Mary Ann Honaker

Poet

Beckley, WV
West Virginia US
Email: 
persephone576@yahoo.com
Website: 
maryannhonaker.wordpress.com/

Author's Bio

Mary Ann Honaker is the author of Becoming Persephone (Third Lung Press, 2019), Whichever Way the Moon (Main Street Rag, 2023), and the forthcoming Night is Another Realm Altogether (Sheila-Na-Gig, 2026). Her poems have appeared in Bear Review, DIAGRAM, JMWW, Juked, Little Patuxent Review, Rattle.com, River Heron Review, Solstice, Sweet Tree Review, Tuskegee Review, and elsewhere. She currently lives in Beckley, West Virginia.

Education: 
Lesley University MFA

Publications & Prizes

Books:
Whichever Way the Moon (Main Street Rag, 2023)
,
Becoming Persephone (Third Lung Press, 2019)
Chapbook:
Gwen and the Big Nothing (Orchard Street Press, 2020)
Prizes won: 

In the WV Writers contest:

2018: "Tolland Man" 3rd place, long poetry.

2019: Gwen and the Big Nothing, 2nd place, poetry chapbook.

2022: "The Hunter's Step," 1st place, long poetry.

2023: "Against Xmas," 3rd place, short poetry.

2025: "Snowglobe" 2nd place, short poetry.

"Cold Rain," 3rd place, long poetry.

"Our Country is Dying," Honorable Mention, long poetry.

In the Orchard Street Press Contest:

2019: "Quenched," 2nd place.

2022: Semi-finalist, "At Low Tide, Gulls Cry."

Honorable Mention, "The Hunter's Step."

2023 Solstice Contest, Editor's Pick, "The Men on the Porch."

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Ross Gay, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Maggie Smith, Li-Young Lee, Frank Bidart, Danusha Lameris, Ocean Vuong, Kaveh Akbar, Ada Limon, John Berryman, c.a. conrad, Nick Flynn, Mark Doty, Mary Ruefle, Jorie Graham, Diane Seuss, Mary Oliver, Rumi

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
No
Identifies as: 
Appalachian, Disabled
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Beckley, WV
West Virginia
Raised in: 
Beckley, WV
West Virginia
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Mar 28, 2026