My six full-length collections of poetry include Air, Light, Dust, Shadow, Distance, winner of the 42 Miles Press Prize; My Life in Heaven, winner of the FIELD Prize; Beauty Breaks In; Purr; Inside the Yellow Dress; and Captivity Narrative, winner of the Ohio State UP/The Journal Prize. I have also published two chapbooks.

 

In fall 2025, my seventh book, The Return from Calvary, will be published by 42 Miles Press. 

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You can also follow me on Substack where I write about writing, teaching, baking, gardening, weaving, and many other things at  Cake & Poetry

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Since 2002, I have taught in the undergraduate and MFA programs in creative writing at West Virginia University where I am currently a Professor of English and have won awards as an outstanding teacher, researcher, and mentor. My students have gone on to publish more than 20 books. I live in West Virginia and in my home state, Michigan.