Photo Credit May Whitsitt
Ollie Schminkey (they/them) has spent the past decade coaching, mentoring, teaching classes, and running workshops for poets. They’ve performed poems in 21 states, and their work has been published everywhere from the trails of Silverwood Park to Poets.org. They are the author of two full-length poetry collections through Button Poetry, Where I Dry the Flowers and Dead Dad Jokes, as well as the comprehensive prompt book, Don’t Be Afraid to be Bad. They are the founder and director of the slam poetry tournament Midwest Poetry Mash-Up, and their work has been supported by the Minnesota Regional Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board. You can also find them making pottery or playing with their cat Pete, who is always trying to eat things he shouldn’t.
They currently teach workshops and classes through Button Poetry and Writers.com.