Ellen is an acclaimed poet who has won many awards, including Pushcart Prizes, the Lamda Literary Award and the Pablo Neruda Prize, to mention a few. Her latest collection of poems, Indigo, was published by Copper Canyon Press this spring and it’s been called an instant classic and I can testify that my own copy is pretty dog-eared. Indigo also includes a gorgeous poem entitled “Grizzly.” Ellen teaches widely, including in the MFA writing program at Pacific University, and she founded poetry workshops at Salinas Valley State Prison and the Santa Cruz California jails.