LexPoMo Participants

Total poets:
245
the bluegrass warbler
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Website:
A. E. Bryant
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Bio:
A. E. has a background primarily in theatre, photography, and painting. She has used these skills to bring light to the dark places, starting with herself. Her faith partnered with art has given her courage fight for freedom and truth.
Reason for signing up:
I am in pursuit of my own story. Discovering light in the dark places and in search for the beauty midst chaos. Because words to me are like a sieve. Ideas being processed into words, bringing new eyes and balm to the unseen places within.
Andrea Lawler
A. A. Kate
Bio:
someone who has a ton of animals and lives on a mini farm in a neighborhood
Reason for signing up:
because poems ...
A.R. Turner
Abra McCurry
Bio:
Abra McCurry is a second grader who loves kittens and karate and ballet. Kroger is her arch nemesis.
Reason for signing up:
Cause my daddy does it.
Vincent Houp
Aiden Crawley
Bio:
Aiden Crawley is a 17 year old artist who has possessed a passion for writing since a young age. Only finding an escape in books, he has always found words as an art form.
Reason for signing up:
My friends, as well as my teacher, and I are all greatly excited to participate together and talk about it.
Amanda Crum
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Bio:
Amanda Crum is a writer and artist whose work can be found in publications such as Eastern Iowa Review and Barren Magazine, as well as in several anthologies. Her first chapbook of horror poetry, The Madness In Our Marrow, made the shortlist for a Bram Stoker Award nomination in 2015.
Reason for signing up:
I would love to be more involved in the local poetry scene.
Amanda Holt
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Bio:
Amanda Holt is a High School English Teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, KY. She has been writing poems since she was 5.
Reason for signing up:
For the camaraderie and accountability and to continue the tradition.
Amanda Jatta
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Bio:
Equal parts fragile flower and dandelion..sustained by kindness and your mom jokes.
Reason for signing up:
I am looking for motivation to write consistently again.
Amanda Corbin
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Bio:
Amanda Kelley Corbin holds an MFA in fiction from UK. Her work has appeared in Inscape, Kentucky Monthly, JMWW, Eunoia Review, Fried Chicken and Coffee, American Book Review, Madcap Review, and four LexPoMo anthologies. She lives in Lexington with her family.
Reason for signing up:
To beat 11 this year!
Amy Camuglia
Bio:
...a folk poet, runnin around the planet with kindred hooligans
Reason for signing up:
i love the kinship and variety of poetry produced
Amy Cunningham
Amy Le Ann Richardson
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Bio:
Amy Richardson was born and raised in Morehead, KY. She grew up running through the hills with her cousins and walking barefoot through her parents’ garden letting her imagination run wild. Her love of stories led her to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Morehead State University and her Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University. She currently owns/runs and organic farm in Carter County where she homeschools her two kids.
Reason for signing up:
I am challenging myself to write more.
Andrew Depew
Andrew Wilson
Bio:
Native Kentuckian.
Eternal Oregonian.
Luckiest Man Alive.
Reason for signing up:
Fame and fortune...
Anna Walsh
Bio:
Anna is a teacher who loves to get lost in the pages of a good book. She is working on becoming the kind of writer who actually writes (instead of a writer who keeps everything in her head).
Reason for signing up:
This is a leap of faith for me. All of my poetry has stayed safely within the pages of my journals, never seeing the light of day. I'm intimidated by joining a group of experienced poets, but some friends encouraged me to give it a try.
Anne Hayden
Bio:
Anne Hayden teaches classical piano to children. She also coaches for theatre auditions.
She is a short story fiction writer.
Arianna McCurry
Bio:
16 and ready to rumble
Reason for signing up:
because my mom reminded me that it's a lot closer to june than i think it is
Kungfuashley
Bio:
Ashley Taylor is currently pursuing her MFA in Writing Poetry at Spalding University. She holds a MA in English from the University of Louisville (where she very much loved and very much misses facilitating the LGBTQ Writing Group. And is also currently considering an online queer poets collective so holla if you’re interested). She is also the founder and curator of the reading series River City Revue in Louisville.
Reason for signing up:
Chris is like really good at social media.
Ashley Taylor
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Bio:
Ashley Taylor is a special education teacher from Hindman, Kentucky. Her work has previously appeared in Hazard Community and Technical College’s literary magazine, Kudzu, and Full: An Anthology of Moon Poems. She was the student editor of Kudzu in 2007, and literally needed a Xanax to get up and speak in front of people about it. She has since evolved into a semi-competent public speaker.
Reason for signing up:
She gets considerably lazy on summer break and hopes that LexPoMo will lend her some motivation.
atmospherique
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Bio:
pisces. contains: misery, hope, flowers, star wars
Reason for signing up:
i have a lot of emotions, and it'd be nice if they mean something
Austin Green
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Bio:
I'm an English major at the University of Pikeville. I've been writing for several years but have only recently put a lot of emphasis on poetry.
Reason for signing up:
I first heard about the event when I presented a paper at the KPA conference this past March and thought it sounded fun. I also like any opportunity to get some helpful feedback on my writing.
Austin Rathbone
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Bio:
The boy with the wack sleep schedule.
Reason for signing up:
Every year I'm just trying to write one more word than I did the previous year.
Barefooted Brave Girl
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Bio:
Spending an incredible amount of time writing within the public school system. Writing for oneself is quite a refreshing viewpoint.
Beatrice Underwood-Sweet
Bio:
Beatrice is a teacher, a learner, a reader, a writer. She is and always will be a Kentuckian at heart, no matter where she lives. (Currently Missouri.)
Reason for signing up:
I participated in LexPoMo the first 5 years, then missed last year and I missed the community. The writing community in Lexington is amazing, and I love being a part of that. There's nothing like it anywhere else I've lived, and Lexington's home.
Website:
Bernard Deville
Bio:
Bernie teaches middle school English and History at Providence Montessori Middle School.
Reason for signing up:
Striving to keep it surreal.
B
Bio:
Hi friend! I'm new to poetry, but grateful to have a seat at this table. My usual mediums are watercolor, graphite, colored pencil and writing nonfiction. I'm finishing out my Master's in Professional Counseling and hope to bring some joy to people through art and conversation.
Reason for signing up:
Trying an artistic outlet that makes me uncomfy.
Bianca Bargo
Bill Verble
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Bio:
Bill gathers various words and rubs them together trying to spark a fire. His family kindly tolerates his efforts. Bill lives and toils in the big small town of Lexington.
Reason for signing up:
It was fun last year. Expecting more fun this year.
Bitomni
Bio:
Bit started writing at a very young age after moving to KY from SC, it started with tiny diaries which turned into duct taped notebooks that she carries everywhere. She graduated from Georgetown College in 2013 with a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. You can usually find her dancing or singing to her plant babies in her apartment with her cats Astra and Biscuit.
Reason for signing up:
I am a poet. I am always writing and have kept my work to myself for years until now. I'm not sure why it's taken so long. Writer's Anxiety is real. I would love to meet more poets and formerly used to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and loved that so much.
Brigit Truex
Bio:
After a dozen years in the Sierra foothills, Brigit Truex has relocated in the Bluegrass flatlands. All the years before and since, she has reimagined her life in poetry, much of which has appeared in international and local journals and anthologies. Her latest book is Sierra Silk, available on Amazon and at local bookstores.
Reason for signing up:
To share my poetry with the Lexington community!
Bronson O'Quinn
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Bio:
Fiction writer, web developer, father of an awesome 2-year-old who just wants to read Astro Boy and watch Charlie's Colorforms Cities, and husband to the coolest dork in the whole world.
Reason for signing up:
I once heard Robert E Howard kept writing Conan books because he sincerely believed Conan the Barbarian was a real person who threatened to keep writing them or else he'd lob off his head. That's not how I feel, but man isn't that a fun story?
Callie Budrick-Gough
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Bio:
Digital marketer manager for the arts. Community Conversations co-founder. Active member of the Pride SG. Dungeon master. Cat mom. Cat mom. Cat mom.
Reason for signing up:
Summertime inspiration!
Caput Quadratus
Carole Johnston
Carrie Elam Spillman
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Bio:
Born and raised in Kentucky Carrie has spent her life wishing she had the guts to let other people read her work. Now at 21 she isn't as shy as she use to be.
Reason for signing up:
It's something i've always wanted to do. Nothings holding me back.
Chaiya Miller
Chappy Chapuk
Bio:
Boku qualifications, plus I am really nice and handsome. I'm also rich.
Reason for signing up:
I want a girlfriend.
Chelly
Bio:
Chelle enjoys helping others smile, making them laugh, and being around positive, uplifting people.
Reason for signing up:
I enjoy writing and want to share my poetry with others. I also have a message in my poetry.
Christina Joy
Bio:
She's old enough that she should know better.... but apparently doesn't care. Been writing poetry for the last quarter-century or so; been published once, self-published twice.
Reason for signing up:
Hmm... would it be bad form to say I signed up due to (gentle) peer pressure? ;)
Christopher McCurry
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Bio:
Christopher McCurry teaches high school English. He likes to play board games, skateboard, and go on adventures with his daughter, Abra.
Reason for signing up:
What's better than this?
Corey Kirby
Bio:
Corey is a social worker, a returned Peace Corps volunteer, a big sister, an avid reader, a poet.
Reason for signing up:
LexPoMo has become part of who I am.
Claire Qian
Bio:
Senior at Lafayette High school
Reason for signing up:
To establish a habit of poetry writing
Cathy Perkins
Bio:
Catherine Perkins, aka Cleo, enjoys writing poetry and performing stand-up comedy. Catherine has a 4 poems published, now 5, in LexPoMo anthologies and in Circe's Lament, Anthology of Wild Women Poetry. She likes to write limericks and write comedic poems, too.
Reason for signing up:
I enjoy the community of LexPoMo poets and feel it is a blessing and privilege to be one of them.
Colette Crown
Reason for signing up:
LexPoMo gives me the incentive to be more consistent in my writing practice. Plus it was a huge thrill to see one of my poems published in the anthology.
Constance Brown
Bio:
Constance is twenty years old and, at any given time, probably trying to root vines in water.
Reason for signing up:
I'm looking for positive peer pressure in day to day life.
Dangerfield Yella
DSN
Bio:
Highschooler "yep, that pretty much sums it up." - David Neal
Deanna
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Bio:
Deanna Mascle is a writing evangelist who believes firmly in the power of the written word to change and save lives. She lives and writes in Mt. Sterling and teaches writing and writing teachers at Morehead State University.
Reason for signing up:
To keep me honest
Ladetra Morgan
Bio:
Mountain Mama, HS English teacher, homesick all the time for a place I’m not sure is there- I write to keep myself sane and I write to seek understanding.
Reason for signing up:
I wanted to be part of a community of writers sharing stories
Debbie Cooper
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Bio:
Appalachian born writer living in central Kentucky
Reason for signing up:
Because it is June!
Dani Lou
Bio:
Dejah Garner is a Lexington native and is a student at Morehead State University. She enjoys reading books and plays, and writing poetry in her free time.
Reason for signing up:
A friend mentioned that she was participating and gave me the info on how I could too!
Delmar Reffett
Bio:
Delmar Reffett writes criticism, short stories, poetry, and scribbled notes about his dreams at 3 am.
Reason for signing up:
My attention has been taken up with other projects lately, leaving me little time to write poetry. I'm hoping this will help me get back into it.
Dennis Preston
Bio:
Dennis J. Preston lives in Owensboro, Kentucky. He taught elementary school language arts for twenty-five years, but now enjoys being semi-retired. He is a minister, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with his family. He has published five books of poetry including Cloaked Moon: Women of the Bible.
Reason for signing up:
I love to write, but sometimes I need to be challenged. I also love the LexPoMo community, and the positive feedback given on my work. It helps me become a better writer.
Devan Watson
zarlos
Bio:
Don Solarz is in a continuing process of self education...of the Self.
Reason for signing up:
Beware of the old Washington wordsmith's they will prompt you!
Donelle Dreese
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Bio:
Donelle Dreese is a Professor of English at Northern Kentucky University. She is the author of three collections of poetry including Sophrosyne (Aldrich Press). Donelle is also the author of the YA novella Dragonflies in the Cowburbs (Anaphora Literary), and the ecofiction novels Deep River Burning (WiDo Publishing) and Cave Walker (Moon Willow Press). Her poetry and fiction have appeared in a wide variety of literary journals including Blue Lyra Review, Roanoke Review, Louisville Review, and Potomac Review. Twitter:@donelledreese
Reason for signing up:
To support and participant in a vibrant literary community.
Lorelei Watson
Dwight Myfelt
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Bio:
Dwight is an attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio who prefers writing poetry to writing legal briefs.
Reason for signing up:
I love anything that makes me a better poet, and LexPoMo seems like the perfect way to do that.
E. Ivanovna
Bio:
Elena is an LGBT college student shooting for a BA in theatre. They write on personal experiences and personal biases. A fun fact about them is that they are certified in unarmed stage combat by the SAFD organization of fight directors.
Reason for signing up:
Was asked to!
Evyn Weaver
Bio:
E. Y. Weaver is a creative writing student with an interest in poetry. She has been published in her school’s journals and has been the champion competitor Kentucky High School Speech League State Tournament for poetry and original oratory.
Reason for signing up:
I would like to get a taste of what it’s like to write poems frequently and create many rough drafts that I can clean up and possibly publish. Overall, I’m in it to learn.
Emily Nugent
Bio:
EJ hasn't written anything lengthier than a Facebook rant since she stopped writing Harry Potter fan fiction back in the day. Proceed with caution.
Reason for signing up:
Netflix is melting my brain.
Ellen Kathleen
Bio:
Ellen is new to poetry...or at least sharing it. She's turned to it throughout various points in her life and a recent turning point found within her a desire to connect with fellow poets, see what she can learn from them, and to share her writings.
Reason for signing up:
I want to connect with and learn from other poets!
Emily Clare
Eric Parsons
Bio:
I'm an anarcho socialist aardvark wrangling sonnovabitch.
Reason for signing up:
My sister made me.
Eric Scott Sutherland
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Bio:
Pushcart Prize nominee, Poet Laureate of Al’s Bar, and creative force behind Holler Poets Series, Eric Scott Sutherland is the author of four collections of poetry including his latest, Pendulum (Accents Publishing). Eric is an ISA certified arborist, a member of the Pine Mountain Collective, Urban Forest Initiative, and Kentucky Writers and Artists for Reforestation (KWAR). A native Kentuckian, he makes his home with his wife, step-son, three cats, and four fish in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky.
Reason for signing up:
To encourage me from my poetic hibernation and to share and be inspired in a community atmosphere.
Erin Mathews
Bio:
Erin Mathews is a Lexington native and a Cincinnati transplant. A reluctant poet and surefire storyteller, she writes for herself, family and friends.
Reason for signing up:
I can't imagine June without this project anymore, and it has been a great gift to watch my poetry grow and evolve every summer.
Eliana
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Bio:
Lexington born and breaded. When not writing, you can find this gal sleeping in a field, thumbwarring with her muse, or running through the streets screaming about Beauty. Last name rhymes with Shakespeare. Too lame for a full name.
Reason for signing up:
I just wanna improve my writing and connect with other Lexington writers.
Evelen Rose
Bio:
Evelen Rose has signed up for poetry because she feels like poetry today.
Reason for signing up:
I LIKE POETRY!!!
GA Smith
Reason for signing up:
To be more like my heroes: Chris McCurry, t.l Andry, and Derek Glenn.
Gaby Bedetti
Geri
Bio:
Geri was a poet in a former life and is happy to find that life again.
Reason for signing up:
To be among writers!
GINC
Bio:
He goes to the Maysville Academy from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. He enjoys going to school, Monday threw Friday. His parents work at the Parc cafe in Maysville. He is more thin than big.
Gloria Kay
Bio:
Gloria Kay is a young, teen poet attempting to now make her stand as best as she can in the local scene of Lexington. She loves reading and writing (especially poetry). She also adores music.
Reason for signing up:
I want to continue having a motivation to write and publish my poetry over the summer.
H.A.
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Bio:
H.A. Spinelli is a nature-loving, tea sipping educator by day, and a rock star until around 8 p.m.
Reason for signing up:
I signed up because non-fiction prose is really my thing, and poetry is my challenge. Poetry is also my fear (as a writer). I like a good challenge. I like to face my fears.
HAROLD SHERMAN
Bio:
Harold Sherman is a Donovan Scholar going for an English degree at the University of Kentucky. He has been a professional musician most of his adult life and earned MM in Composition at the UK School of Music. Early in life, he started out writing poetry that rhymed--but got over it.
Reason for signing up:
I was told about it at Carnegie Center Writing Practice.
Haven Coleman
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Bio:
I’m here to do the thing with the words
Reason for signing up:
I like doing the thing with the words
HB Elam
Bio:
HB is around here, somewhere.
Reason for signing up:
Bad habits are hard to break.
Website:
Heatherannie
Bio:
Heather writes. Heather reads. Heather loves the written word word. She lives in Berea KY with her husband and 8 year old son.
Reason for signing up:
Because I love Lexington Poetry Month!
Helen Feibes
Bio:
Helen is a seventeen-year-old eighteen year-old who writes poetry because she must.
Reason for signing up:
I was told to.
Hugg
hunter e. westenhofer
Bio:
Hunter is a student residing in central Kentucky. He has a profound passion for reading and writing literature, as well as for traveling. He is fascinated by the human experience: how we are all struggling in our own unique way, and how we all have equally complex relationships and existences; and yet, we are all still striving to maintain goodness on this Earth.
Reason for signing up:
Jennifer Beckett recommended LexPoMo to me, and it sounded like a wonderful experience, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Hunter Nelson
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Bio:
I like things and do other things.
Reason for signing up:
Why not?
Josie Angel
Bio:
J. F. Angel is a transgender/bi-gender writer. S/he is a pop culture nerd who loves movies, comic books, girly pop music, and theater. S/he has a BA in English from Eastern Kentucky University and a certificate in screenwriting from New York Film Academy.
Reason for signing up:
Referred by Jay McCoy. Inspired by Katerina Stoykova's recent poetry reading from Second Skin. I have enjoyed writing a poem a day before during Creative Devotion workshops led by Leigh Medeiros online. Katerina told me, "Tell your story." I'm here to do that.
J. Wise
Bio:
Raconteur, rabble-rouser, iconoclast. I'll be your huckleberry.
Reason for signing up:
Tradition.
J.A Caswell
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Bio:
My life is depressingly mediocre
Reason for signing up:
I hope I haven't lost my magic
j.l taylor
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Bio:
a recent MFA grad trying to get it all together. poetry may have slipped away from her these past two years, but she's ready to weave it back in.
Jamie Mann
jane
Reason for signing up:
Curiosity!
Jay McCoy
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Reason for signing up:
I didn't participate last year and I regretted it. I had to return this year.
Jay St. Orts
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Bio:
Jay St. Orts writes the occasional reality-based poem, plays music poorly (but with joy), cooks food (same), home-brews, and edits collections of words in exchange for food and concert money. You can read some of his work, such as his review of The Monkees semi-barbaric yawp for artistic independence, the 1967 Headquarters album, at thebrowntweedsociety.com/author/jaystorts/.
Reason for signing up:
"How does anything happen? Move past it, Charlie."
—Frank Reynolds
Jazzy
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Bio:
Jasmine Lykins is an Appalachian writer who is trying her best to get it together. So far so good.
Reason for signing up:
I am looking for a way to make my writing better. Also I love poetry!
JBird
Bio:
JBird loves to write. JBird has been writing for her whole life. Even if she didn’t realize what she was doing. JBird can’t wait to fill the world with her stories and poems.
Reason for signing up:
I love writing, it’s always been apart of me. And it has become a way to escape and fully express myself.
Jennifer (Stricklett) Dobson
Jennifer Barricklow
Bio:
Jennifer Barricklow is a writer and freelance editor in Lexington KY. She also enjoys gardening, working with the Tarot, and crocheting. One of her dreams is to become a gypsy fortune teller.
Reason for signing up:
To connect with these amazing writers and be active in the community we create together.
Jennifer Beckett
Bio:
Jennifer Beckett is a writer and a teacher.
Reason for signing up:
What's June without poetry?!
Jennifer Burchett
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Bio:
Originally a theatre nerd (Ohio Wesleyan University) and then a restaurateur (Cafe Jennifer), Jennifer is currently a maker of soup and a writer of words. Raised in Ohio, she has lived in New York City and Seattle, but has settled in the Bluegrass to be near her Appalachian roots.
Reason for signing up:
I write fiction, and I hope this daily exercise will get my creative juices flowing. (I’m definitely not a poet, so this will be a good stretch for me.) I participated several years ago and had a great experience. Let’s go, y’all!
Jennifer Curtis
Bio:
Jennifer is a wife, daughter, and mother. She enjoys reading, traveling, makeup artistry, and spending time with her famiy.
Reason for signing up:
To challenge myself to continue writing.
Jerielle
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Bio:
Painter, dreamer, appreciator, observer, listener, teacher, acolyte of Love.
Reason for signing up:
It's about time
Jessica Swafford
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Bio:
Jessica Swafford is a poet from Georgetown, Kentucky who also dabbles in art.
Reason for signing up:
I do it every year. I enjoy the community and camaraderie. This year I also need a distraction from life.
Jim Lally
JK Elias
Bio:
JK Elias currently lives in the Greater Cincinnati area, but grew up in Central Kentucky. They began writing poems on a semi-regular basis during a brief (but impactful) time when they attended Poezia, a Lexington based writing group.
Reason for signing up:
Honestly, I have a need for external validation. It's very sad, and I should probably see a therapist. I have no idea why I continue to occasionally write. I don't particularly enjoy it, do not use it as catharsis or a means of expression, and do not consider myself a "creative" person. I've tried to participate actively in LexPoMo in the past, with disastrous results. This year, I decided to use a pen name for personal reasons, which has had the unexpected effect of being very liberating. I feel less pressure regarding what I post and more freedom to explore things outside my usual arbitrary, self-imposed aesthetic principles.
Jo Manczyk
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Bio:
Jordyn Manczyk is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, where she currently lives with her husband and her droopy-eared Bagle-hound. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky MFA program in Creative Writing, and she is currently a PhD student at UK studying Higher Education Policy and teaching Developmental Composition. She loves to write about family, nature, and the rolling hillsides of her beloved Kentucky home. When she isn't writing, she's probably listening to a podcast, cooking, or playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Reason for signing up:
This is my third year signing up with Lexington Poetry Month, and I have found that LexPoMo gets me connected with writers in my area, keeps me writing, and reminds me that there is always room for art and hope in a dark world.
John Duncan
Photo of John Duncan
Reason for signing up:
I love poetry.
John McCurry
Jordan Quinn
Bio:
Jordan Quinn resides in Paris, KY. She is a proud University of Kentucky alumna and has participated in LexPoMo for the past several summers.
Reason for signing up:
I’m trying to build my personal repertoire and it’s always a pleasure to read work from other local poets.
Joseph Nichols
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Bio:
Joseph Allen Nichols endeavors to write the legend of tomorrow out of the folklores of yesterday, from a place of unlimited potentials & today.
Reason for signing up:
Seventh time's a charm, no? And because I love you guys.
Jude Lally
Julianne Vantland
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Bio:
Writer, gardener, mom, reader, creek-splasher, mental illness stigma smasher, spiritually curious, politically furious, collecting brilliant friends from all the places my husband's academic journey has taken us. (lexington is my favorite)
Reason for signing up:
I am desperately in need of poetry writing accountability. I get way too precious with my writing and end up writing nothing at all because I can’t do it perfectly on the first try. I’m looking forward to learning from and being inspired by the community!
K. Bruce Florence
Bio:
Writer of mostly narrative work, because I love stories. Grandmother, columnist, novelist and church elder.
Reason for signing up:
The challenge of LexPoMo pushes me to apply brain and fingers to work that demands that I reach beyond retirement ease. Also, I love visiting with all the other poets and watching how they address this task.
K. Nicole Wilson
Bio:
the K is for Kentucky,
(and my scarlet A stands for Art,)
black and blue ink circles my veins,
when you find it, take the heart.
Reason for signing up:
word addict
K. Ka`imilani
Bio:
Ka`imilani is a writing teacher at a 4-8th grade arts school. She is a mother of four grown children and a grandchild, is presently in the MFA Bluegrass Writing program at EKU.
Reason for signing up:
Because I like the challenge.
Karah Stokes
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Bio:
Karah lives, writes, and gardens in Frankfort, and teaches writing and cultural studies at BCTC and EKU.
Reason for signing up:
It's a bad habit of mine.
Karen George
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Bio:
Karen George, a native Kentuckian, has published five chapbooks, most recently an ekphrastic collaborative chapbook, Frame and Mount the Sky, and two collections, Swim Your Way Back and A Map and One Year. She reviews poetry at Poetry Matters blog: http://readwritepoetry.blogspot.com/, and is co-founder and fiction editor of the online journal, Waypoints: http://www.waypointsmag.com/. She enjoys taking photographs and visiting museums, cemeteries, gardens, woods, mountains, and historic river towns.
Reason for signing up:
This will be my seventh year for LEXPOMO, and I love writing a poem-a-day with other poets.
Karen Mireau
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Bio:
Karen Mireau, Founder of Azalea Art Press, is a “Literary Midwife” and small boutique publisher specializing in producing beautiful, meaningful and imaginative books. It is her desire to help others to express themselves with maximum creativity and literary integrity.
Reason for signing up:
Poetry is my first love . . .
Kate Fadick
Katerina Stoykova
Kathleen Crosmer
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Bio:
Kathleen is relatively new to poetry, and now can't imagine her life without it. She is especially grateful for her faithful poetry group, full of encouragement, friendly challenges and laughter. She and her husband Jonathan are planning to move to Oxford, England this summer to start a chamber music concert series with a friend.
Reason for signing up:
Because a friend encouraged me to.
Kathleen Gregg
Bio:
Kathleen Gregg has never been the same since she took her first poetry writing class at Carnegie Center eight years ago! Several of her poems have now been published and she has developed a wonderful network of fellow writers! Life is good!
Reason for signing up:
LexPoMo is a poetry fest like no other!
Katie Cross Gibson
Katrin Flores
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Bio:
Katrin Flores is a social work and psychology student at UK. She loves Jesus, Tina Belcher, and hammocking and just learned how to do a ladder stitch!
Reason for signing up:
Because some people (geniuses) decided to combine Kentucky, poetry, and community all into one
Kelley Tennille
kelly casey
Photo of kelly casey
Bio:
just living in the heart of the feywild. fighting against all the odds and surviving just to spite you. i once won the the richard taylor poetry award. i think that’s when i peaked.
Reason for signing up:
because it’s easier to make my head feel like home when i’m writing.
Kendall Brooke
Photo of Kendall Brooke
Bio:
just a 22 year old girl who loves poetry
Reason for signing up:
I haven’t written poems since high school. I’d like to try again. :)
Kerfoot
Kim Kayne Shaver
Bio:
Kim lives in fairy tale cottage in Louisville, KY. Has been reading serious autobiographies about women leaders lately—Sandra Day O’connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Madelyn Albright—taking a break from poetry upon completion (finally) of her MFA in poetry from Spalding University in June 2018–yeah!
Reason for signing up:
I love the challenge! And, think the time limit will make poems free of fear & editing! More spontaneous & original!
Kimber Gray
Kris Gillis
Bio:
Teacher, traveler, writer, spy
Reason for signing up:
Lexpomo is a treat every year. Great writing community!
Lauren Myfelt
Photo of Lauren Myfelt
Bio:
Lauren likes writing, loves poetry, and would die for a California redwood, chainsaw to the chest and all.
Reason for signing up:
Because "nothing focuses the mind like the last minute," or, in the less sanitized words of Samuel Jackson, "Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully."
Larry Wheeler
Bio:
Still mostly over it all, but grateful nonetheless.
Reason for signing up:
Yet again, the persistence of a certain Mr.Lally.
Laura Foley
Photo of Laura Foley
Bio:
I think I did my headshot wrong.
Reason for signing up:
Because signing down makes it hard to read.
Website:
carrotman
Bio:
Leahna is a fourteen year old girl. She’s carefree and easy going, but allows the thoughts of fear control her. She wants you to know that sometimes the people late to the party are the best ones you’ll meet!
Reason for signing up:
I love writing. Also a friend told me too so why not!
Lennart Lundh
Photo of Lennart Lundh
Bio:
Lennart Lundh is a poet, short-fictionist, historian, and photographer. His work has appeared internationally since 1965.
Reason for signing up:
Because poetry is needed.
Linda Bryant
Photo of Linda Bryant
Bio:
Linda Bryant is a journalist and poet who recently relocated from Nashville, TN. She's been published in newspapers and journals but poetry has always been her first love. She recently quit journalism, bought acreage near Berea and is committed to writing poetry on a new level. She hopes to develop her 30-acre spot in Berea into a writer's retreat.
Reason for signing up:
I want to jump into the writing scene. I love the discipline of a daily writing challenge. I only have two friends here so far.
Linda Caldwell
Bio:
Poet and playwright
Reason for signing up:
Love participating
Lark
L.M.H.
Bio:
Lisa is a high school English teacher in Lexington. When she isn’t teaching, she can be found hiking, cheering on her son at hockey games, or plotting the next stamp for her passport.
Reason for signing up:
I love that summer starts with this amazing community of writers.
Liz Prather
Photo of Liz Prather
Bio:
Liz Prather teaches writing at Lafayette High School.
Reason for signing up:
I no longer know what to do with my days.
LizzieLooWho
Bio:
She was born amongst the honeysuckles and blackberries. Her heart is filled with laughter and Her kisses taste of Bourbon...
Reason for signing up:
Why not. Sounds fun.
Lori Taylor
Bio:
Lori is a four-time LexPoMo participant, writer, mother of three daughters, wife, lover of coffee, alone time, office supplies, organization, sparkly things, and creativity. She is revising a NaNo WriMo novel, devising plans for future projects, and improvising in the in-between.
Reason for signing up:
The LexPoMo community is a talented bunch of attentive life-living sparks of light who not only write beauty and horror, but encourage and support each other in the process. I enjoy being a part of it.
Lucy James
Reason for signing up:
I love writing, but sometimes life gets in the way. This is a promise to myself to write more and to be connected to other poets.
M. Carter
Bio:
McKenna Carter is eighteen and trying to figure it all out.
Reason for signing up:
Poetry is fun and so are challenges, and while having too much of a good thing (like mixing chocolate and yogurt) can become a bad thing, I'm excited to participate!
M R Heltzel
Reason for signing up:
A friend mentioned it
M.L. Burt
Maddie Coleman
Bio:
Live your life to the fullest:)
Reason for signing up:
Me and my friends all wanted to do it together!
Madeleine Hamilton
Madison Miller
Bio:
Madison is a current student at UKY. She’s pursuing a dual degree in Psychology and Gender Women’s Studies with certificates in Universal Design, Sexuality Studies, and Social Science Research. That says too much about her inability to settle on anything. Outside of school she spends most of the time asking her partner for a dog.
Reason for signing up:
Good question. Why do I do anything?
Maeve Hoppen
Bio:
Maeve is a senior undergrad at UK pursuing a degree in linguistics with minors in voice and cognitive science. She loves cats, music, and all things words.
Reason for signing up:
I fell out of practice with writing five years ago and this is my good-faith effort to get back into the ring (whether I’ll stick to it, we’ll see).
Maggie Brewer
Bio:
I live with my amazing wife and teach kids to remember the past.
Reason for signing up:
What's June without poetry?
Maggie Rue Hess
Bio:
In the midst of geographical transition, Maggie is a high school English teacher. During her "summer off" (cue the smirks of educators everywhere), she will direct a Young Writers' Camp in PA. Maggie loves trying new food, discovering face masks, and cuddling her pups.
Reason for signing up:
Did it last year, doin' it again!
Malinda O’Quinn
Bio:
Malinda O’Quinn is the mother of a small, beautiful weirdo and the wife of an awkward purveyor of endless fun facts.
She is an enthusiast of cats and black bean brownies.
Reason for signing up:
Bronson
Margaret Russell
Photo of Margaret Russell
Bio:
Margaret is a musician and filmmaker from Lexington. Her work is concerned with navigating her queer/trans identity, dysphoria, depression, intimacy, and loneliness.
Reason for signing up:
I don't know what else to do.
mari leet
Bio:
Mari is a member of Old Washington Wordsmith's...she enjoys expressing her voice through poetry! Mari found receptive ears within the Wordsmith's group!
Reason for signing up:
Listening to what others have to say through poetry is invigorating!
Marta Dorton
Bio:
A Lexington-based visual artist working in acrylic painting, printmaking and mix media that enjoys writing memoir and poetry.
Reason for signing up:
I need the daily prompt to create a set of words on paper.
Mary Allen
Bio:
When I grow up, I want to be a poet.
Reason for signing up:
I'm practicing.
M L Stephens
Bio:
Mary Lou is a mother, grandmother, hospital chaplain and an extroverted introvert.
Reason for signing up:
The challenge of thinking and writing creatively and reflecting on life as it is and could be is inspiring.
Marz Corbeau
Bio:
Marz Corbeau is a writer and musician living in Lexington. They enjoy writing about tarot, gender, relationships, Appalachia, and disability. When not writing they’re can be found baking bread for folks they love.
Reason for signing up:
They signed up to explore poetry and challenge their deeply held belief they “just aren’t a poet”. They’re here to face their literary fears.
Maya Pemble
Bio:
Maya is a rising senior in high school and an aspiring poet. She loves travel, cannoli and is constantly lost in thought.
Reason for signing up:
4th year with lexpomo, hoping for more years after that
meadow dawn
Bio:
Named by her father, who once was an avid climber, during an expedition to the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. On a particularly trying start to the day, his coffee froze solid in an insulated thermos while tackling the first of the two peaks planned for that day, so he took a respite in the Meadow. There he stretched in the soft grass, amongst confetti spread flowers and watched a deer take slow sips from a musical stream, just feet away.
Reason for signing up:
lexpomo has become a signpost that marks the start of summer - i’m all for it
Melissa Borries
Bio:
Melissa is a writer from Southern Illinois living in Southern Indiana.
Reason for signing up:
Katerina!
Melissa Olson
Photo of Melissa Olson
Bio:
Melissa is a designer and photographer from Akron, Ohio. She has a passion for arts education and works as the Manager of Student Affairs at the Myers School of Art at the University of Akron. She spends one week each summer in Kentucky volunteering as a counselor at an arts camp, the friends she has made there encouraged her to participate this year!
Reason for signing up:
I want to write more and stress less; get things out of my brain and into the world.
Melva Sue Priddy
Douglas E. Self
Photo of Douglas E. Self
Bio:
Is a poet.
Reason for signing up:
The universe commanded me.
michael frank
Bio:
henry likes fencing cooking and video games.
Michael Moloney
Bio:
Late to the game this year but happy to be included nonetheless.
Reason for signing up:
Sometimes I have things to say and think it would be nice to say them to strangers.
Michayla Gatsos
Bio:
Michayla is a recently-graduated senior from Lafayette High School. She enjoys writing with her dad and listening to The Beatles.
michelle johnson
Michelle Knickerbocker
Photo of Michelle Knickerbocker
Bio:
43, cook, poet, wife, Aspie, pet mom Funny, witty, generous, loyal, queer Opalescent Cobalt Water Dragon
Reason for signing up:
It's June. That's what we do in June. Write poems!!
Mike Wilson
Photo of Mike Wilson
Bio:
Mike Wilson has had work published in small magazines including Appalachian Heritage, Solidago, Frogpond, Cagibi, Stoneboat, and The Aurorean.
Reason for signing up:
It's fun
Misty Skaggs
Photo of Misty Skaggs
Bio:
Misty Skaggs is a barefooted college drop, a poet and author, a caretaker and an artist/activist who currently resides far from town at the end of a gravel road. if you like what you read here, think about ordering Skaggs' first full length poetry collection, Planted by the Signs, available now from Ohio University Press - https://www.ohioswallow.com/book/Planted+by+the+Signs
Reason for signing up:
I'm determined to finish the whole month this go 'round!
Monster Fish
Photo of Monster Fish
Reason for signing up:
I was interested in learning about poetry and the ways of writing interesting stories and learning how to get better at writing poetry
Morghan Fuller
Photo of Morghan Fuller
Bio:
Morghan is an educator, milkshake connoisseur, and a fat queer poet. She has attempted LexPoMo many times, and completed it successfully once.
Reason for signing up:
I write best when prompted and inspired, and I’m hoping to get back into the flow I once had.
Mya Sophia
Bio:
Mya Sophia is a Teen Howl Poet, Young Women Writer’s Project participant, and third place winner of the KSPS Student Poetry Contest. She is passionate about social justice especially in her poetry and is also a writer of prose. When she is not writing she enjoys many forms of performing arts, books, and history.
Reason for signing up:
Because I would like to expand my horizon and write more poetry.
N. M. Z.
Reason for signing up:
I need to get them poems outta my system.
Nancy Jentsch
Bio:
Nancy Jentsch has taught German and Spanish for over thirty-five years at Northern Kentucky University. She will retire in 2020 and looks forward to spending more time writing poetry and sharing the art of words with others. She has published scholarly articles, short fiction and poetry in journals such as Journal of Kentucky Studies, Eclectica, Aurorean, and Blinders. Her chapbook, Authorized Visitors, has been published by Cherry Grove Collections, an imprint of WordTech Communications (2017). Seven of her ekphrastic poems appear in the collaborative chapbook Frame and Mount the Sky (Finishing Line Press, 2017). Her Facebook writer’s page is https://www.facebook.com/NancyJentschPoet/. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys hiking, bird watching, knitting and Sudoku.
Reason for signing up:
There's no way I'd rather spend the month of June.
Nell Whitman
Bio:
Nell Whitman won a 3rd grade poetry contest with a poem entitled “Nature is Something I Love.” This budding Mary Oliver has been teaching English ever since. Writing poetry daily is most definitely a “dream deferred.”
Reason for signing up:
I want to challenge myself to write daily.
Nettie Farris
Bio:
n writes poems.
Reason for signing up:
to write poems
Website:
Nina
Photo of Nina
Bio:
Nina is a finance MBA with a serious interest in the cultivation of English roses. When she isn't raising them from bare roots, she is painting them in watercolors. And singing them in verse.
Reason for signing up:
Because I love poetry.
Nollie Palmer
Bio:
Nollie is a visual artist who can be found at @halfwitchdisaster on instagram.
Reason for signing up:
Round 2
nrd
Pat Owen
Photo of Pat Owen
Bio:
Pat Owen just had her second book of poetry, Orion's Belt at the End of the Drive, published by Accents Publishing.
Reason for signing up:
It helps get me out of bed and to my writing desk!
Patrick Johnson
Photo of Patrick Johnson
Bio:
Patrick Johnson lives and writes in Morehead, Kentucky. He is an instructor in Morehead State University
Reason for signing up:
Poetry writing is always a good thing.
Patrick Miles
Reason for signing up:
I love lexpomo
Patti Miller
Photo of Patti Miller
Bio:
Writer. Reader. Maker. Traveler.
Reason for signing up:
I love this community!
Pauletta Hansel
Photo of Pauletta Hansel
Bio:
Pauletta Hansel is author of seven poetry collections, including Coal Town Photograph (Dos Madres Press, 2019), Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017), winner of the 2017 Weatherford Award for best Appalachian poetry book and Tangle (Dos Madres Press, 2015). Several poems in her last three books were drafted during LexPoMo. Pauletta is from eastern Kentucky and was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate (2016- 2018). She is managing editor of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, the literary publication of Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative.
Reason for signing up:
Because it's time.
Philip Corley
Photo of Philip Corley
Bio:
Philip is a Lexington native who has been writing poetry since his high school days, but only started taking it seriously relatively recently. He is also an aspiring novelist with a book series in the works. His focus is on human relationships, the quiet battles that everyone faces, and how we, as individuals and as a community, come together to overcome these issues.
Reason for signing up:
A dear friend recently said to me that we sometimes have to pay for the poems we write. I want to make something positive out of the trials life has given.
Philip Sallee
Photo of Philip Sallee
Reason for signing up:
To enjoy seeing the world from others perspective and to be challenged to share mine.
Piper Morrison
Rachel
Reason for signing up:
Cuz why not.
Rachel Bollman
Photo of Rachel Bollman
Bio:
I write and illustrate childrens books. I live on the Ohio side of the river and often wander the Kentucky side, working, writing, drawing, and drinking coffee there.
Reason for signing up:
I want to improve my writing skills by writing every day. I hope to make a little book with my drawings.
Rachel Khosrowshahi
Photo of Rachel Khosrowshahi
Bio:
Rachel works as a spiritual consultant and writer of broad spectrum nightmares. Read sparingly.
Reason for signing up:
Rehabilitation effort
Ramsi Woodcock
Bio:
Ramsi Woodcock teaches law at the University of Kentucky.
Reason for signing up:
That is a very complicated problem with no closed-form solution.
Rayny Palmer
Bio:
Rayny Palmer is alive.
Reason for signing up:
It serves my two purposes.
Rebecca Cavendish
Photo of Rebecca Cavendish
Bio:
Rebecca Cavendish is in the habit of changing her pseudonym every year or so, with a habitual cycling of legal names every five years or so.
Reason for signing up:
I love Lexington Poetry Month, and I love taking part in it. The other poets are excellent and the yearly Anthologies are lovingly curated. They've maintained and grown this site over the years and I am particularly grateful that poems of previous years are preserved.
bk
Bio:
rebecca actually knows nothing about poetry, but she is here because she has good friends.
Reason for signing up:
helen. and maybe a little for myself, too.
Regan Strehl
Photo of Regan Strehl
Bio:
Regan Strehl is currently a student enrolled in Lafayette High School. She spends far too much time in her own head or with her nose stuck in a book. Hopefully Lexpomo will give her enough motivation to interact with living creatures beyond her cat, Alexis.
Reason for signing up:
Because I need to get a publishing credit for SCAPA literary arts. Also, I am intimidated by the success of my peers due to my complete lack of noteworthy accomplishments. I thought this might help with that.
Rena Nutt
Renee Rigdon
Photo of Renee Rigdon
Bio:
Renee Rigdon -- High Priestess of Sparkle, long-reigning Goofus extraordinaire, and pretty excellent hugger -- is an artist, writer, and volunteer coordinator. She is told she exudes Big Mom Energy.
Reason for signing up:
For the kicks, friend. The kicks.
Renmeleon
Photo of Renmeleon
Bio:
Under the name Renmeleon, illustrator, author, and designer Ana Maria Selvaggio has been a working creative for more than 30 years. Living a very eclectic, digitally-analog life, Selvaggio has a passion for writing and has worked in and around the publishing industry since the mid 90s as a book designer and editor. Her joys include reading, storyboarding, drawing, and creating worlds from the ground up for her novels. Book trailers and designing associated promotional products are all part of her love of the process. Renmeleon being a “Renaissance Chameleon,” is a true jack-of-all-trades as a surface pattern, paper goods designer, zine maker, and publisher. Selvaggio founded and ran a global art collaborative for 8 years as well as several creative writing groups out of her home in Florida, and has experience teaching in libraries, schools, and museums both online and off. She currently lives with her husband and daughter in Berea, KY where she will be teaching her "World Building for Fiction Writers" class twice in July during the Berea Festival of Learnshops. All three are writers.
Reason for signing up:
Since we moved to Kentucky three years ago, I've been interested in joining in. I wrote poetry for years when I was younger but got away from it. Looking forward to rekindling what originally started my writing life.
RG
Photo of RG
Bio:
I might be the devil's daughter
Reason for signing up:
I have a lot of things to say and I appreciate having an outlet to say them
Robin Rahija
Bio:
Robin LaMer Rahija is the editor of Rabbit Catastrophe Press.