my ecdysis

TweetMy entire name is Ana Lisa Fernandez Factora-Borchers. I go by Lisa. If you think you have a long name, just know this: when I fly, my name is so long they abbreviate it on my boarding pass and write ANA L Factora-Borchers. ANA L? Do you know how many times ANAL has been paged because I’m running late?

Ecdysis means the shedding of an outer layer.  It’s a biology term that describes the shedding of old skin when new skin is ready underneath, like a snake sliding out of its old colors.  This website, among many things, is now an archive of four years of two previous blogs Notes from Home Plate, My Ecdysis, and one vlogging YouTube channel.  This website holds my photography and mixed media creations, but primarily it is home to my writings in the feminist blogosphere, poetry, prose, and personal updates. 

In the clandestine year of 1979, I was born in Jersey and moved more times than you’d believe.  Childhood in NE Ohio. I graduated Xavier University (Cincinnati, aka the ‘Nasti) with a BA in English.  Moved to Aberdeen, WA and worked as a sexual assault advocate and educator. Decided to stop sexual assault altogether and went to grad school to figure out how. At Boston College, I received a joint masters degree in Counseling Psychology and Pastoral Ministry.  During grad school, I cross enrolled at neighboring universities and took a class in feminist theology which changed my life.  And, yes, I plan on telling every single person I know that I went to Harvard and conveniently leave out that it was only one course on my transcript.  Just kidding.  Not really.

I’m many things, but I’d identify primarily as a writer, minister, and Mother.

A close fourth would be photographer.

I was an assistant editor for make/shift magazine for over three years.  My work can also be found in The Feminist Review, Critical Moment, Left Turn, and Bitch magazines.  I’ve guest blogged for “Bitch,” (sorry, Mom)  “Feministe,”  “Asian Pacific Americans for Progress,” and “Flip Flopping Joy.”  I was recognized by Left Turn magazine as a Revolutionary Poet and was also publicly ripped apart in the Washington Post for my stance against mainstream feminism.  I am equally proud of these shout-outs.  If you glimpsed my W2s, you’d piece together my employment history includes working for colleges, universities, a women’s center, a church, and a retreat center.

My parents are from the Philippines and raised me and my three siblings Catholic.  I am politically independent and prioritize free thinking over other inalienable rights such as the right to bear arms and the 5th Amendment.  In 2005, I put on a huge sparkly dress and married the love of my life and prime opposite of my id, ego, and superego, Nick Borchers.  On December 20, 2009, I c-sectioned a beautiful 9lb 7oz boy, Isaiah. 

Currently my writing projects include an anthology transformative justice and healing from sexual violence. On deck is a memoir about feminism, the Midwest, spirituality, God, and Catholicism.

Welcome to my diggs.