Iliana Tersy was born 09/20/1972 in NYC to Guillermo and Yolanda Tersy (nee Garcia).  Tersy is of Latino ancestry from Cuba and the Dominican Republic.  Iliana was raised with her two siblings Mariela and Guillermo in Jamaica, NY.  She moved to Miami, FL, in 1990 to attend college.  Tersy earned a BA in Psychology and MSW from Florida International University.  She traveled for several years abroad during and immediately after graduate school.  She works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Miami, FL.  Tersy first began writing poetry in middle school, and took courses in Composition and Creative Writing during college.  Her first published poem was, "I have a Friend Who Lives in Indianapolis (2000)." She has published several individual poems in anthologies and magazines.  Iliana is a member of the International Society of Poets and Voices of Our Nation Writers of Color Council.  Two of her poetry collections have been published with Watermark Press and as abridged chapbooks with Lulu Press: Letters (2004), Letters Abridged (2009), and Wind (2009).  She published her first short story, "Our Last Weekend," with Barnes & Nobles e-books publishing.  A hardcopy novella version was published by Lulu Press (2010).  She resides in Cutler Bay, FL, with her spouse Bryan and their two small sons.

ISP Merit in Poetry Award: Silver Bowl & Medal 2002. VONA Symposium & Scholarship 2004.