About

Karian Markos is a Greek American poet, fiction writer, and nonprofit attorney based in Elmhurst, Illinois. Her debut poetry collection, Esemplastic: Many and One, published by Highland Park Poetry Press in August 2024, received the 2024 Prairie State Poetry Prize and earned the honorable mention for the 2025 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year. Karian’s award-winning poetry and fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies including Carmina Magazine, Hemingway Shorts Literary Journal, Living Crue Magazine, and Bombfire. For more about Karian and her work, visit www.karianmarkos.com.​​​

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Karian's Greek heritage is rooted in the village of Kardamyla, Chios, Greece. The island's medieval history, natural beauty, and strong naval tradition provide a treasure trove of inspiration for her writing. 

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