ANTONIA CARDINALE
she/they · ella/elle
analyst · editor · artist · author
About Me
Hello stranger! My name is Antonia. I am a Bay Area born, Fresno raised award-winning author, editor, and artist. I am in my final year at Fresno State's MFA program, returning after I was awarded my BA in Philosophy and Pre Law. My work is substantially YA and modern fantasy, with themes that focus on challenging religious beliefs, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ celebration, and self acceptance. I'm always looking to subvert your expectations. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you stick around!
Upcoming Events
ANTONIA CARDINALE
Curriculum Vitae
Fresno, CA
Contact details here
Versatile analyst, editor, artist, and author, with a background in administrative support. Skilled in departmental organization, larger and smaller scale project management, white glove communication, and record keeping, all under a strict turnaround time. A collaborative team player, who is always willing to lead by example. Committed to self growth while pushing the boundaries with creative and innovative solutions.
EDUCATION
| California State University, Fresno | |
|---|---|
| Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction) Emphasis: Publishing and Editing Thesis: "Nayeli Castillo-Ramirez is Always Right" advisor: Professor Randa Jarrar Cumulative GPA: 4.0 | Dean's List: 2024-2025 Relevant Coursework: Practicum in Publishing and Editing, Literacy with Technology, Seminar in Form and Theory (Fiction), Seminar in Form and Theory (Poetry) | May 2027 |
| Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy Emphasis: Pre-Law Cum Laude | Cumulative GPA: 3.64 | Dean's List: 2019-2022 Relevant Coursework: Criminology and Violence in America, Ethical Theory, Chicana Women's Studies, Criminal Law, Political Economics of Latin America, Foundations of Knowledge, Freedom of Speech, Fiction Writing, Social Justice, Cognitive Science of the Mind, Fieldwork in Philosophy and Pre Law, Poetry Writing, Experimental Methods of Psychology | May 2022 |
AREAS OF INTEREST
| Screenplays, Short Stories, Modern Fantasy, Young and New Adult, Comedy, Queer Romance and Fiction, Chicanx History and Empowerment, Religious Deconstruction, Social Justice, Self Acceptance. |
PUBLICATIONS
| Fiction | |
|---|---|
| Flies, Cockroaches, and Poets Volume, 26 My Mother Says I Can't Be A Pop Star Boudin McNese Pride 2026 Her Treat | Feb. 2026 June 2026 |
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
| The Normal School Fresno, CA Senior Genre Editor (Fiction) & Editorial Assistant | Aug. 2026 - Present |
Read and analyze all Fiction submissions sent to the literary magazine, screening for appropriate themes, skills, and work that matches the values of the magazine.
Send acceptance and rejection letters with feedback to prospective readers in a kind and timely manner.
Supervise a small team of fiction readers to ensure all submissions are given a fair review, and deadlines for the magazine are consistently met, so as not to delay the production of an issue.
Copy edit or assign a reader to copy edit all accepted pieces.
Assist in the online archive project, uploading older publications to The Normal School’s website for free access.
Curate and distribute an email newsletter to be distributed five times throughout the year for current subscribers of The Normal School.
Maintain a high quality archival of The Normal School, and additional literary journal previous editions, checking for quality and continuity between print and the online archival.
Work various online and in person literary events as a staff member, documenting readings, taking photos, setting and cleaning up, all ensuring smooth and safe occasion for the readers, faculty, and audience.
| Fiction Editor and Social Media Coordinator | Aug. 2025 - Present |
Read and evaluate 10-15 fiction submissions weekly from writers across the globe for consideration, with the purpose of analyzing thematic content, and prose to ensure each piece supports the overall message of the magazine.
Provide comprehensive written and oral feedback to the editorial team recommending acceptance or rejection of submissions, under strict deadlines.
Assist in the online archive project, uploading older publications to The Normal School’s website for free access.
Create and post promotional content for The Normal School advertising new editions and call for artists to increase engagement to the magazine.
READINGS
| LitHop - Oppositional Gazes My Mother Says I Can't Be A Pop Star Goldstein's Mortuary and Delicatessen, Fresno CA | Oct. 18, 2025 |
| LitHop - The Divine Scam No Good Deed (Goes Unpunished) Hart Haven's Bookstore, Fresno CA | Oct. 18, 2025 |
| Rough Drafts Season 0, Episode 0.5 | Untitled California State University, Fresno CA | Nov. 8, 2026 |
HONORS, AWARDS, & SCHOLARSHIPS
| Andrés Montoya Memorial Scholarship Awarded to one undergraduate and one graduate student who demonstrate a significant interest in Chicano/a culture and/or history and who are pursuing a career in the field of creative writing. Judge: María Esquinca, author of the poetry collection Where Heaven Sinks Judge's remarks: "I was first impressed by Cardinale’s personal statement, asserting: “I will continue to write what I love, and push for representation that matters most to me.” Then, I read 'My Father’s Son(s),' a Y.A. story about Romeo, a Mexican trans boy who recently came out to his siblings and parents, and who is struggling to be accepted by his brother and father in a world punctured by machismo. Charming, urgent, and seamlessly blending Spanish and English, I couldn't put Cardinale’s story down. I will look forward to reading the book." | 2026 |
| Philip Levine Scholarship Awarded to a deserving student based on compelling writing and artistic potential in English or Creative Writing. | 2026 |
| Dean's List Awarded to students each semester with a 3.5 GPA or higher. | 2019-22, 2024-26 |
| Edward & Alberta Brown Scholarship Awarded to students in the Liberal Arts area with special preference given to students in the area of literature. | Fall 2024 |
| Juliana M. Bissett Philosophy Scholarship Awarded to Philosophy students in excellent academic standing. | 2019 |
| Italian American Undergraduate Scholarship Awarded to students in excellent academic standing, with Italian heritage. | 2019 |
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
| Occu-Med Fresno, CA Network Management Coordinator | Aug. 2022 - Present |
Coordinate the onboarding process for new clinics across the continental United States and overseas (Australia, Brazil, Spain etc.) to secure a seamless integration into Occu-Med’s network of providers.
Monitor key performance indicators of over 800+ of service providers and act as a liaison between Occu-Med to provide constructive feedback, fostering continuous improvement in services.
Supervise a small team of analysts to ensure all onboarding processes are followed appropriately, auditing their work on a daily basis and tracking their progress in Excel.
Oversee multiple long and short term interdepartmental projects to completion to ensure seamless integration into Occu-Med protocols, ranging from 2 weeks to 6-8 months.
Implement white glove communication and service for high profile candidates for timely and appropriate resolutions satisfactory to both the client and Occu-Med.
Curate and distribute training documents with Microsoft Developer when none previously existed for internal onboarding, maintaining a smooth interdepartmental transition.
Record and maintain appropriate records of interdepartmental meetings for internal and external usage.
Manage 3+ email inboxes, forwarding communication to the appropriate recipient or actioning as needed.
ANTONIA CARDINALE
Fresno, CA | contact details here
Versatile analyst, editor, artist, and writer, with a background in legal support and occupational medicine. Skilled in departmental organization, larger and smaller scale project management, white glove communication, training and onboarding support, record keeping, all under a strict turnaround time. A collaborative team player, who is always willing to lead by example. Committed to optimizing protocols while pushing the boundaries with creative and innovative solutions.
EDUCATION
| California State University, Fresno | |
|---|---|
| Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction) Emphasis: Publishing and Editing | May 2027 |
| Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy Emphasis: Pre-Law Cum Laude | May 2022 |
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
| The Normal School Fresno, CA Senior Genre Editor (Fiction) & Editorial Assistant | Aug. 2026 - Present |
Read and analyze all Fiction submissions sent to the literary magazine, screening for appropriate themes, skills, and work that matches the values of the magazine.
Send acceptance and rejection letters with feedback to prospective readers in a kind and timely manner.
Supervise a small team of fiction readers to ensure all submissions are given a fair review, and deadlines for the magazine are consistently met, so as not to delay the production of an issue.
Copy edit or assign a reader to copy edit all accepted pieces.
Assist in the online archive project, uploading older publications to The Normal School’s website for free access.
Curate and distribute an email newsletter to be distributed five times throughout the year for current subscribers of The Normal School.
Maintain a high quality archival of The Normal School, and additional literary journal previous editions, checking for quality and continuity between print and the online archival.
Work various online and in person literary events as a staff member, documenting readings, taking photos, setting and cleaning up, all ensuring smooth and safe occasion for the readers, faculty, and audience.
| Fiction Editor and Social Media Coordinator | Aug. 2025 - Present |
Read and evaluate 10-15 fiction submissions weekly from writers across the globe for consideration, with the purpose of analyzing thematic content, and prose to ensure each piece supports the overall message of the magazine.
Provide comprehensive written and oral feedback to the editorial team recommending acceptance or rejection of submissions, under strict deadlines.
Assist in the online archive project, uploading older publications to The Normal School’s website for free access.
Create and post promotional content for The Normal School advertising new editions and call for artists to increase engagement to the magazine.
PUBLICATIONS
| Fiction | |
|---|---|
| Flies, Cockroaches, and Poets Volume, 26 My Mother Says I Can't Be A Pop Star Boudin McNese Pride 2026 Her Treat | Feb. 2026 June 2026 |
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
| Occu-Med Fresno, CA Network Management Coordinator | Aug. 2022 - Present |
Coordinate the onboarding process for new clinics across the continental United States and overseas (Australia, Brazil, Spain etc.) to secure a seamless integration into Occu-Med’s network of providers.
Monitor key performance indicators of over 800+ of service providers and act as a liaison between Occu-Med to provide constructive feedback, fostering continuous improvement in services.
Supervise a small team of analysts to ensure all onboarding processes are followed appropriately, auditing their work on a daily basis and tracking their progress in Excel.
Oversee multiple long and short term interdepartmental projects to completion to ensure seamless integration into Occu-Med protocols, ranging from 2 weeks to 6-8 months.
Implement white glove communication and service for high profile candidates for timely and appropriate resolutions satisfactory to both the client and Occu-Med.
Curate and distribute training documents with Microsoft Developer when none previously existed for internal onboarding, maintaining a smooth interdepartmental transition.
Record and maintain appropriate records of interdepartmental meetings for internal and external usage.
Manage 3+ email inboxes, forwarding communication to the appropriate recipient or actioning as needed.
MISCELLANEOUS
| Skills: Database management, long and short term project management, document preparation, data entry and review, record keeping and management, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Submittable, proofreading, APA, Chicago Manual, Canva. |
| Areas of Interest: Screenplays, modern fantasy, young and new adult, comedy, romance queer fiction. |
Publications
My latest short story Her Treat was published in Boudin's Pride 2026 collection.
Check it out here!I am excited to announce that my short story My Mother Says I Can't Be A Pop Star was accepted for publication with Chicanx Writers & Artists Association (CWAA) Flies, Cockroaches & Poets Journal Volume 26!
Writing Samples
During my undergrad I completed a research project exploring the role music plays in relation to socializing. You can read that here. For informative or argumentative academic work, check out my essay I completed during my undergrad titled PETA's Racist Sentiments, which details how the organization PETA uses racism in their anti animal cruelty messaging. Or if you're looking for something more topical, perhaps you would enjoy my Philosophy Statement on the relationship between media, socialization and technology in regards to AI.
Business Inquiries
For more information about me or my work, please check out my resume or curriculum vitae! Interested in collaborating? Please reach out to me via email!
My Art
Commission Me
Commission requests can be submitted via Ko-Fi! I kindly ask that you review my terms of service prior to sending me any commission requests. You are always welcome to contact me directly, should you have any questions!
Terms of Service for Commissions
Please take a moment to review my terms of service to determine if I am the right fit for you. All prospective clients must read and agree to the Terms below prior to ordering a commission.
Breach of any terms will result in a cancellation of the Client's current order, and depending on the severity, blacklisting from future services and legal action where applicable. These Terms of Service are subject to revisions, editing, and additions without notice. It is the responsibility of the Client to ensure they are appropriately following the most up to date Terms of Service. It is encouraged that all Clients review the Terms of Service prior to each order placed.
By initiating a commission you have read and demonstrated a full understanding and acceptance of these terms. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
Thank you very much for considering me for a future commission.
Last Updated: 19 December, 2025
REQUESTING SERVICES
- All requests must be made directly with the artist, via email or Ko-Fi.
- Please be wary of suspicious messages, and report any impersonators.
- I kindly ask that all requests include at least one reference.
I WILL DRAW
- Humans
- Characters from media
- Original characters
- Most animals if a reference is provided
I WILL NOT DRAW
- NSFW
- Anything I decide it too complicated or outside of my current skill set.
- Art that can be interpreted as: homophobic, transphobic, racist, or in any way offensive to a sensible viewer.
As the artist I have the final say in what I am comfortable with drawing, and I reserve the right to refuse a commission for any reason. If this is determined to be the case, you will be contacted and refunded immediately prior to the start of any commission.
PRICING
> Sketch: Black-and-white rough drawing, no color, no shading, and no refined line work.
> Line Art: Clean, refined outline drawing with minimal shading, and no color.
> Flat Color: Clean lineart with solid colors filled in, no shading, and minimal detail work.
> Rendering: Fully colored and shaded artwork with clean lineart, highlights, textures, and the most detail possible.
| Service and Size | Icon | Bust | Full Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sketch | $15 | $22 | $38 |
| Line Art | $17 | $25 | $42 |
| Flat Color | $20 | $30 | $52 |
| Rendering | $25 | $40 | $65 |
At this time there is no option to commission me on Ko-Fi for a sketch only bust or full body. If you wish to request this, you must do so via EMAIL ONLY.
Add-ons/Extras
| Add On | Price Estimate |
|---|---|
| Additional Prop(s) | $7 - $20 |
| Additional Character(s) | $15 - $42 |
| Accompanying Animal | $15 - $25 |
| Background | $20 - $30 |
| Fantasy Elements | $5 - $28 |
Cost is per addition and price will vary by complexity. Clients are not limited to the number of additions they can request. Please keep in mind that additions will require extra time and could delay the process.KO-FI ONLY COMMS: Clients requesting commissions via Ko-Fi will be provided accurate pricing at checkout.EMAIL ONLY COMMS: Please remember- Prices are estimates based on complexity; final price may vary. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure they understand the final cost of the project.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
- When making your request please consider the following: pose, background, expression, body type, age, height, weight etc.
- If you have commissioned me previously, please feel free to send an example of my own work.
- Additional relevant instructions will be provided to any clients who use Ko-Fi to initiate a commission.
- When contacting me regarding your piece, please have the subject of your email read as follows: [YOUR NAME/USERNAME] | Commission - [Appropriate Listing: ie. Digital Icon/Digital Bust/Full Body Digital Image] - DATE - This will help ensure I am not missing any important communication regarding your work.
It is the client’s responsibility to effectively communicate their request.
REVISIONS
Revisions beyond 2 rounds may incur additional fees ($5-$20) depending on the modification requested. To avoid excessive revisions, please be sure to be detailed in your request as well as include multiple references. It is the client’s responsibility to effectively communicate their request in order to avoid any additional cost. The artist will inform the client of any additional fees for revisions during the process. Revision fees will be due within 24 hours of completed project and will be invoiced to the client alongside final payment.
USAGE
Commissions are to be used for personal use only. Artwork can only be posted with the appropriate credit given to the artist. I reserve the right to post any and all commissions to my social media. I will not be removing any signature or watermark included with your final piece. Any attempts to remove this will result in you being blacklisted as a client, and legal action where appropriate.
PAYMENT
KO-FI REQUESTS
Per Kofi Terms, I will make the commitment to review all request PRIOR to starting any pieces. Written requests without the appropriate add on will be denied and refunded immediately. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you are needing clarification on pricing. It is the Client’s (aka YOUR) responsibility to ensure they understand the final cost of the project.
NON KO-FI REQUESTS
Upon agreement of cost, I will request a 45% non refundable deposit via Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal. Once the deposit is received I will begin working on the project. When the project is complete to the Client's satisfaction, the client is responsible for the remittance of the remainder of payment within 24 hours.Refunds and cancellations are to be negotiated on a case by case basis. The client is also responsible for communicating any requests thoroughly to ensure satisfaction. Please be advised that the Client is not guaranteed a refund.
AI STATEMENT
Art from this artist at any stage should under no circumstances be used as NFTs or to train AI such as (but not limited to) the following: GPT-4o (ChatGPT), Canva, DeepAI, Bing Image Creator, OpenArt, starryai, Imagen 3 (Google Gemini), Adobe Firefly, Fotor, Stable Assistant (Stable Diffusion), Prodia, Runway, Midjourney, Craiyon, WOMBO Dream, Ideogram, getimg.ai, Visual Electric, Leonardo.Ai, Shutterstock, Picsart, Recraft, Generative AI by Getty, CF Studio, Dream Machine (Luma Photon), Deep Dream Generator, LetsEnhance, Playground, Artbreeder etc.If any of my work is used as an NFT or to train such services, you will be blacklisted as a client and unable to receive future services. If your art is unfinished you will not be refunded nor will you receive a completed piece. Any and all available legal action will be taken against you. AI is harmful to all creative industries and a violation of this policy will be treated with severity. Thank you for your understanding.