Nice to meet you

I’m Emily Arauza. You might know me as the author of my debut book Idiosyncratic & my latest novel, Just Be, but writing isn’t my only love. Journalism is where I bring stories to life, and with Houston Next Up, I’m capturing the pulse of this city—one artist, one dream, one breakthrough at a time. This isn’t about what’s trending; it’s about what’s next. This is where raw talent meets purpose, where stories get told before they’re big enough to trend. I didn’t create this to follow a formula; I created this because I’ve seen what happens when the right people get heard. Here, we don’t just highlight the art; we amplify the artists, the ones who see the world differently and aren’t intimidated to change it.

This isn’t about me—it’s about us. The city. The culture. What’s next. If you get it, you’re already part of it.