Ellen Wehle has taught creative writing and media studies, and once edited at an ad agency, where she learned more about cruise ship cabins than she ever wanted to know. As a book reviewer (“the least-thanked job in the world”), she has pieces upcoming in Cincinnati Review and West Branch. Her own poems can be found in Gulf Coast, Poetry, Slate, The New Republic, The Southern Review, and Poetry International. “Writing ‘Calamity’ and ‘Collective History Verging on My Sleep’ was difficult because I had to fight against my natural inclination, which is to keep my distance. This time I wanted to come in close, to take what I was feeling – yes, in ordinary, daily life – and make it part of the work. Whether I succeeded or not I’m not sure, but the experience did feel different….”