John Surowiecki

Author's Bio

I grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, a city once famous for its silverware industry. Both my parents were factoriy workers and bartenders (my father claimed he once served Judy Garland). I received my BA in English from the University of Connecticut in 1966 and my MA in 1976 (I am, alas, a PhD dropout). I’ve worked as a journalist, copywriter, and teacher; I’ve been a freelance writer since 1995. I have two children (Vanessa, a union organizer, and John Edward, a musician and graphic artist) and three grandsons: Jerzy, Edward Stanislaus, and Ishmael. My wife, Denise Rodosevich, is an attorney and an avid and tireless supporter of my work. Pretty boring, huh?

Publications and Prizes

Books:

Barney and Gienka (CustomWords, 2009), The Hat City After Men Stopped Wearing Hats (WordWorks, 2006), Watching Cartoons Before Attending A Funeral (White Pine Press, 2003)

Chapbooks:

Tapeworm Comics (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2009), Bolivia Street (Burnside Review Press, 2006), Further Adventures of My Nose (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2005), Dennis Is Transformed into a Thrush (White Eagle Coffee Store Press, 2004), Five-hundred Widowers in a Field of Chamomile (Portlandia Group, 2002), Caliban Poems (West Town Press, 2001)

Anthologies:

Seeds of Fire: Contemporary Poetry from the Other USA (Smokestack Books, 2008), 2001: A Science Fiction Poetry Anthology (Anamnesis Press, 2001)

Journals:

Agnieszka's Dowry, Alaska Quarterly Review, Alembic, Amoskeag, Anthology Magazine, Antietam Review, Blue Mesa Review, Briar Cliff Review, Bryant Literary Review, Caduceus, Cape Rock, Chachalaca Poetry Review, Chiron Review, Columbia Review, Common Ground Review, Connecticut Review, Cream City Review, Cumberland Poetry Review, Etcetera, Folio, Freshwater, Gargoyle, George Washington Review, Georgia State University Review, Ginger Hill, Iconoclast, Indiana Review, Innisfree, Into the Teeth of the Wind, Kimera, Literary Review, MacGuffin, Margie, Mississippi Review, Mochila Review, New Zoo Review, Nimrod, North American Review, Peregrine, Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Redivider, Rhino Magazine, Rosebud, Silk Road, Tar Wolf Review, Two Rivers Review, West Branch, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Wisconsin Review, Writer's Journal

Prizes:

• Pegasus Award, Verse Drama, Poetry Foundation (2007) • Pablo Neruda Award, Nimrod International Journal (2006) • Washington Award. The WordWorks (2006) • Second Place, Sunken Garden Poetry Festival National Competition (2006) • Poetry Fellowship, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Office of the Arts (2005) • White Pine Press Poetry Prize (2003) • Honorable Mention, Two Rivers Review Poetry Prize (2002) • Third Place, Kimera Poetry Contest (2001) • Finalist, The Mississippi Review Poetry Competition (2001) • First Prize, Common Ground Review Poetry Contest (2000) • First Prize, Georgia State University Review Poetry Contest (2000) • Finalist, Robert Penn Warren Award, Cumberland Review (2000) • Third Place, Portland PEN Poetry Contest (2000)

Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the writers listed in it.
Listing last updated: February 26, 2009

More Information

Listed as:

Poet

Gives readings?

Yes

Travels for readings?

Yes

Identifies as:

Polish American

Prefers to work with:

Any

Fluent in:

English

Born in:

Meriden, CT

Raised in:

Meriden, CT