Michael Parker

Michael Parker was born and raised in Utah. Most of his youth he spent in the heart of Castle Valley gaining an education and love of film while working at his parent’s theaters. He graduated with a degree in English from Brigham Young University, during which he also pursued courses in Greek civilization, myth & folklore, and classical language which still come across in his writings to this day. After graduation, Michael followed a career in technical writing, which grew into writing and graphical design work for marketing and product management teams. He began writing poetry more seriously in 2006 and has published an online chapbook as well as other poems and book reviews for online literary magazines and numerous print literary & art journals. He is co-author on his chapbook, When The Wolves Come After You Hang On, with Pris Campbell. His first poetry collection, Divining the Spirits In the House of the Hush and Hush won the 2021 Book of the Year award from the Utah State Poetry Society. His second book of poetry, Sacred Strains of Praise, published by Sheltering Tree Earth, LLC, is co-authored with Michael Shoemaker. Before being sidelined with serious back issues, Michael was an avid runner, having completed ten marathons and too numerous other half marathons, 10ks, etc. to count. His favorite race was the Hood to Coast relay race in Oregon, in which he has participated twice. Michael is currently the President of the Utah State Poetry Society. He, his wife, and three kids live in Orem, Utah with their dog Maisie and Needles, the cat.