Kelli Russell Agodon was born and raised in the suburbs of Seattle.  Her childhood home had a view of Mt. Rainier from her parents’ bedroom and the neighborhood power plant from hers.  Two of her neighbors were named “Elmer,” a fact she finds amazing, given that she has yet to meet another Elmer since.  She’s a graduate of the University of Washington where she majored in English and Pacific Lutheran University where she received her MFA. 

She’s the author of two books of poems, Small Knots (2004) and Geography, winner of the Washington State Floating Bridge Chapbook Award.    Her work has appeared in journals such as the Atlantic Monthly, Prairie Schooner, North American Review, Bellevue Literary Review, Meridian, and 5 a.m.  She edited the poetry broadside series "The Making of Peace" in which she received a Puffin Foundation grant for her work towards peace as a poetry editor.   She's a recipient of two Artist Trust GAP grants, the William Stafford Award, and the James Hearst Poetry Prize for her poetry. 

Currently, she is completing her second manuscript and editing an anthology on motherhood with photographer Elisha Rain.  Kelli lives in a small seaside community in the Northwest with her family.  She enjoys a view of Mt. Baker from her bedroom and she can still see Mt. Rainier from the ferry.