Whatever I'm writing -- even, in a sense, when I'm writing poetry -- I'm always seeking a story. I mean that, even when working through the clusters of images and words that become a poem, I'm also uncovering some narrative, some journey to discovery. In shaping a piece of non-fiction too, a memoir or personal essay, there's always a story or two that need to be traced, and a number of narrative elements, even the background, have to be explicated as vividly and deeply as in a novel. My calling as a writer began with writing preteen tales of adventure, and while I hope I've gotten more sophisticated and pleasing, the story remains at the root of my inspiration. That said, I must add that I'm a sensualist, always striving to render my imaginary world nuggety and full of odor, whisper, and roar.

Major Artist grant from the IA Arts Council ($8500), for 2008-09. EARTHQUAKE I.D. (my novel) nominated for Pulitzer Prize, Fall, 2007. Finalist, New Millennium Writing, Fiction & Poetry, Jan. 2007. Meridian Editor’s Prize in Poetry ($1000, U. of VA), Spring 2006. Finalist, Starcherone Press & Gival Press Prize for Novel, 2005. Excellence grant Northwestern Center for the Writing Arts, ($2000), creative non-fiction, 2000. Finalist, Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Prize for the Novel, 1999. Finalist, Mary McCarthy Prize for short fiction, Sarabande, 1997.
Metropolitan Arts Commission, OR ($500), creative non-fiction, ‘95. OR Council for the Humanities ($500), creative non-fiction, '94-'95. Honorable Mention, Pushcart Prize, '83, '89, ‘90. Ingram Merrill Fellowship ($5000), fiction, 1986. National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, creative non-fiction ($7500), 1978-79.