Allison Hedge Coke

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke
Born	August 4, 1958 Amarillo, Texas
Occupation	Poet, Writer, Artist, Performer, Filmmaker, Educator, Organizer
Genre	Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Script, Lyric
Notable works	Dog Road Woman'Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer'Off-Season City Pipe Blood Run Streaming
Notable awards	American Book Award; King*Chavez*Parks Award (numerous others)
Website
allisonhedgecoke.com rdkla.com

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, poet-writer, lives in Oklahoma and was primarily raised in North Carolina with some time on the Great Plains & Canada. Her debut book, Dog Road Woman, won the American Book Award and was the first finalist of the Paterson Poetry Prize & Diane DeCora Award since then, she has written five more award-winning books and edited eight unique anthologies. Noted (World Literature Today, American Literature...) as an epic poet, her long form and epic poems include: "Burn," "Streaming," "Before Next Dawning," "When the Animals Leave This Place," "Resonance in Motion," "When I was a Girl Woman," "Radio Wave Mama," "The Change," and "The Year of the Rat." Additionally, the orchestration of her authored books, including Off-Season City Pipe, Blood Run, and Streaming and edited volumes, including: Sing: Poetry of the Indigenous Americas, are also arranged to be read to experience a book-length poem. Additionally, The Year of the Rat is a book-length poem.

Background

Hedge Coke was born in Texas and grew up and came of age in North Carolina, Canada, and on the Great Plains. Her early adult life was also spent in North Carolina until she was 27. Her mother suffered from schizophrenia and spent many years in asylums. From the ages of 13-43, her work includes factory packer, waitressing, clerk, cashier, field worker, sharecropper (tobacco, sweet potatoes), dog trainer, horse trainer, wrangler, construction (heavy equipment, frame carpentry, wrecking crew), computer coding, night auditing, designing trucks by spec, car sales, commercial fisher, maid, songwriter, sessions musician, performer, artist, second-chance high school, gang intervention, stage tech, director, collections management, docent, interpreter, communications director, k-12, juvenile justice, labor, domestic abuse, homeless, mental health and after school program instructor. Her family's heritage includes: Metis, Huron, French Canadian, Luso, Cherokee, Irish and Scot. Her father was born in the US and her mother in Canada.

Career

Hedge Coke held a National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Visiting Professor/Writer appointment for Hartwick College (2004), is an original and emeritus fellow of the Black Earth Institute Think-Tank, a MacDowell Colony for the Arts Fellow, a Hawthorden Castle Fellow, a Soul Mountain Fellow, a Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities Fellow, a Lannan Foundation residency fellow, a current University of Nebraska–Lincoln Center for Great Plains Study Fellow {flagship campus}, served as the Distinguished Paul W. Reynolds and Clarice Kingston Reynolds Endowed Chair in English, and as an Associate Professor of Poetry & Creative Writing in the English Department of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (2007–2012) and as a Visiting Artist of the University of Central Oklahoma (2012–2014). She is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2014).

Discography

• Streaming, Long Person Records, with trio project Rd Klā (album).

Bibliography

• Streaming, Coffee House Press (poems) Split This Rock Teaching for Change Best Books of 2014 ISBN 978-1-56689-375-6

Winner: Wordcrafter of the Year Award Winner: 2015 IPPY Award – Bronze Medal (Independent Publisher Book Awards) Finalist: 2015 Eric Hoffer da Vinci Eye Award for superior cover art. Finalist: 2015 Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal for most thought-provoking book.Finalst: 2015 2015 Eric Hoffer Award. Longlist: 2015 PEN/Open Book Award 2014 Split This Rock Notable Book 2014 Teaching for Change Notable Book .

• "Effigies II: An Anthology of New Indigenous Writing." Editor, Salt Publishing. 2014 Native America Calling Book of the Month
• Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer, University of Nebraska Press (memoir, paperback edition), ISBN 978-0-8032-4846-5 Native America Calling Book of the Month.
• "Sing: Poetry of the Indigenous Americas", Editor, University of Arizona Press. 2011.
• "Effigies: An Anthology of New Indigenous Writing", Pacific Rim, Editor, Salt Publishing. 2009.
• "also, acquisition editor: Bone Light" by Orlando White, Red Hen Press. 2009.
• Ahani: Indigenous American Poetry", Editor, Oregon State University.
• Blood Run", Salt Publishing (poems (free verse play poems)) ISBN 1844712664 Wordcraft Circle Writer of the Year Award. Native America Calling Book of the Month.
• Off-Season City Pipe, Coffee House Press (poems) ISBN 978-1-56689-171-4

Wordcraft Circle Writer of the Year Award, New York Book Festival Mention [Poetry] Native America Calling Book of the Month.

• From the Fields, Editor, California Poets in the Schools Press.
• Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer, University of Nebraska Press (memoir) ISBN 978-0-8032-1527-6 Native America Calling Book of the Month.

AIROS Book-of-the-Month, Booklist ALA Starred.

• They Wanted Children, Editor, Sioux Falls School District Press. Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota)
• Coming to Life, Editor, Sioux Falls School District Press. Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota) Poems of Peace After 9-11.
• Dog Road Woman : PoemsISBN 978-1-56689-061-8 American Book Award, First Finalist Paterson Poetry Prize and Diane Decorah Award [Poetry], Coffee House Press.
• Year Of The Rat, (Chapbook) Grimes Press.
• It's Not Quiet Anymore: New Work from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Co-Senior Editor with Heather Ahtone, Institute of American Indian Arts Press.
• Voices of Thunder: New Work from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Co-Editor with Heather Ahtone, Institute of American Indian Arts Press.

Books edited or co-edited

Edited Books

• "Effigies II: An Anthology of New Indigenous Writing." Editor, Salt Publishing. 2014[11]
• "Sing: Poetry of the Indigenous Americas", Editor, University of Arizona Press. 2011.[12]
• "Effigies: An Anthology of New Indigenous Writing", Pacific Rim, Editor, Salt Publishing. 2009.[13]
• "Bone Light" by Orlando White, series editor, Red Hen Press. 2009.
• From the Fields, Editor, California Poets in the Schools Press. [14]
• Ahani: Indigenous American Poetry", Editor, Oregon State University. [15] Oregon State University.
• They Wanted Children, Editor, Sioux Falls School District Press. Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota) Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota) Poems and stories of coping. The Lost Boys from Sudan, American Indian students, Immigrant...
• Coming to Life, Editor, Sioux Falls School District Press. Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota)[16]. Sioux Falls School District (South Dakota) Poems of Peace After 9-11.
• It's Not Quiet Anymore: New Work from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Co-Senior Editor with Heather Ahtone, Institute of American Indian Arts Press. [17] Institute of American Indian Arts Press.
• Voices of Thunder: New Work from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Co-Editor with Heather Ahtone, Institute of American Indian Arts Press.*"Institute of American Indian Arts Press.

Magazines, Journals, and Folios Edited

• "Platte Valley Review." Executive Editor. 2009-2012.
• "Black Renaissance Noire." Contributing Editor. Current.
• "Kore Press KPoW Poem of the Week Series." Curator. Current.
• "Fulcrum Poetry." Folio Editor. 2016.
• "Plume Poetry.: Folio Editor. 2015.
• "Asian American Literary Review, Mixed Blood in a Box Edition." Folio Editor.
• "Connecticut Review." 2008.

Writing available online

• Memory from Salt Publishing.
• Street Confetti from Xcp: Streetnotes Winter 2003.
• Eternity Safeway from Xcp: Streetnotes Winter 2003.
• Clowns Crowned: in-RAGE from Xcp: Streetnotes Winter 2003.
• Allison Hedge Coke, "Placeholder: Carolina Poems of Love and Labor", Southern Spaces, 14 October 2010.
• Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, [1] from Poetry Foundation Percheron Nambe Morning, Red Wing Blackbird, The Change, When the Animals Leave This Place, Wokiksuye [2]

Critical reception

In an American Library Association starred Booklist review of Blood Run ALA reviewer Patricia Monaghan described Hedge Coke as William Blake

Of the mathematic prosody in "Blood Run" Chadwick Allen won a Don D. Walker Award for his paper published in "American Literature" of Duke Journals. Of Dog Road Woman Amiri Baraka described her as "skilled" and "spirited".

Mira Bartok's review of Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer in Fourth Genre

Reviews highlighted on University of Nebraska Press page include, Billings Gazette Reviewer's (Chris Rubich) statement as "Razor-sharp."

Nebraska Writers Page, Gathers review listings at Creighton University.

South Dakota Center for the Books Festival Featured Author

Noted on Hate Crimes

Interviews or autobiographical essays

• ECU/UNCC Interview with Allison Hedge Coke.
• Dakota Midday SDPR January 2008
• NPR Prosody WYEP Pittsburgh.
• AIROS August 2004 Book of the Month: Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer [RealAudio]
• Food for Thought Interview (3/19/04) on South Dakota Public Radio
• Writers Giving Back, Pass the Torch, by Catherine Wald, Poets and Writers (May 2004)
• Quiet Mountain Essays Interview with editor Suzanne Sunshower
• Speaking for the Generations : Native Writers on Writing, Sun Tracks Vol. 35, University of Arizona Press.
• French Connections, Christine Gelineau, editor.
• Writers Segment (2/5/01) on South Dakota Public Radio [RealAudio]
• Writers Segment (2/6/01) on South Dakota Public Radio [RealAudio]
• House Blend (9/17/00) on South Dakota Public Radio [RealAudio]
• House Blend (7/30/00) on South Dakota Public Radio [RealAudio]
• House Blend (7/2/00) on South Dakota Public Radio [RealAudio]
• James Thomas Stevens & Allison Hedge Coke on UN Radio (RealAudio) United Nations
• Cambridge Companion to Native American Literature
• Connecticut Review

Awards

• Four Pushcart Prize nominations in 2009 for work published in 2008.
• Fellow University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Great Plains Study. 2008-current.
• South Dakota Arts Council Collaborative Grant in 2008-9.
• Paul Hanly Furfey Lecture. An Endowed Lecture. Association of Sociology in Religion. Boston, MA. 2008.
• Hawthornden Castle Fellow Residency. Hawthornden Castle 2008.
• United Nations Panel Facilitator. Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Forum. New York, NY. 2008. Invitational.
• Journal of the Year Editor in 2006–2007 Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers To Topos International Journal of Poetry Ahani: Indigenous American Poetry Oregon State University. 2008.
• Writer of the Year in Poetry in 2006–2007 by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers: Blood Run from Salt Publishing. 2008.
• Distinguished Paul and Clarice A. Reynolds Chair of English-Poetry & Writing- University of Nebraska at Kearney 2007-current.
• Delegate, United Nations Women in Peacemaking Conference, Joan B. Kroc Center for Peace and Justice, Kroc Center University of San Diego. San Diego, CA. 2006.
• United Nations Presenting Speaker. Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Forum. New York, NY. 2006. Invitational.
• Writer of the Year in Poetry in 2005 by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers Off Season City Pipe Coffeehouse Press.
• King Chavez Parks Teaching Award Northern Michigan University. 2005.
• Black Earth Institute, Fellow. Black Earth Institute. Madison, WI. 2005–2008.
• National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Visiting Professorship at Hartwick College Oneonta, New York. 2004.
• Book-of-the-Month, Native America Calling AIROS Native Radio Network, Rock, Ghost, Willow, Deer. August 2004.
• Mayor's Award for Literary Excellence 2003. Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Empire Arts Council
• South Dakota Arts Council Artist Fellowship 2002.
• Excellence in Teaching AwardsSioux Falls Area Community Foundation. 2002 and 2004.
• Mentor of the Year in 2001 Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers for national work with incarcerated Native youth.
• Reading Rainbow Judge. 2002.
• Pushcart Prize nominations 1999 and 2000.
• 'Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship finalist. 1999.
• South Dakota Arts Council Individual Artist Project Grants/Fellowships 1999, 2002.
• Dog Road Woman Winner 1998 American Book Award Before Columbus Foundation, finalist, 1998 Paterson Prize, finalist, Native Writers' Circle of the Americas First Book Award in Poetry.
• South Dakota Arts Council Artist in Residence 1998-current.
• Macdowell Colony Resident Fellow in Petersborough, New Hampshire, in fall 1996.
• Abiko Quarterly Editor's Choice Award. Cid Corman, Editor. 1995.
• Doris Gregory Memorial Scholarship and Creative Writing Award New Mexico Press Women 1993.
• Associate Residency Atlantic Center for the Arts 1992.
• PEN America Judge
• Named Fellow at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Center for Great Plains Study 2008.
• Hawthornden Castle Fellow. Hawthornden Castle 2008.
• Named National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Visiting Writer at Hartwick College in 2004.

External links

• Blog
• PEN Member Page
• Distinguished Writer UHM
• Visiting Artist UCO
• Distinguished Paul W. Reynolds and Clarice Kingston Reynolds Endowed Chair in English, Poetry & Creative Writing professors
• Paul W. and Clarice Kingston Reynolds Chair notes University of Nebraska
• Reynolds Chair UNK hosting Cranefest
• UNK Faculty
• UNK Reynolds Chair
• Reynolds Series sponsors Cave Canem Fellows reading
• Reynolds review Sponsored
• Noted Faculty
• Notable Faculty
• NEH Visiting Distinguished Faculty Hartwick College