Teresa Marita McGuire is an independent author and spoken word performing artist with experience in Mississippi and Tennessee. She currently writes and performs original poetry. She was a small press reader at the 2023 New Orleans (LA) Poetry Festival, placed first in the 2021 “History around Memphis (TN)” Poetry Slam at the Orpheum Theatre, and placed third in the 2021 V.O.I.C.E. Talent Showcase. A poetic storyteller, Teresa believes everyone has a story to write in the way we live our lives. She writes from the heart about central themes of love and social justice because Teresa believes God is love. She self-published My Soul Speaks Poems about Love with heartwarming poetry and mini-stories. Her short story, Coffee for Two, was published in the Southern Christian Writers Conference eBook, It’s a (Coffee) Date. Teresa blogs in As for Me and produces a podcast of the same name. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in counseling from the University of Memphis.