Michelle Ayon Navajas is a highly accomplished Filipino poet, writer, and educator. She is celebrated for her exceptional literary achievements and contributions to the global poetry community. Born June 23, 1976, she earned recognition for her creative works and impact as a literary editor and educator.
Career Highlights and Publications:
- Best-Selling Author: Michelle is a best-selling poet with multiple books achieving significant success on international platforms. Her eighth poetry collection, I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark, topped the best-sellers and new releases lists on Amazon shortly after its release. Her seventh book, It Ain’t Winning If Without You, became an Amazon best-seller within 24 hours. It reached the #1 spot on Amazon India on its release day and soon rose to prominence in other Amazon markets worldwide.
- Amazon Best-Sellers and Awards: Michelle has maintained a remarkable streak with five of her books making it to the Amazon Best-Sellers list, including I Will Love You Forever, Too, After Rain Skies (2nd edition), It Ain’t Winning If Without You, I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark, and Locker. Four of her books have also been featured in Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases/New Releases category. In 2023, Locker won the Best-Seller of the Year Award at the Indian Star Awards.
- Poetry Publications: Her poems have been widely published in prestigious international literary magazines and anthologies, such as Spillwords NYC, MasticadoresUSA, and MasticadoresIndia. Notably, her poems Holding Hands and Love Happens received accolades as Spillwords Publication of the Month in November 2021 and December 2022, respectively. Michelle was named an Honorary Awardee by Spillwords Press for both 2022 and 2023 and was recognized as the “Author of the Month” in March 2023.
- Anthology Contributions: Michelle is also featured in two Amazon Best-Selling poetry anthologies, Hidden In Childhood and Wounds I Healed, which showcase her collaborative work with other award-winning authors.
Editorial and Educational Roles:
- Editor of Hotel Masticadores: Michelle serves as the editor of Hotel Masticadores, an international literary magazine with readers across 19 countries and is available in five languages. This platform is part of a larger network of Masticadores magazines worldwide, and Michelle is also involved in launching Masticadores Philippines to highlight writers and poets from the Philippines.
- Academic Background: A graduate of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City with a Master of Education degree majoring in English, Michelle has taught a wide range of subjects, including literature, speech and oral communication, creative writing, drama, and theater arts at institutions such as Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod and Riverside College. She also holds a degree in Mass Communications with a major in Journalism from Centro Escolar University in Manila.
- Freelance Writer: Besides her academic career, Michelle is a freelance creative writer and blogger. Her blog, michnavs.wordpress.com, features her prose and poetry, focusing on themes of love, life, motherhood, and advocacy against abuse and violence.
Themes and Inspirations:
Michelle’s writing is deeply influenced by the people around her, often drawn from personal experiences, conversations, and observations in everyday life. Much of her work is dedicated to her role as a mother, and many of her poems and stories reflect her love and devotion to her children. Additionally, her first book, After-Rain Skies, explores sensitive themes of abuse and violence, aiming to raise awareness and contribute to ending the culture of abuse.
Awards and Recognition:
- Honorary Awardee of Spillwords Press New York (2022, 2023)
- Spillwords Press “Author of the Month” – March 2023
- Best-Seller of the Year Award, Indian Star Awards 2023 for Locker
Michelle Ayon Navajas is not only a poet but a passionate advocate for social change, a mentor to aspiring writers, and an active contributor to the global literary landscape. Through her work, she continues to inspire and touch the lives of many readers worldwide.
Published By: Aize Perez
