BIO

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Brief Biosketch: Tim Hawkins’ writing has been described as “ranging widely in geography, tone and style in search of the extraordinary in the things we take for granted.” That’s a description of Tim Hawkins the poet, not the more well-known comedian of the same name (although his poems are sometimes quite funny). Unsurprisingly, Hawkins’ life also has ranged widely in geography, tone and style. A graduate of University of Michigan and Framingham State University, he has lived and traveled widely throughout North America, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America, working as a journalist, communications manager, technical writer, grant writer, adjunct professor and teacher in international schools. In his younger days, he worked his way through high school, college and after at a host of jobs including dishwasher, fry cook, waiter, bartender, landscaper, house painter, door-to-door canvasser, telemarketer, soap factory line worker, Alaskan fish cannery slime-table worker, stevedore, nose-hair clipper model and Taiwan cram school teacher. Today, Hawkins lives near his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan and works in the health care industry.

Hawkins’ writing – poetry, short fiction and nonfiction – began to appear in the early 2000’s, has been published in dozens of print and online venues and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize (2011, 2017, 2019), Best of the Net (2018, 2019) and Best Microfiction (2018). His first poetry collection, Wanderings at Deadline (Aldrich Press, 2012) was described by Ann Drysdale as a collection that “does honour to the reality of life; to the blood and bones of it.” Wanderings was followed by two poetry chapbooks in 2019: Jeremiad Johnson (In Case of Emergency Press) and Synchronized Swimmers (KYSO Flash Press). Elizabeth Kerlikowske says that Jeremiad Johnson “balances on the razor wire between natural beauty and disgust with the world as it has devolved to us.” Amorak Huey calls Synchronized Swimmers “a wistful marvel of a collection.”

​2021 saw the publication of two more books: One nonfiction, From Death to Life: How One Organ Donor Saved the Lived of Two Friends (Fred Nelis), and a second, full-size poetry collection, West of the Backstory (Fernwood Press). Arnold Johnston calls West of the Backstory “an extremely generous and lucid collection by a consummate poet (which) celebrates ‘quotidian milestones’ and our own evanescence.” Contact him at tim.hawkins45@gmail.com; friend and/or follow him at Goodreads, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Recognition
  • Poems “Two Brothers" and "The Multitudes" chosen for inclusion in KYSO Flash Anthology 2019: Earth Hymn
  • Poem "The Perfect Spiral" nominated in 2019 for the 45th annual Pushcart Prize (Best of the Small Presses)  as supplemental contributing editor's choice by editors of KYSO Flash
  • Flash Fiction "The Townsfolk in Winter" included in Citron 10: Celebrating 10 Years of the Short Form anthology by editors of The Citron Review
  • Poem “Two Brothers” nominated for 2019 Sundress Press Best of the Net anthology by editors of KYSO Flash
  • Poetry Chapbook Jeremiad Johnson named semi-finalist in Button Poetry Chapbook Contest, April 2019
  • Flash Fiction  “Things Have Dropped from Me” chosen for inclusion in KYSO Flash Anthology 2018: Accidents of Light
  • Flash Fiction "The Townsfolk in Winter" nominated for Best Microfiction 2018 by editors of The Citron Review
  • Flash Fiction “Pura Vida: An Alternative Travel Guide”  nominated for 2018 Sundress Press Best of the Net anthology by editors of KYSO Flash
  • Flash Fiction "A Cold Autumn" winner of Ad Hoc Fiction's Weekly Ebook Contest, February 21, 2018, Issue 134 "Crust"
  • Poem “Elegy within Earshot of Howling” and flash “Pura Vida: An Alternative Travel Guide” chosen for inclusion in KYSO Flash Anthology 2017: A Trembling of Finches
  • Poem “Elegy within Earshot of Howling” nominated in 2017 for the 43rd Annual Pushcart Prize (Best of the Small Presses) by editors of KYSO Flash
  • Poem “Elegy within Earshot of Howling” selected for inclusion in Eclectica Magazine Best Poetry: V1 Celebrating 20 Years Online (2016)
  • Poem “The Procession” nominated in 2011 for the 37th Annual Pushcart Prize (Best of the Small Presses) by editors of Four and Twenty
  • Poem "Being Youthful and Lacking Tact" chosen as Editors' Pick by Ann Drysdale for The Shit Creek Review: Issue 14 - God(s), July 2011
  • Poem “The Procession” chosen as “Four and Twenty of the Week,” June 14, 2011, by editors of Four and Twenty
  • Poem “The Great Depression” chosen for inclusion in Underground Voices’ best of the year print anthology: Last Train to Noir City – Print Edition, Vol. 4 (2010)
 
Service
  • Served with Anna Roseboro and Nay Cook as judge of 2021 Kent County Write Michigan Teen Poetry Slam
  • Served as preliminary judge for 47th Annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition (2015), judged by Mark Doty

Press and Reviews  
Recordings and Interviews Available Online  
Recent Readings and Signings
  • Reading at The Stray Cafe with nine other poets, Grand Rapids, MI, April 2, 2022
  • Reading and Book Signing: Kent District Library Alto Branch, February 26, 2020
  • Reading: Photosynthesis and KYSO Flash Friends Reading with Elizabeth Kerlikowske, Lynn Pattison and Melanie Dunbar at WMU Charles C. & Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center, Kalamazooo, Michigan, February 23, 2020
  • ​Book Signing: Local Books/Local Brews at Craft Beer Cellar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 22, 2019
  • Reading and Book Signing: with Kurt Luchs at Michigan News Agency, Kalamazoo, Michigan, December 11, 2019
  • Reading: Poetry Night Featured Guest, Flying Bear Books, Newaygo, Michigan, December 4, 2019
  • Book Signing: Read Local Author's Market at Flying Bear Books and Gallery 37, Newaygo, Michigan, November 30, 2019
  • Reading and Discussion: Epilogue Books, Rockford, Michigan, May 22, 2019
  • Reading: KYSO Flash Accidents of Light Anthology Poetry Reading with Elizabeth Kerlikowske, Kathleen McGookey, Linda Nemec-Foster, Amy Newday, Lynn Pattison and Robin Church reading for Melanie Dunbar at WMU Charles C. & Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center, Kalamazooo, Michigan, April 11, 2019
  • Reading: with Elizabeth Kerlikowske at Books & Mortar Bookstore, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 20, 2018
  • Reading: Forest Hills Eastern High School, Ada, Michigan, May 25, 2017
  • Reading: Forest Hills Eastern High School, Ada, Michigan, May 23, 2017
  • Reading: Spectrum Health Expressive Arts Program Heart Sounds Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 16, 2017
  • Reading: Spectrum Health Expressive Arts Program Heart Sounds Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 18, 2015
  • Reading: Spectrum Health Expressive Arts Program Heart Sounds Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 17, 2015
  • Reading and Book Signing: Alto Lions Club, Lowell, Michigan, March 6, 2014
  • Reading and Book Signing: Schuler Books, Walker, Michigan, April 24, 2013
  • Book Signing: Barnes & Noble Rivertown Crossings Mall , Grandville, Michigan, March 2, 2013

Selection of Professional Health and Medical Writing