Aardvarks are foragers, zig-zaggers, and burrow builders who provide refuge for others. They roam, spend time alone, and wander at night.
Purple Aardvarks are simply a group of good literary citizens who do all those things and are committed to supporting other writers. We are passionate about promoting high quality writing from the skinniest state in the Rust Belt because we believe in the oft-overlooked, the sometimes silenced, the smaller platforms who are dwarfed by the odds stacked against them. We believe in the universal truth in our individual experiences and we know that together, we can make all of our voices heard.
We can’t fix the world, but we can do our part to show what we’re made of and promote the powerful voices we’ve witnessed in these parts.
OUR TEAM
Watch for additional team bios to be added soon!
Steve Charles writes to find out what he’s thinking and to remember people and moments that matter to him. A middle child who grew up loving dogs, stories, and the outdoors in the American Southwest, where his father was born, he now loves dogs, stories, and the outdoors in Indiana, where his mother was born. A musician, photographer, editor of The New Platypus Review and former editor of Wabash Magazine, Child Life and Jack and Jill magazines, he is the father of six, grandfather of 15, and husband to CJ, who saves him daily.
For Maria Reynolds-Weir, words are paint. As a weekly columnist for the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Indiana, a Substacker who pens “Examined” under the name ML Greynolds, and a freelance writer, she focuses on end-of-life, health, faith, doubt, culture, and civic and social issues. She dabbles in poetry and fiction alongside many genres of non-fiction. She’s passionate about supporting fellow writers in bringing their work to audiences. With over two decades of experience as a writing educator, developmental and line editor, and a background in journalism education, she offers consulting and editing services. Day in and out, she plies her passion as editor, writer, and content strategist for the Daniels School of Business. Her work has been published in Macrina Magazine, Relevant Magazine, So It Goes, The New Platypus Review, and Poetry of the South. She holds an MFA from Chatham University.
Kelly O’Dell Stanley is a graphic designer and writer who delights in creating … well, anything. Her first four books were traditionally published, and recently she published a memoir with Purple Aardvark. Her Substack explores the intersection of faith with current culture. She founded her own graphic design business when her kids were little so that she could be home with them. They are now grown, living in three different states, and raising the grandchildren that are her greatest loves. Her business has evolved and changed, but she still loves what she does and the flexibility it provides. Her awards include first place in the Writer’s Digest Inspirational Writing contest, and her work has been published in Months to Years, Christianity.com, Crosswalk.com, (in)courage, Today’s Christian Woman, The New Platypus Review, and more. She and her husband, Tim, live in a renovated turn-of-the-century building in the small town of Ladoga, Indiana. Learn more at kellyostanley.com.
Gwynn Wills—Gwynn’s journey as a writer began in the fourth grade with a story about triplets in the Wild West. By seventh grade, she was crafting sequels to “Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” and by ninth grade, she was expressing her emotions through poetry, often reflecting on the heartache of being jilted by an older boyfriend. Although she initially intended to pursue a career in journalism, circumstances led her down a different path.
In 1995, she received a large cardboard box containing two decades’ worth of her estranged father’s poetry, short stories, and personal journals. This unexpected gift reignited her passion for writing and inspired her to embark on her creative journey once again.
After a distinguished 40-year career dedicated to serving children with communication disorders, Gwynn retired and became a certified Amherst Writers and Artists workshop leader. She founded Calliope Writers and leads writing groups in the area. Gwynn has been awarded a Lilly Creative Fellowship Grant to further her passion for poetry and has had her work published in the online journal Months to Years and The New Platypus Review.