EMDASH AKA EMILY LU GAO
(高璐璐)
EMDASH a.k.a Emily Lu Gao (高璐璐) is a multi-genre writer, artist, and daughter of Chinese immigrants. She writes to heal, grow, and decolonize. For two years she produced, hosted, and curated The Word Bookstore Open Mic in New Jersey. A 2025 LAMBDA Fellow, They’ve received funding from Sundress Publications, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers Conference, Jersey City Arts Council and more. She is also a Best of the Net nominee in Poetry and Microfiction as well as a Kenyon Adult Writers alumni. Her work has been published in Taco Bell Quarterly, Poetry Northwest, Poetry Online, Underblong, The Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles, and other great places. She holds a MFA in Poetry from The University of Rutgers-Newark. When not writing, they are likely telling one too many jokes. (She/They)
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou
