Women's Words on April 19, 2015 features Kirsten Dierking reading two poems, "Lilacs" and "Nuthatch" from her poetry collection ,Tether, released by Spout Press in June of 2013.
Kirsten (Paurus) Dierking earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree from Hamline University. She focused her degree on creative writing, and received the award for outstanding creative thesis. In 2001, One Red Eye, Kirsten’s first book of poetry was published by Holy Cow! Press. Kirsten received grants for poetry from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Loft Literary Center, and the SASE/Jerome Foundation. In part, the grants helped her prepare and promote her second book of poetry, Northern Oracle, published by Spout Press in 2007. In 2010, Kirsten received a $25,000 McKnight Fellowship for poetry and with support from this fellowship, completed her third book, Tether, in 2013.
In addition to writing poems and teaching, Kirsten is involved in masters age group track and field, and she occasionally participates (slowly) in 5K races. She also enjoys kayaking, visiting Lake Superior as often as possible, St. Paul Saints baseball, and her three Humane Society, very mixed-breed dogs. Kirsten lives in St. Paul.
