Catie Rosemurgy is the author of two collections of poetry, My Favorite Apocalypse and The Stranger Manual, both with Graywolf Press. Her most recent work is a chapbook of poems from Bloof Books called First the Burning. She’s the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Foundation award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts. She lives in Philadelphia and teaches at The College of New Jersey.

The Value of Support

"I received a Rona Jaffe Award early in my career, as my first book was coming out, and it completely changed how I thought about myself as writer. I wanted to fight for my work, get out there and stand up for my noisy and impolite poems about being a woman, but I had a hard time putting myself forward as an author. I wasn’t sure how title applied to me, how to wear it. I was always on the verge of taking a risk and doing something big, and then the award gave me the push and support I needed. I put together a book tour that crossed the country and took time off from work to give readings. I read in bars, bookstores, colleges, and coffee shops. I grew up as writer and stopped thinking of myself as an imposter or outsider who needed to ask for permission. Or at least I learned how to talk myself out of being overwhelmed by those feelings. I built the book tour I wanted—coast to coast, following the scenic routes, visiting lots of small towns and out of the way places where writers build unexpected lives and books and communities."

News

I recently published new poems in The Collagist and Sixth Finch and have more forthcoming in American Poetry Review, The Believer, Beloit Poetry Journal, Blackbird, Ploughshares, and Poetry.

2001 Award Winners

Glen Chamberlain

nonfiction/fiction

Jennie Erin Smith

fiction

Constance Merritt

poetry

Mary Sullivan

fiction

Catie Rosemurgy

poetry

Karen Whalley

poetry