially in relation to the fields of stylistics and narratology. He also enjoys spending time with his adorable shepherd-retriever Buck and reading a good book with tea or coffee.

Sonia is a fourth-year student at Western. She is pursuing an Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature as well as a minor in Philosophy. She is excited to bring to life the vision of the blog team and the Coterie through visuals and design! Her writing and love of literature is deeply inspired by Romantic writers like Wordsworth, Keats, and the Shelleys. She loves scribbling poems in her notebook, reading by the lake, exercising, and cooking.

Kiana is a fourth year student who is completing an Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Literature, while also majoring in Film Studies at Western University. Her interest in blog writing stems from a love to write in variety of ways (some include: poetry, scriptwriting, short stories, and comics). Fun Fact: She was nominated in the animation category at the 2022 Forest City Youth Film Festival! Some of her hobbies include drawing, reading, writing, and video games.

Lubna is a fourth year student at Western, pursuing an Honours Double Major in French Studies and English Language and Literature. She is excited to return for her second year as a Blog Writer for the Coterie, having previously written about the indispensable value of public libraries and her interview with 2024/25 Writer-in-Residence, Saeed Teebi. In her free time, Lubna enjoys obsessing over books and posting about them on Goodreads (who could’ve guessed?), discovering new corners of the world, and spending time with her family and friends.

Afrah is a third year student pursuing an Honours Specialization in English Language and Literature with a minor in Biology. Her passion for writing began mainly through penning poems. As with everything, it branched out to other forms of written word—longer prose pieces, confessional writing, etc. Her words, which are often steeped in longing and imagination, are steadfast companions in a world she often feels has gone astray. Her hobbies include reading, writing, sewing, and oil pastel art. Fun fact: She started a Substack during the summer for fun!

Yasmin is a second year SASAH, Creative Writing, and Ivey student to whom writing is like breathing out.

Yasmin’s favourite authors include Oscar Wilde, Madeline Miller, and Kaveh Akbar. She is particularly interested in fantasy writing — what she believes to be fiction in its most powerful form.