Ken Waldman has drawn on his 35 years in Alaska to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his.

A former college professor, Waldman has had published eleven full-length poetry collections, a memoir, a children's book, and a hybrid writing manual, and has released nine CDs that combine old-time Appalachian-style string-band music with original poetry. Since 1995 he’s toured full-time, performing and leading workshops at some of the nation’s leading universities, festivals, arts centers, and clubs.

Over 400 of his poems and stories have appeared in such magazines as Beloit Poetry Journal, Quarterly West, and Massachusetts Review. His hybrid book, The Writing Party, is one part writing manual, one party memoir about Waldman's life as a writer and writing teacher, and one part full-length poetry collection (of poems about writers and writing). Since November 2016, his Trump Sonnets project has chronicled Donald Trump's presidency via book, stage, and video..

"He spreads the cheer of genuine work." --Naomi Shihab Nye, poet and writer, San Antonio TX.

Website: www.kenwaldman.com

Publications

• The Writing Party , Mezcalita Press (June 2020)
• Sports Page , Lamar University Literary Press (May 2020)
• Trump Sonnets, Volume 4 , Ridgeway Press (March 2020)
• Trump Sonnets, Volume 3 , Ridgeway Press (March 2019)
• Trump Sonnets, Volume 2 , Ridgeway Press (March 2018)
• Trump Sonnets, Volume 1 , Ridgeway Press (March 2017)
• Are You Famous? , Catalyst Book Press (August 2008)
• As the World Burns: The Sonnets of George W. Bush and Other Poems of the 43rd Presidency , Ridgeway Press (August 2006)
• Conditions and Cures , Steel Toe Books (June 2006)
• And Shadow Remained , Pavement Saw Press (January 2006)
• The Secret Visitor's Guide , Wings Press (January 2006)
• To Live on This Earth , West End Press (June 2002)
• Nome Poems , West End Press (April 2000)

Awards

• Puffin Foundation: five times, most recently (2020)
• Pushcart Prize nominations: three times, most recently (2006)
• Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (2001)

Employment

• Writer, Teacher, Musician, Performer, Bandleader (September 1994 - )
• Assistant Professor at University of Alaska Fairbanks, Nome Campus (August 1990 - May 1992)
• Visiting Assistant Professor at University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Campus (August 1989 - May 1990)

Degrees

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from University of Alaska Fairbanks (May 1988)

Genres of Interest

Fiction, Creative nonfiction, Poetry