Poetry
Poetry writers from Minnesota.
Bill Meissner
Writer/teacher Bill Meissner is the author of 11 books, including four books of fiction, five books of poetry, and two novels. His newest book is Summer of Rain, Summer of Fire, a family drama novel set during the turbulent years of the late 1960s. He frequently visits schools – from elementary school to college level…
Brittany Chaffee
Brittany Chaffee is an avid storyteller, professional empath, and author. On the daily, she gets paid to strategize and create content for brands. Off work hours, it’s all about a well-lit place, warm bread, and good company. Her first book, Wild Morning was released in 2017. Her recent work, Borderline: A Series of Essays, is…
Susan Thurston
Susan Thurston’s grandfather loved a poem she wrote in second grade, and within the glow of his appreciation, she decided to become a writer. Later, a well-meaning adult mentioned that as a journalist, she could earn her living. She became a reporter and editor, but wouldn’t really say what she earned was a living. She…
Dale A. Swanson
Dale A. Swanson is a published author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright. His historical novel, The Thirty-ninth Man, made the Star Tribune “Best book read” in 2013. The sequel, Tears of Sorrow, was released in 2018. His fantasy chapter book, The Wild Ways: Mystery of the Hanging Tower, for 9- to 99-year-old readers, was published in…
Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple is an author, musician, web designer, and professional card player. He has written eight novels, including Pay the Piper (with Jane Yolen), winner of the 2006 Locus Award winner for Best Young Adult Book. Of his debut solo novel, Singer of Souls, Anne McCaffrey said, “One of the best first novels I have…
Mary Kay Rummel
Mary Kay Rummel grew up in Saint Paul. She attended St. Catherine University and the University of Minnesota and is a professor emerita from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The Lifeline Trembles, won the 2014 Blue Light Poetry Prize. Her first book, This Body She’s Entered, was a Minnesota Book Award winner. Love in the…
Donna Isaac
Poet Donna Isaac grew up in the South but has been part of Minnesota’s writing community for over 40 years. She has a B.A. in English (James Madison University); an M.A. in English (University of Minnesota); and an MFA in creative writing (Hamline University) where she won Best Poetry Thesis in 2007. She is on…
Margaret Hasse
Margaret Hasse’s collections of lyric poems are grounded in the prairies and towns of the Midwest. Her poetry has been published in unusual community locations, such as on the sidewalks and on metro transit in Saint Paul. As a teaching poet, she’s conducted residencies in schools and communities statewide, taught in prisons, offered workshops, and…
Marisha Chamberlain
Marisha Chamberlain is a multi-genre writer. Her debut novel, The Rose Variations, was favorably reviewed by the New York Times and her play, Scheherazade, won the Dramatists Guild/CBS National Award. The World Beloved, Chamberlain’s collaboration with composer Carol Barnett, is widely performed. Their collaboration, Mortals & Angels, premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2016. Chamberlain has…
Bryan Thao Worra
Bryan Thao Worra is the Lao Minnesotan Poet Laureate and holds over 20 national and international awards for his writing and community leadership. He is the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association and 2019 Joyce Fellow. He holds a 2009 NEA Fellowship in Literature, and represented the nation of Laos during the…