News

Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books

Richard has been selected to judge the adult poetry contest for the 2025 Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books. The contest opens in August, and winners will be honored at the Festival on November 7^th. Submission details will be announced soon.

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“Geese in November” voted as favorite Piece in Spank the Carp

Richard’s poem “Geese in November,” received the most votes for the favorite piece in Issue #86 of Spank the Carp literary journal. As such, he will be honored with an author profile in the journal’s next issue. Spank the Carp is an enduring, iconic journal which, according to its website, publishes “unique, thought-provoking fiction and poetry that isn’t obscure or pretentious.” Keep an eye out for the profile in Issue #87, scheduled for an August release.

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A Catalog of Small Machines features “August – Red mound, WI”

Richard’s poem, “Late August—Red Mound, WI,” is now live in the anthology A Catalog of Small Machines, published by Wisconsin’s Driftless Writing Center. Thanks to editor Mark MacAllister for including my work, as well as that of poet friends Chris Rundblad and DeWitt Clinton, the first time the three of us have had poems featured in the same publication. 

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Gargoyle literary magazine will Include “Postcard from Kyoto”

Richard’s poem, “Postcard from Kyoto,” has been accepted for publication with venerated D.C. literary magazine Gargoyle. Founded in 1976, the journal has been lauded by former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove, and Washington Post Book World, which deemed it “Washington’s preeminent literary magazine.” Many thanks to founding editor Richard Peabody for honoring his work.

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Recent Poetry Reading in Milwaukee

Richard was the featured reader on February 16th for Tabi Po! Poetry’s monthly Poetry Series/Open Mic at County Clare Irish Inn and Pub. The event is free and open to all. Tabi Po! supports poets and poetry in Milwaukee. Thanks to Amanda Reavey and Sean Copeland for their gracious hosting.

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New Writers.com Course

Starting in February, Richard will be teaching his first course for Writers.com. Founded in 1995, Writers.com is the first creative writing institution established on the internet. In this six-week course, Write Your First Chapbook: A Beginning Poets Guide, Richard will lead students in an exploration of poetry fundamentals and development of foundational skills as they work to polish poems-in-progress and assemble a chapbook manuscript. For more details, or to register for the class click here.

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Stone Canoe literary Journal to publish Two Poems

Two of Richard’s poems, “Deathbed Confession” and “Yes”, have been accepted for publication with Stone Canoe literary journal. Lauded by renowned author George Saunders as, “a constant force for good on the American literary landscape,” Stone Canoe publishes the literature and visual art of current and former residents of New York State. Many thanks to Executive Editor, Philip Memmer, for honoring his work.

New Creative Writing Faculty Position At Mount Mary university

Richard is now on the faculty at Mount Mary University, teaching Creative Writing with the English Department. Many thanks are due to Dr. Wendy Weaver, Associate Professor of English and Humanities Division Chair, for bringing him on board.

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Bramble Literary Magazine has published “Sleet”

Bramble, the literary magazine of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, published Richard’s prose poem, “Sleet,” (his February ’24 Poem-of-the-Month) in its summer 2024 issue. Many thanks to founder and Guest Editor, C. Kubasta, for selecting this poem.

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The D.C.-based zine, lacuna, published my poem, “Avian.” Lacuna publishes art, poetry, fiction, prose, and political commentary. According to its website, their mission “is to defy traditional literary arts magazine publishing by grounding our practices in radical politics of anti-establishment and free expression.” ***

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Soundings East, the literary journal of Salem State University, published “Tuesday: Definition,” in its annual print issue. Founded in 1973, the journal is distributed nationally and published with support from the university’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts, and is “dedicated to publishing high-quality poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction.” Many thanks to Poetry Editor, Michael Mahin.

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Colorado-based journal Hidden Peak Review is featuring “Kite” in its current artist spotlight, the second of my poems to receive this honor. The Review showcases “gut-punch free verse and eye-opening prose from across the U.S. and abroad. A no-frills, cut-to-the-core publisher,” of “relevant, grounded, engaging and sublime literature.” Many thanks to poetry editor Kyle Newman. 

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Three poems from my book, Choosing a Stone, have been reprinted in The Monterey Poetry Review, which publishes “the highest quality work from artists, photographers, and poets with a connection to the Monterey Peninsula.” Many thanks to editors Dr. Jennifer Lagier Fellguth, Kate Aver Avraha, and Laura Bayless.

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My poem “All Souls” is live on Shark Reef literary journal’s website. According to its mission statement, Shark Reef is committed to publishing original writing of high quality, and persists in giving accomplished writers a place to showcase their work. Many thanks to Poetry Co-Editors Richard Widerkehr and Linda Conroy for honoring his work.

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“The Great Horned Owl’s Sermon,” (April 2023 Poem-of-the-Month) can be found in Pensive-A Global Journal of Spirituality and the Arts. Pensive, an acclaimed global journal housed at the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service at Northeastern University, publishes work that deepens the inward life; expresses a range of religious/spiritual/humanist experiences and perspectives; envisions a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world; advances dialogue across difference; and challenges structural oppression in all its forms. Many thanks to editors Soo Laski and Alexander Levering Kern for this honor.

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“Canned,” was published by Gyroscope Review, a quarterly magazine of contemporary poetry, in their Summer 2024 issue (page 18). Thanks to editor Constance Brewer for including my work.

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“October Sunflower,” and “Streets of Old Milwaukee” are now live in Volume #31 of Albatross Poetry Journal. “October Sunflower” is the title poem of my upcoming new book. Thanks to Chief Editor/Publisher, Richard Smyth, for publishing both poems.

I was happy to join the faculty of AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop as a creative writing instructor. AllWriters’ is an international creative writing studio with students in 20 countries, offering online and on-site classes in all genres. Many thanks are due to Director and Founder Kathie Giorgio.

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In 2023, I served as Coordinator of the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books. Many thanks to Laraine OBrien, Candy Decker, and Calvin Leszczynski, UWM at Waukesha Foundation President, for this honor and opportunity, The festival, which ran November 2-4, featured a keynote address from Bob Woodward, among others.

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The Fall, 2023 issue Chicago literary journal Packingtown Review features three of my poems: “Night Wind,” “November Lines,” and “The Museum of Saturday.” Many thanks to editor Snežana Žabić, and the review’s editorial board for honoring my work. The journal publishes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, reviews, and translations, by American and international writers.

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My poem “Needle in a Haystack” is featured in the The Stockholm Review of Literature. Many thanks to Cian McCourt, Poetry Editor, and Kelvin Kellman, Editor-in-Chief, for honoring his work. The Review “publishes superlative literary fiction, poetry and essays, and undertakes to promote the writers and artists that produce it.” 

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Many thanks to all the aspiring poets who helped us celebrate 414 Day at the Milwaukee Public Museum on April 14th, 2023, and contributed to the success of our second Pop-Up Poetry event. We saw some really terrific poems from a broad range of visitors, all of whom were clearly having a great time writing original verse about Milwaukee history. Much gratitude to poet and typewriter enthusiast Chris Rundblad for typing up some of the poems on her vintage portables.

I was honored to serve as a Visual Arts panelist for the 2022 National Endowment for the Arts projects grant program. Founded in 1965 by an act of Congress, the NEA is an independent federal agency that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. His nomination was submitted to the NEA’s Director of Museums by Dr. Brandon Ruud, Abert Family Curator of American Art at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Additional thanks for the support of Wendy Clark, Director of Museums, Visual Arts & Indemnity/Visual Arts.