John Biscello

Poet, Fiction Writer, Spoken Word Artist

Taos, NM
New Mexico US

Author's Bio

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, novelist, poet, performer, playwright, and screenwriter, John Biscello, has lived  in Taos, New Mexico since 2001. He is the author of four novels, Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale, Raking the DustNocturne Variations, and No Man’s Brooklyn; a collection of stories, Freeze Tag, two poetry collections, Arclight and Moonglow on Mercy Street; and a fable, The Jackdaw and the Doll, illustrated by Izumi Yokoyama. He also adapted classic fables, which were paired with the vintage illustrations of artist, Paul Bransom, for the collection: Once Upon a Time, Classic Fables Reimagined. His produced, full-length plays include: LOBSTERS ON ICE, ADAGIO FOR STRAYS, THE BEST MEDICINE, ZEITGEIST, U.S.A., and WEREWOLVES DON’T WALTZ. His debut novel Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale was named Underground Book Review’s 2014 Book of the Year, and his short story “Limb” was a Pushcart Prize nominee for fiction. His fiction and poetry has appeared in 3:AM magazine, nthposition, the Tishman Review, Paris Lit Up, Kansas City Voices, Yuan Yang, and numerous other publications.  As a drama instructor engaged by various schools, he has worked with students from K through high school in staging plays both in and out of classroom settings, and he is the founder of the Taos Youth Ensemble, which has been creating theatrical productions for the past twelve years. The Bride, a chamber film that he wrote and directed, debuted in May of 2024, and was an Official Selection of the Berlin Indie Film Festival and the Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival. His novel, No One Dreams in Color, is scheduled for April 2026 publication (Unsolicited Press). 

Publications & Prizes

Fiction

Books:
Raking the Dust (The Zharmae Publishing Press, 2016)
,
Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale (The Zharmae Publishing Press, 2015)
,
Broken Land, A Brooklyn Tale (CSF Publishing, 2012)
,
Freeze Tag (CSF Publishing, 2012)
,
iNudes (CSF Publishing, 2012)
Journal:
Caper Literary Journal

Poetry

Book:
i-nudes (CSF Publishing, 2014)
Journals:
Caper Literary Journal
,
nth position
,
Ophelia Street
,
polyphony online
,
The Wanderlust Review
Prizes won: 

Cutting Edge Artist Award (from the Vault) Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale was named Underground Book Reviews 2014 Book of the Year His short story,"Limb," was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Haruki Murakami, Patti Smith, Julio Cortazar, Patrick Modiano, John Fante, Clarice Lispector, Roberto Bolano, Dylan Thomas, Henry Miller, Luisa Valenzuela, Jorge Luis Borges

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Italian American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Brooklyn
Raised in: 
Brooklyn, NY
New York
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Aug 27, 2025