Rita Hanner-Ward

A contemporary American writer and poet whose insights are reflected in her short essays and poems that explore memory, grief, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Colorado-raised, now residing in Arizona, she is a woman of many passions, each adding a unique dimension to her personality. Rita divides her time between writing, volunteering for hospice, clay hand-building, and caring for her loyal companion, Zorro. Writing under the pseudonym Kiva Wolfe, she published her debut novel, Red Flash, in 2005 and republished it independently in 2025. Having just completed Tears of Iemanjá, the sequel to Red Flash, she is presently putting the finishing touches on the first book of a new mystery series, both set for release later in 2026. Her literary repertoire extends beyond novels, essays, and media contributions into poetry, where she explores themes of memory, grief, and redemption. The release of her first poetry collection, Her Inconvenient Elegy: A Life in Fragments, is a significant milestone in her diverse and intriguing career. A second book of collected poems, Her Song of Sorrows, is in the works.