Debra Nystrom

(1984)
Professor
Poetry Writing

Degrees

MFA, Goddard/Warren Wilson, 1980
B.A., University of South Dakota, 1976

Books

  • Drifters (poetry, in progress)
  • The Bluff (prose, in progress)
  • Bad River Road (Sarabande Books, 2009)
  • Torn Sky, (Sarabande Books, 2003)
  • A Quarter Turn (Sheep Meadow Press, 1991)

Poems Published In

Agni Review, American Poetry Review, Antioch Review, Boston Review, Crab Orchard Review, Crazyhorse, Denver Quarterly, Five Points, Greensboro Review, Lyric, Meridian, Michigan Quarterly Review, Missouri Review, Orion, Ploughshares, Poetry Daily, Prairie Schooner, Quarterly West, Shenandoah, Seattle Review, Seneca Review, Slate, South Dakota Magazine, Southeast Review, Southwest Review, The Threepenny Review, TriQuarterly,  Verse Daily, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Yale Review

Anthology Publications

  • The Kingdom of Grass, Center for Western Studies Press (in press)
  • Bright Wings, Perseus Press, 2009
  • Best American Poetry 2008, Scribner 2009
  • When She Named Fire: Contemporary Poetry by Women,  Autumn House Press, 2008
  • Red, White and Blues: On the Promise of America, University of Iowa Press, 2004
  • Strongly Spent: Fifty Years of Shenandoah, Shenandoah,2004
  • Common Wealth, University of Virginia Press, 2003
  • Birthday Poems, Thunder's Mouth Press, 2002
  • Like Thunder: Poets Respond to Violence in America, University of Iowa Press, 2002
  • Acquainted With the Night, Columbia University Press, 1999
  • The Sheep Meadow Anthology, Sheep Meadow Press, 1999
  • More Light, National Writers' Voice Project, Harcourt Brace, 1994

Honors and Awards

  • Virginia Prize for Poetry, 2010
  • Writers' Almanac Feature, August 2009
  • Best American Poetry 2008
  • Virginia Commonwealth University Cabell Memorial Panel 2008    
  • James Dickey Prize in Poetry, Five Points Magazine, 2007
  • University of Virginia Arts Research Grant, 2006
  • American Life in Poetry feature, Poetry Foundation, October 2005
  • Virginia Prize for Poetry, 2004
  • Shepard Visiting Writer, University of Wyoming Conference on Social Justice, 2004
  • Hemley Award finalist, Poetry Society of America, 2004
  • Writers' Alamanc Feature, May 2004, September 2004
  • PoetryNet Poet of the Month, April 2004
  • Pushcart Prize nominations, 2004, 2003, 1990, 1988, 1985, 1984
  • Lantern Society Award for Women's Education, University of Virginia, 2002
  • Boatwright Prize for Poetry, Shenandoah, 2000 and 1994
  • Virginia Commission for the Arts Individual Fellowships in Poetry, 1997 and 1987
  • Balch Prize for Poetry, Virginia Quarterly Review, 1991
  • National Poetry Series finalist, 1990
  • Yaddo Fellowship,1984
  • Hoyns post-graduate fellowship, University of Virginia, 1982

Readings

Aspen Writers Conference, Aspen, CO; Blacksmith House, Cambridge, MA; Bowery Series, New York, NY; Chapters Bookstore, Washington, DC; Council Fires Cultural Center, Sioux Falls, SD; Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH; Hollins College, Roanoke, VA; James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; KGB Poetry Series, New York, NY; Library of Congress, Washington, DC; New Jersey Public Radio; Penn State Erie, Erie, PA; Quail Ridge Series, Raleigh, NC; Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY; Sweetbriar College, Amherst, VA; University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA; Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, VA; Virginia Public Radio; Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC; Wyoming Public Radio