Joseph Colwell

Joseph Colwell was born and raised in central Illinois but spent his adult life in the western U.S. He has a BS in Forestry from the University of Idaho and an MS in Resource Planning and Economics from Michigan St. University. He spent over 27 years with the US Forest Service and now owns and operates a nature preserve/retreat in western Colorado. He has been writing essays all his life and began writing short stories ten years ago. His first book of essays, Canyon Breezes, was published in 2015, followed by Zephyr of Time in 2016. His first novel, Sands of Time, was published in March 2018. His book of short stories that reads like a novel, Tales of Ravens Nest was published in April 2018. In 2017, he was named Artist in Residence for the BLM's Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area in western Colorado and as a result, published Echoes of Time, a book of essays about the NCA, now available on Amazon and in local bookstores. In October, 2020, he published Tuscola: A Memoir, a recollection of stories about his growing up in a small central Illinois town. He describes the value of a hometown and its importance during childhood.

He and his artist wife Katherine, the photographer for his book covers own and operate Cedars Retreat at 30048 North Road, Hotchkiss, Colorado. Katherine, an accomplished artist, has her work on display at her studio, where she also teaches art, drawing, and design.

He is available to speak about his books, his writing career and his career with the Forest Service. Joseph can be reached at ColwellCedars.com. He is also on Facebook at Joseph Colwell.