James Benger is the author of two fiction ebooks, and three chapbooks, two full-lengths, and coauthor of four split books of poetry. He is on the Board of Directors of The Writers Place and the Riverfront Readings Committee, and is the founder of the 365 Poems In 365 Days online workshop, and is Editor In Chief of the subsequent anthology series. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.
Last week's episode of Ketchupedia Poetry Radio is available now on Spreaker, Spotify, and wherever you listen to your podcasts! Enjoy it or previous airings on Spreaker. Or Listen Live Sunday, June 20th as Polly Alice McCann and James Benger speak about art, poetry, and the narrative of the creative life. Sunday at 6 pm on 101.1 KONN OneKc Radio Get the app.
More about Benger. His latest book is co-authored with Sarah Worrel, "Misfits in the Front Row." With two more on the way, another book with co-author Sara Worrell and one with Jason Baldinger (the third book co-authored with James). James is a prolific writer. Often, he writes from his roots, the every day, and even from imagination and prompts. We can't wait to hear from him live on Sunday.
Previously reported in the Writers Place newsletter, you could say James often writes from his roots, "born and raised in the backroads of a coal mining town in western Indiana." He remembers moving to KC in his high-school years and earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. In 2006, he "took his best friend to the top of the Eiffel Tower and proposed to her."
What James is most well known in for online is his work as the founder of the online poetry workshop 365 Poems In 365 Days. In January of 2015, "with the help of numerous friends," the group has spawned a print anthology series.
Since 2012, Benger has published two fiction ebooks, three poetry chapbooks, four full-length splits (two with Jason Baldinger, and one with Tyler Robert Sheldon and his most recent above,) and one full-length solo book of poetry. He recently completed the recording of his first audiobook and is currently working on the second. (There is probably more we've missed).
He says his hard drive is also filled with several thousand unused poems, multiple full-length and chapbook poetry manuscripts, a couple of short story collections, and a novel. During the workweek, he spends his time in a supercharger factory, where he has been employed since early 2005.
Jeremy Gulley is a writer and artist based in Kansas City. His poems and stories have been published in various places. His books are Charlie’s Machine and The Time Tunnel, both from Alien Buddha Press. Jermaine Thompson was born and raised in Louisville (Lewisville), MS. He’s been writing poetry since he was 13 years old, inspired by having to memorize Langston Hughes's “Dreams” for a Black History Program at his church. Jermaine has publications in The Pinch, Memorious, Whale Road Review, and Southern Indian Review among others. Jermaine has an MFA in Poetry from UMKC and currently teaches Intro to Creative Writing there. He also teaches freshman and junior English at Pembroke Hill Upper School. Jeremy and Jermaine's event, Riverfront Readings, features music by Ian Blackie of Too Late for Satellites.
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