Adiela Akoo is an emerging South African poet and author. Apart from writing, she has a background in banking and comprehensive healing and in her spare time loves creating art and crafts using mixed media, watching movies, playing scrabble or chess, creating in the kitchen, or chatting to the birds out in the garden, among other things. She has been published in a variety of anthologies and journals including Best of Africa, Best Emerging Poets of 2019, Best New African Poets of 2020, The Penmen Review, Fidelities, Universul Culturii, 25 Years of Freedom, ILA Magazine, and others. Her poem "Whiplash" was quoted in The House of Parliament. She was nominated as one of the Top 7 'Most Promising Literary Influencers' in the GBCAwards 2020. She is a recipient of the prestigious DUX Award, a recipient of The Silver Star Award and has represented the Durban UNESCO City of Literature in collaborations with other cities of literature. Lost in a Quatrain is her soul-stirring debut collection of relatable, inspirational and thought-provoking poetry on a journey to becoming, a journey of hope and healing. It was First Runner-Up for poetry at the SAIP Awards 2021 Adiela believes that the best thing about being a writer is having the capacity to touch the heart of another being with your words. So it brings her immense joy when readers respond to Lost in a Quatrain by saying, "I love this book, it touched my heart', "This helped my soul heal", "This book made me smile... and cry", "I felt as if you were writing about me", 'This is soul food" Adiela is a passionate ambassador of literacy and has volunteered her time in the position of Vice Chair of Litasa, (KZN), The Literacy Association of South Africa. She is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the new literary journal, The Quilled Ink Review. Adiela is married, to a medical doctor, and they have three children, a son and two daughters.