Terry S. Johnson

Poet

Anchorage, AK
Alaska US

Author's Bio

The first born of a Chicago airman and a Southern belle, Terry S. Johnson explored careers as a newspaper advertising clerk, a reference library assistant and a professional harpsichordist before serving as a public school teacher for over two decades. She earned her M.F.A. in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  Johnson's poems have appeared in many journals and anthologies. "Coalescence," her first book, won an Honorable Mention in the 2014 New England Book Festival. Her second collection "Plunge” was published in 2019. Her chapbook entitled "the stars, your eyes" launced in 2026.

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
Lifespan Series, Vol. 9 "Loss" (Pure Slush Books, 2024)
,
From the Farther Shore (Bass River Press, 2021)
,
The Cancer Poetry Project 2 (Tasora Books, 2013)
Books:
Lifespan Vol. 9 - Loss (Pure Slush Books, 2024)
,
Coalescence (WordTech Editions, 2014)
Chapbook:
the stars, your eyes (Shanti Arts Publishing, 2026)
Journals:
Adanna Literary Journal
,
Alaska Women Speak
,
Berkshire Review
,
Caesura
,
Chest
,
Cirque
,
Driftwood
,
Edge
, ,
Hospital Drive
,
Letter Review
, ,
Monterey Poetry Review
, , , ,
Raven's Perch
,
Silkworm
, ,
Technoculture: An Online Journal of Technology in Society
,
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
,
Theodate
,
Westchester Review
Prizes won: 

 Letter Review Poetry award July 2026 for her poem "Mind Game."

Alaska Writers Guild  First Place Poetry Award in 2023 for her poem "Astronomy," and again in 2024 for her poem "Fusion." 

Passager finalist in both 2023 and 2026 for "Late Winter, Early Spring" and "Sunrise on an Arctic Coastal City" respectively.

Cirque finalist 2023 for "Stratum"

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Too many to name! Emily Dickinson and Jane Hirshfield are particular favorites.
What I'm reading now: 
This World by Gail Thomas, The Beauty by Jane Hirshfield, The Blue by Transtromer translated by Patty Crane

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
White
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Born in: 
New York city, NY
New York
Raised in: 
Armonk, New York, NY
New York
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Aug 13, 2026