Kionna Walker LeMalle

Kionna Walker LeMalle grew up in the inner city of New Orleans where she fell in love with Jesus, shrimp po-boys, the second line, and a visiting country boy named Averri. This is also where she learned to listen to distinct voices, recognize contrasting struggles, and value the restorative power of community. A Southern girl at heart, LeMalle is drawn to stories both warped and shaped by the distinct American South, a region that continues to fuel her imagination. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Houston Christian University where she now serves as an adjunct professor. LeMalle’s work has been featured in table//FEAST, The Southern Quarterly, The Bayou Review, and Devotion in the Open Air, an Inked in Gray anthology. Her debut novel, Behind the Waterline, won the Lee Smith Novel Prize and was published by Blair in 2025. Find out more at www.writerteacherfriend.com.

Ten Things I Can’t Do Without

1. My God and His continuous divine intervention
2. My husband (who is also my pastor, lover, and very best friend)
3. Hugs from my young adult children
4. My granddaughter’s smile and laughter
5. Iced Earl Grey tea with lemon cold foam
6. Hot matcha with hints of lavender and vanilla
7. Evenings on my patio, enjoying the scents of rosemary and sage
8. My mama’s smothered okra with shrimp and sausage
9. Gospel music, traditional and contemporary
10. Time to rest and reflect on God’s goodness