Judith Sornberger

Judith Sornberger's first poetry collection "Open Heart" (Calyx Books) brings to life her pioneer heritage, her family members, her friendships with women, and her engagement with art. She earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Stunned by how underrepresented the state's women poet were, Sornberger edited the groundbreaking anthology "All My Grandmothers Could Sing: Poems by Nebraska Women" (Free Rein Press), which was listed one of the 150 most important books authored by Nebraskans. Her first teaching job was at the Nebraska State Penitentiary where she taught poetry writing and literature to inmates.

Shanti Arts published Sornberger's book "The Accidental Pilgrim: Finding God and His Mother in Tuscany," a feminist/spiritual/travel memoir with beautiful, color photographs of the art and scenery of northern Italy. She is also the author of five chapbooks, including the award-winning "Wal-Mart Orchid" (Evening Street Press). In 2012, the poet's husband, writer Bruce Barton, died, and Sornberger began writing the poems that will be published in 2018 as "Practicing the World without You" (CavanKerry Press).

Sornberger is recently retired from teaching writing and women's studies courses for 25 years at Mansfield University of Pennsylvnia, where she created the Women's Studies Program. She lives on the side of a mountain outside Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, among bobcats, deer and black bears.

Judith Sornberger frequently offers poetry, journaling, and memoir workshops.

Read a recent essay she wrote on avoidance and writing that was published on the Brevity blog here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/?s=avoidance+and+writing.