by Brian Dunlap

Michelle Brittan Rosado is a poet from Vacaville, CA who now lives in Long Beach. Her first full-length collection of poetry Why Can’t It Be Tenderness was published last month by the University of Wisconsin Press. In this collection she explores the themes of coming-of-age, mixed-race identity, diaspora, and cultural inheritance. However, Brittan Rosado has also recently received good news about her next collection of poetry.

On Facebook Brittan Rosado said:

“Thanks for all the book love, everyone…!

It feels way too early to talk about the next book, which is why I’m stunned and heartened that some new poems from my manuscript-in-progress just won a 2018 award from the Sustainable Arts Foundation. They’re an organization that supports artists and writers with children, and I’m really grateful to receive a grant from them. Much admiration for all parents making room for creative expression in their lives, and the spouses and support networks who love us and believe in what we do.

‘Chosen from a field of nearly 2,500 applications, these twenty artists and writers come from nineteen US states and Canada; they have thirty-seven children; and a record eighteen of our awardees this year are women. These artists and writers are making work that is urgent and timely, thoughtful and transformative, and a welcome balm to us here in smoky California.’”

As Michelle Brittan Rosado prepares for her book tour that kicks off in January, another local writer continues to be busy crafting more powerful literature. Congratulations!