Harriet Riley is a freelance writer focusing on creative nonfiction. She publishes primarily short nonfiction pieces in magazines and on-line publications. Harriet recently had an essay in The Houston Chronicle Gray Matters column.  See other work in link. She has just moved to New Orleans after living in Houston, Texas for 11 years where she taught creative writing in a variety of settings with Writers in the Schools. Before moving to Houston, Harriet taught undergraduate writing classes at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.  She has also worked as a non-profit director, hospital marketing director, and newspaper reporter. She has her MA in print journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and her BA in English and journalism from the University of Mississippi.

Harriet proudly worked ten years with Writers in the Schools. She taught creative writing in WITS programs at the Arboretum, the Menil Collection, KIPP Middle School and Texas Children’s Hospital. She has been a writer-in-residence in Houston at Hunters Creek Elementary School, Lyons Elementary School, Briarmeadow Charter School, Travis Elementary School, Kujawa Elementary School, and Pugh Elementary School. She also worked with the WITS Collaborative coaching teachers in HISD in effective writing techniques. She has also taught creative writing at the Duke Scholars Weekend at the University of Houston.  In addition, she taught an adult creative writing class through the Spring Branch Community Education program and at The Spectrum Center, She has recently led writing workshops in North Carolina and Georgia.