A chronically ill poet, artist, and editor, Avery C. Castillo’s art is fueled by 20+ years of living with a childhood autoimmune disease and chronic pain. A 2025 Picture Book Mentee with We Need Diverse Books, Avery writes to give voice to the unique, and often, invisible experience of growing up with Juvenile Arthritis. Her writing has been published in a variety of anthologies and literary magazines. She is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Visit writingsbyavery.com for more.
