Z.M. Wise

Poet, Creative Nonfiction Writer, Spoken Word Artist

Author's Bio

Z.M. Wise is a proud Illinois native from Chicago, poet, essayist, occasional playwright, seldom screenwriter, co-editor and arts activist, writing since his first steps as a child. He was selected to be a performer in the Word Around Town Tour in 2013, a Houston citywide tour. He is co-owner and co-editor of Transcendent Zero Press, an independent publishing house for poetry that produces an international quarterly journal known as Harbinger Asylum. The journal was nominated Best Poetry Journal in 2013 at the National Poetry Awards. He has six books of published poetry, including: Take Me Back, Kingswood Clock! (MavLit Press, 2013), The Wandering Poet (Transcendent Zero Press, 2014), Wolf: An Epic & Other Poems (Weasel Press, 2015), Cuentos de Amor (Red Ferret Press, 2015), Kosmish and the Horned Ones (Weasel Press, 2018), and Illinois Infinitarium (Cherry House Press, 2020). His debut play, Bottles of Emerald for the Demon Queen (Transcendent Zero Press, 2019), was published in late December of 2019. His sixth book of poetry, Illinois Infinitarium (Cherry House Press) was published in the early months of 2020. Other than these books, his poems, lyrics, essays, and book reviews have been published in various journals, magazines, and anthologies. The motto that keeps him going: POETRY LIVES AND LONG LIVE THE ARTS! Mr. Wise will make sure to spread that message and the love of the arts, making sure it remains vibrant for the rest of his days and beyond. Besides poetry and other forms of writing, his other passions/interests include professional voice acting, singing/lyricism/songwriting, playing a few instruments, fitness, and reading. 

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
The Poet's Haven Digest: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night... (Poet's Haven, 2018)
,
Poetic Hustles: Volume 2, Life Matters (Black Freighter Productions, 2016)
,
Theories of HER: an experimental anthology (Mercurial Noodle, 2016)
Books:
Illinois Infinitarium (Cherry House Press, 2020)
,
Kosmish and the Horned Ones (Weasel Press, 2018)
Journals:
Bareback Magazine
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Boston Poetry Magazine
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Ghost City Review
, , ,
Occulum
,
Pens On Fire
,
Perspective
, , ,
The Camel Saloon
,
The Cynic Online Magazine
,
The Legendary
,
Vending Machine Press
Prizes won: 

http://zmwise.wixsite.com/zmwisethepoet/...

 

See link for general accolades.

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Too many to list
What I'm reading now: 
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy, Rumi: The Book of Love - Poems of Ecstasy and Longing by Coleman Barks (translator), 19 Varieties of Gazelle by Naomi Shihab Nye, Monkeyassassin by Brian Kehinde, Blue Laws: Selected and Uncollected Poems by Kevin Young

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Disabled, English American, Feminist, Israeli American, Polish American, Russian American, Spanish American, Turkish American, White
Prefers to work with: 
Adults, At Risk Youth, Disability, LGBTQ, Mental Health, Naturalists/Environmentalists, Seniors, Teachers, Teenagers, Veterans
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Park Ridge, IL
Illinois
Raised in: 
Wheeling, IL
Illinois
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Apr 13, 2021