By: Alva Ree
1. You’re currently developing a platform called Bookmark NYC. What is it, and what inspired you to create a technology project centered on the city’s literary culture?
I’m developing the platform Bookmark NYC to document and celebrate the literary culture of New York City. I plan to scale to more cities eventually. The project aims to highlight independent bookstores, libraries, and literary landmarks. New York has always been a gathering place for writers and ideas, and I am creating a tool that maps those spaces in an engaging way.
The inspiration came from my own experiences walking through neighborhoods like the Village, passing the former homes of writers like Twain and Poe, learning about the history of 4th Avenue’s early 20th-century book trading market, and visiting libraries. I see these places like coordinates in a cultural map. Bookmark NYC grew out of that realization. It combines my interests in storytelling, history, and technology while helping people discover the city through its rich literary heritage.
2. As a business proposal writer in education technology, what drew you to the tech industry?
My path into ed tech grew naturally out of my background as a school teacher. I spent many years working in literacy instruction and supporting students with learning disabilities, and that experience showed me the power of effective technology to support teachers and help students learn in personalized ways.
My role involves translating complex ideas about software and learning tools into clear narratives that schools and district leaders understand. In this position, I impact the national education system.
3. Many people think of tech as purely technical, but your background is in literature and education. How has that influenced you?
Literature explores meaning-making, how to understand human behavior and informs your world lens. Education is a practice of how people actually learn. When those perspectives combine and are applied to technology, it’s not about code and infrastructure; it’s about connecting people. Whether you’re writing a proposal, designing a product, or explaining an idea, the ability to tell a clear story matters.
4. As someone balancing both a professional career and personal creative projects, how do you balance aspiring entrepreneurship with your identity as a writer and artist?
Entrepreneurship and creativity are not competing forces. They are extensions of the same impulse to imagine and build something that does not yet exist. My work in tech engages the strategic parts of my mind, while my artistry provides space to explore my ideas more intuitively. Rather than separating those identities, I see them as complementary parts of the same creative life.
Photo Courtesy: Bookmark NYC / Kalyn Higgins
5. What opportunities do you see emerging right now at the intersection of artificial intelligence, storytelling, and human creativity?
We’re in a moment where the capabilities of AI are rising exponentially. It’s exciting for writers and creators to collaborate with AI as a partner. For this reason, I’ve named one of my bots Scout. Tools help generate ideas and explore alternate points of view.
Another opportunity lies in socioeconomic access. Historically, business ventures, filmmaking, publishing, and other types of production have required significant resources. AI lowers those barriers and enables more people to develop their ideas without large budgets or specialized training. A wider range of voices that might otherwise remain unheard can share their perspectives. Humans will provide meaning, perspective, and authenticity, while AI expands the possibilities of creative expression. It’s a rethinking of authorship.
6. Looking ahead, what kind of impact do you hope to have in the tech world as an entrepreneur and creator?
I hope to contribute to a vision of technology that is human-centered and culturally rich. I believe the greatest potential lies in its ability to expand knowledge, connect people to ideas, and create space for communities. For this reason, I’m building the platform Bookmark NYC to intentionally combine storytelling, education, and technology. Bookmark NYC reflects that philosophy.
The hope is to build bridges between literature, tech, creativity, entrepreneurship, culture and innovation. When those planes intersect, magic happens. Why choose one when you can do it all?
