The local literary scene is, one must remember, a community.  (One you can be a part of, by the way, whether you’re a writer or reader!) In fact, after I interviewed the poet Elizabeth Robinson who connected me with fiction writer David Hicks, and it was David Hicks who recommended that I reach out to poet Alyse Knorr. It was my pleasure to read two of Alyse Knorr’s poetry collections, Copper Mother and Mega-City Redux for the purpose of this interview. These collections of poetry and prose respectively are both delightfully dense and unusual explorations which perpetuate insightful... Read More

I was fortunate to meet Adam Houle when he came to read as a Finalist for the Colorado Book Award Finalist at Denver’s BookBar. Adam and I were introduced afterwards through mutual friends. I later reached out to Adam who happily consented to an interview for OnDenver. ADAM HOULE is the author of Stray (Lithic Press, 2017). His poems have appeared in journals such as Agni, Shenandoah, Guernica, Barrow Street, Post Road, Cave Wall, Poet Lore, Blackbird, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and his fiction has appeared in Cimarron Review. Claudia Emerson selected his work for Best New... Read More

Ghost Of is Diana Khoi Nguyen’s remarkable award-winning poetry debut; this collection is an extensive, jarring rumination on the loss by suicide of her younger brother — the ghost and principal muse of the work. Nguyen’s voice is augmented by family photographs which combine with her poetry to produce innovative multi-media forms; these give a deconstructed dimensionality to her tender lamentations. The result is nothing short of ingenious and sincere vulnerability, a portal into deeply personal histories. Diana Khoi Nguyen’s work is assuredly appreciating a much larger audience thanks... Read More

When I looked to a few people for recommendations for poet interviews, 100% of those I consulted recommended I get in touch with Khadijah Queen. I now understand why; aside from a stream of impressive credentials, her most recent work I’m So Fine: A List of Famous Men & What I Had On, is a feminist force simultaneously advocating as she narrates a series of autobiographical experiences with celebrity figures who exhibit toxic masculinity. These pages provide a crucial, unblinking look at how patriarchy affects society on a person-to-person level. Khadijah Queen kindly shared a few thoughts... Read More

As a part of the Local Emerging/Established Poet Interview Series, I am excited to introduce Elizabeth Robinson, a local established poet! For those of you who aren’t familiar with her name or work, here is Elizabeth Robinson’s poet biography: “ELIZABETH ROBINSON is the author of multiple collections of poetry, including the National Poetry Series winner, Pure Descent, and the Fence Modern Poets Prize winner, Apprehend. Her poetry has appeared in such anthologies as American Hybrid, The Norton Anthology of Postmodern American Poetry, and The Best American Poetry of 2002. She works as the... Read More

Diana Khoi Nguyen’s debut collection Ghost Of won the Omnidawn Open Book Contest and has been nominated for the National Book Award in poetry.  Diana and I met during a poetry workshop she taught at Lighthouse in Denver. After eight cozy, creative weeks in the Lighthouse parlor room were through, my view of poetics and aesthetics had shifted drastically. When Diana told us her work was due to release the following month, I pre-ordered the collection without a blink’s hesitation.  Ghost Of  is Diana Khoi Nguyen’s remarkable debut; this work is an extensive, jarring rumination on the... Read More

The editor of History of Colorado, Volume 1 (1918), Wilbur Fiske Stone, leaves the reader with a final thought much more qualified than I to introduce this series of early Colorado poetry: “Literature is a tremendous force in our mountain commonwealth and should be encouraged. The writer renders a valuable service. […] The poet gives us intellectual intoxication and philosophy of life.  […] Literature is an aid to culture. It fosters in us the evolve of the good, the true, the beautiful.” (890) That being said, here are some poems to help cultivate that Coloradan sense of wonder... Read More