TalkWithME

Just listen! For Mark’s stories and poetry. For his respect and love for humanity. Be inspired!

Mark comes from a large family with 3 languages: Spanish, Yiddish, & also English. He studied with Poet & Professor Kenneth Koch who introduced Mark to the love of poetry & to the love of his life, Katherine Koch, Kenneth’s daughter. After many years living & parenting & teaching & writing in Brooklyn, Mark & Katherine moved to Mexico. His poetry collections include That Train Again (Lavender Ink, 2015), A Map of the Winds (Lavender Ink, 2013) and Tourist at a Miracle (Hanging Loose, 2010). Other books include Black Tulips: The Selected Poems of José María Hinojosa (University of New Orleans Press, 2012), the first English language translation of the significant poet of Spain’s Generation of 1927, and, with Pablo Medina, a translation of of Federico García Lorca’s Poet in New York (Grove 2008), His next translation collection, Never Made in America; Selected Poetry of Martín Barea Mattos, will appear with Lavender Ink/diálogos in April 2017. A former Associate Professor of Literary Studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School, he currently lives in Oaxaca, Mexico. Follow Mark Statman at twitter.com/statmanm & http://markstatman.com/

Katie grew up in Lawrence, KS & lives there now. Between then & now she has lived, worked, & studied in Chicago, CO, Seattle, NY, & Taos. She has an MA from the U of CO in Education Foundations, Policy & Practice. More important, she has a passion for helping people of all ages and backgrounds learn & grow, including through arts and creativity. She has worked with youth in foster care, people experiencing homelessness, & immigrants. Currently Katie’s life is rich with family, friends, and her work guiding The Lawrence Laboratory, where diverse teachers from the community teach topics they are passionate about. 60-90 minute classes are hands-on or discussion-based to engage diverse adult learners. Follow Katie & The Lawrence Laboratory at www.facebook.com/The-Lawrence-Laboratory-1713296055603635 & www.thelawrencelab.com

Just listen! For Mark’s stories and poetry. For his respect and love for humanity. Be inspired!

Mark comes from a large family with 3 languages: Spanish, Yiddish, & also English. He studied with Poet & Professor Kenneth Koch who introduced Mark to the love of poetry & to the love of his life, Katherine Koch, Kenneth’s daughter. After many years living & parenting & teaching & writing in Brooklyn, Mark & Katherine moved to Mexico. His poetry collections include That Train Again (Lavender Ink, 2015), A Map of the Winds (Lavender Ink, 2013) and Tourist at a Miracle (Hanging Loose, 2010). Other books include Black Tulips: The Selected Poems of José María Hinojosa (University of New Orleans Press, 2012), the first English language translation of the significant poet of Spain’s Generation of 1927, and, with Pablo Medina, a translation of of Federico García Lorca’s Poet in New York (Grove 2008), His next translation collection, Never Made in America; Selected Poetry of Martín Barea Mattos, will appear with Lavender Ink/diálogos in April 2017. A former Associate Professor of Literary Studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School, he currently lives in Oaxaca, Mexico. Follow Mark Statman at twitter.com/statmanm & http://markstatman.com/

Tiffany is a poet and photographer living in Vancouver, WA. She is frequently found at poetry readings there & across the river in Portland, OR. But she loves family & NYC most of all. Tiffany’s work has appeared in Ghost Town Poetry, Volume Two (Printed Matter Vancouver, 2014); in the windows of local businesses for Poetry in the Shops in Vancouver, WA; The Poeming Pigeon A Journal of Poetry and Prose: Doobie or Not Doobie (The Poetry Box, 2016); and on C-Tran buses from January – June 2015 for Poetry Moves. Her first full length book of poetry & short prose “Meet Me Where I Left You” was recently released by Printed Matter Vancouver. Buy the book at http://www.createspace.com/6452675

Katie grew up in Lawrence, KS & lives there now. Between then & now she has lived, worked, & studied in Chicago, CO, Seattle, NY, & Taos. She has an MA from the U of CO in Education Foundations, Policy & Practice. More important, she has a passion for helping people of all ages and backgrounds learn & grow, including through arts and creativity. She has worked with youth in foster care, people experiencing homelessness, & immigrants. Currently Katie’s life is rich with family, friends, and her work guiding The Lawrence Laboratory, where diverse teachers from the community teach topics they are passionate about. 60-90 minute classes are hands-on or discussion-based to engage diverse adult learners. Follow Katie & The Lawrence Laboratory at www.facebook.com/The-Lawrence-Laboratory-1713296055603635 & www.thelawrencelab.com

Daniel is a Laotian-Thai-American, a dancer, a former US Marine, a videographer & much more. He loves singing in the shower, playing video games, teaching dance, and eating pineapple, but NOT on his pizza. Daniel has been dancing contemporary hip hop much of his life. During his 4 years of professional training at KU, his favorite dance has become ballet. In May 2017 Daniel will be awarded his BA in Dance from Kansas University. Next, he heads to family in Salina, KS and then to Sacramento, CA to pursue film and dance as his new career. Follow Daniel & Dxpert Image at https://www.facebook.com/dxpertimage/ & https://www.instagram.com/dxpert_image/

Tiffany is a poet and photographer living in Vancouver, WA. She is frequently found at poetry readings there & across the river in Portland, OR. But she loves family & NYC most of all. Tiffany’s work has appeared in Ghost Town Poetry, Volume Two (Printed Matter Vancouver, 2014); in the windows of local businesses for Poetry in the Shops in Vancouver, WA; The Poeming Pigeon A Journal of Poetry and Prose: Doobie or Not Doobie (The Poetry Box, 2016); and on C-Tran buses from January – June 2015 for Poetry Moves. Her first full length book of poetry & short prose “Meet Me Where I Left You” was recently released by Printed Matter Vancouver. Buy the book at http://www.createspace.com/6452675

Casey tantalizes you with some readings from his new book, The Spoils. And through conversation with host Marcia Epstein about: The Midwest, Stories, Men, Books, Fathers & Sons, & PS: Writing Well Is Work.

Casey Pycior (pitcher) was born and raised in Kansas City. He earned his MFA in fiction writing at Wichita State University & his PhD in creative writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was awarded the Charles Johnson Fiction Prize at Crab Orchard Review. His stories have appeared in numerous journals, including Beloit Fiction Journal, Midwestern Gothic, Harpur Palate, Yalobusha Review, and Wigleaf. His debut short story collection, The Spoils, was just released by Switchgrass Books. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife & son. Follow Casey onTwitter @CaseyPycior and learn even more at www.CaseyPycior.com

Casey tantalizes you with some readings from his new book, The Spoils. And through conversation with host Marcia Epstein about: The Midwest, Stories, Men, Books, Fathers & Sons, & PS: Writing Well Is Work.

Casey Pycior (pitcher) was born and raised in Kansas City. He earned his MFA in fiction writing at Wichita State University & his PhD in creative writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was awarded the Charles Johnson Fiction Prize at Crab Orchard Review. His stories have appeared in numerous journals, including Beloit Fiction Journal, Midwestern Gothic, Harpur Palate, Yalobusha Review, and Wigleaf. His debut short story collection, The Spoils, was just released by Switchgrass Books. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife & son. Follow Casey onTwitter @CaseyPycior and learn even more at www.CaseyPycior.com

Ronda enjoys wandering the high plateau of northwest Kansas where the Arikaree Breaks whisper late into the sunset and scream into blizzards and thunderstorms. She is District President and State Vice President for Kansas Authors Club. As a life coach, she specializes in working with those who have lost someone to homicide. She also provides care for young children, specializing with those who have special needs. Ronda has poetry in numerous online and hard copy publications as well as at The Smithsonian Institute Archives. Miller’s books of poetry include “Going Home: Poems from My Life, “MoonStain”, and soon to be released, “WaterSigns” (Meadowlark Books, June 2017). Find Ronda Miller online or at one of the many Midwest poetry events where she is featured and/or she is enjoying the poetry of others.