Isabella J Aaseng

Raised in an off the grid cabin in the rugged wilderness of Montanas’ Rocky Mountains, Isabella learned early how to channel the often unforgiving nature of life & loss through creativity. This was no different when moving to the Pacific Northwest after graduating high school to explore the new freedom of adolescence and big cities. While working in a funeral home, she realized the profound juxtaposition in the space between life and death- where writing became the only way to capture the overwhelming grief she was adopting from people around her- often having some of the worst days of their lives. For some levity between dead bodies, Isabella also brought baby goats to parties in the Portland metro area- sometimes ending back up at the same doorsteps where death knocked just months before. This intimate experience of carrying death in her arms, while balancing life building and birthing baby goats, helped to shape her creative voice and lent itself well to the poetry. Now she moves around, waiting for the next place to call home. but for the time being, she likes to spend her spare time in Ireland painting watercolor postcards and visiting her ex boyfriends’ ancient castle.