Who we are
Asheville Blade co-op
David Forbes – editor, journalist
A journalist and writer in Asheville for over 15 years, David Forbes started the Blade after a union fight and witnessing how establishment media failed to tell the truth to the public. She writes about history, life and, of course, fighting city hall. They live in downtown, where they drink too much tea and scheme for anarchy.
Matilda Bliss – writer, journalist
Born in Appalachia, Matilda is a nonbinary trans woman who has lived in Asheville since 2015. When she isn’t writing for the Blade, she’s looking after animals or making community calendars for folks looking to be involved in activism and mutual aid. She also enjoys writing poetry and making jewelry. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Tennessee. Work that opposes gentrification and the prison industrial complex and promotes sustainable communities is her passion.
Veronica Coit – videographer, journalist
Veronica Coit is birth giver to two, mother to a few and grandma to one. They are a hair stylist by trade; cat rescuer and advocate by passion. Veronica is an award-winning community volunteer who founded Asheville Cat Weirdos and the ACW Emergency Fund, both with the goal of improving the lives of companion animals and their humans in WNC.
Orion Solstice – photographer, journalist
Orion Solstice is a queer trans activist dedicated to bringing truth and beauty into this world through various mediums with a focus on photography. He is a full time artistic freelancer of a wide variety of arts and loving father of an elderly cat companion and five fish.
Contributors
Stephen Eggett – webmaster
Stephen has been a resident of the Asheville area since 2005. He moved to the area to pursue a bachelor degree at UNCA, subsequently met his wife, and has since put down roots. He has worked as a web marketing and front-end development professional since 2008. In recent years he has become passionate about local issues, and sees his support of the Blade as a way to help promote public dialogue on these issues through high quality journalism.
Wendy Lou – designer
Wendy Lou is always ready for the next project. She loves people, engaging conversation, technology, and design. Social media, graphic design, branding, and events are at the center of her current professional endeavors. Buttons, dashes, and clouds are a few of her favorite things. Fagan the Dog is her side kick.
Max Cooper – contributing photographer
Max Cooper is a photographer based in Asheville, NC. His art and documentary photography has garnered widespread praise, including a merit award from Black & White Magazine, and his editorial work has been recognized with awards from the National Newspaper Association and the Association of Alternative Newsmedia.
Cooper’s work has appeared in Our State, The New York Times, WNC Magazine, Food Network Magazine, Black & White, Beer West, Everywhere, Mountain Xpress, Asheville Citizen-Times, VERVE, Bold Life, and Carolina Public Press. He lives on the edge of town with his incredibly patient wife and an ungrateful cat.
Leigh Cowart – contributing writer, scientist
Leigh Cowart is a freelance journalist and writer covering science, sports, and sex. Their work has appeared in The Independent, Hazlitt, Vice, The Daily Beast, Buzzfeed News, the Verge, SB Nation, and Deadspin, among others.
Bill Rhodes – contributing photographer
Bill Rhodes is an Asheville-based photojournalist whose work has appeared in many places including The New York Times, Popular Mechanics, Backpacker, The Asheville Citizen-Times and Our State. He is currently a hermit living on Mt. Pisgah with two dogs.
Past contributors
These are some of the writers, freelancers and columnists who’ve contributed to the Blade in the past seven years of our existence.
Byron Ballard
Jenny Bowen
Comrade Black
Joy Chin
Patrick Conant
Emily Foley
Jennifer Gordon
Martin Ramsey
Victoria Rodriguez
Sheneika Smith
Nicole Townsend
Ami Worthen