Welcome to The Write Question, a program that explores the world of writing and publishing in the western United States. Our guest today is poet Karen Volkman from Missoula, Montana.

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Volkman is the author of three books of poetry: Crash’s Law, a National Poetry Series selection; Spar, which received the Iowa Poetry Prize and the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets; and Nomina, a collection of sonnets. Her poems have appeared in numerous anthologies, including The Best American Poetry, The Pushcart Prize Anthology, American Poets in the 21st Century, and The Gertrude Stein Awards in Innovative Poetry.

Volkman is she recipient of award from the NEA, the Poetry Society of America, Akademie Schloss Solitude, and the Bogliasco Foundation. She has taught at several universities, including the University of Alabama, University of Pittsburgh, University of Chicago, and Columbia College Chicago.

Volkman currently lives in Missoula and teaches at the University of Montana.

New books by regional writers include, Why I came West: A Memoir, by Rick Bass from the Yaak Valley in Montana.

And Roadmap to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years With Down Syndrome, by Jennifer Graf Gronenberg from Northwestern Montana.

For more information about new books, contact your favorite bookseller or library.

And here’s a quote from Leonard Cohen: "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.”

The Write Question is produced by Chérie Newman.

Executive producer, Michael Marsolek.

Special thanks to Barbara Theroux, Prageeta Sharma, Renée McGrath, and Kim Anderson.

This program is supported in part by The Greater Montana Foundation — encouraging communication on issues, trends, and values of importance to Montanans. And by Humanities Montana, enriching intellectual, cultural, and civic life for all Montanans.

This program included music by Michael Blessing and Springhill.

Send comments to Chérie Newman

Guests on the The Write Question are writers, publishers, and illustrators living, or working for an extended period of time, in the western United States. The Write Question is a production of Montana Public Radio.