Rick Black

An award-winning book artist and poet, Rick Black loves all facets of making books—either writing them himself, designing book interiors and covers for his Turtle Light Press imprint, or letterpressing and binding his own artist books.

Rick's awards include: The 2019 Isaac Anolic Jewish Book Arts Award, the 2013 Split This Rock Best Poetry Book Award, Poetica Magazine’s 2012 Poetry Chapbook Prize for contemporary Jewish writing, and the 1998 James W. Hackett Award from the British Haiku Society.

A journalist for many years, Rick worked overseas from 1988-1991 in the Jerusalem bureau of The New York Times. He also has contributed articles to The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Dallas Morning News, The Jerusalem Post and many others.

In 2005, Rick founded his own imprint, Turtle Light Press. His most popular title is still, "Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku." Rick ran a number of haiku competitions and published the winners, including Chad Lee Robinson's "The Deep End of the Sky" and Glenn G. Coats' "Furrows of Snow." Rick continues to write and teach haiku, and enjoys spending time in his garden.