Jonas often confuses poetry with parenting and play and power and even, porridge. When not writing he obsesses, hovers, stress-eats fingernails, rocks out and occasionally gets a good run or ski in. In 2018 he received an MFA from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Jonas also masquerades as a university librarian and educator, check it out if that’s your bag.
Select Publications
2021
“Overlooked” selected for 49 Writers Broadside Invitational [video reading].
2020
“Betting on Longshots” and “What the Body Remembers” (poems) in Tidal Echoes
2019
“Small Craft Advisory” (poem) in Juneau Poetry OmniBus
2018
My MFA thesis, What Turtle Blood Tastes Like: poems was awarded a Jason Wenger Award for Excellence in Creative Writing.
Lamb, J. (2018). What Turtle Blood Tastes Like (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska. Access via ScholarWorks@UA.
2017
A Braided Way, an exhibit of poetry broadsides by poet parents, Aleria Jensen and Jonas Lamb featuring artwork and photos by and of their children. Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Video Room. January-February 2017.
2016
“Learning the Dance (Snow Dance)” and “When You See Me” (poems) in Tidal Echoes
“Preparations for a Free Wood-Stove,” performed by Clint Farr at the March 2016 edition of Writers’ Showcase
2015
Blonde Indian: an Alaska Native Memoir by Ernestine Hayes, reviewed for the Juneau Empire
“Buddy Tabor Teaches me to Filet a Halibut“(poem) in Tidal Echoes
2014
“Dream Seed”, “Light Like Coal” and “Dear Toi” (poems) in Tidal Echoes
2013
Five Good (Alaskan) Reads, book reviews for the Juneau Empire. Honestly my editor didn’t tell me that it was a guest column that would feature half the authors I put on my list, coincidence is more magic that mayhem but both are good in my book.
“Anything I can put ketchup on” (poem) in Tidal Echoes
“In the time before words” (poem) in Tidal Echoes
2011
I Think Again of those Ancient Chinese Poets: poems by Tom Sexton, reviewed for the Juneau Empire, 2011
2010
Shannon: a poem of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Campbell McGrath, book-length poem reviewed for Juneau Empire, March 2010
Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford, non-fiction review published in the Juneau Empire, February 2010.
2009
War Dances by Sherman Alexie, story collection review published in the Juneau Empire, December 2009.
For the Sake of the Light by Tom Sexton, poetry review published by Juneau Empire, May 2009.
Rock Candy by Jen Vernon, poetry review published by Juneau Empire, October 2009.
Olson’s Fox Island Cabin: Resurrection Bay’s 1st Writer’s Residency
from: 49 Writers: Collaborative reflections and book news by and about Alaskan Authors
New Poetry Review
Short reviews of 4 outstanding poetry collections new to the Juneau Public Library Published in the Juneau Empire, April 2009.
Collect Raindrops
In praise of a few outstanding graphic artists and a book that altered my world with its simplicity, like only poetry had done before.
“Salju Sapnu” (poem) in Tidal Echoes, University of Alaska Southeast Literary Arts Journal.
“Orcas Or No Orcas”, Poetry OmniBus (JAHC, CBJ-Capital Transit, JPL)
“Poems for Kent”, The Kent Collector (Plattsburgh State Art Museum)
“The Red Wool Ski Cap” and “Forever Night Sky“, in Detroit Declarations
Quirk, Fortnight, Raw Ether (defunct, editor, contributor).
A sample of some of my projects as writer/producer.
Letters From the North
Writer, Editor, Producer, Web
We billed ourselves as an audio quarterly and managed to finish our 4th show before parting ways. This was an incredible project that got me very excited about radio journalism and about production work. Despite all the long hours, these shows give me the goosebumps. Check out the archives to listen to the shows. I’m especially proud of the 3rd show, “Work”, and my piece that came out of an interview with Juneau musician/housepainter, Buddy Tabor (scroll to 18:32). Press for show in Juneau Empire .
Schoolin’
University of Alaska Anchorage
College of Arts and Sciences
Anchorage, AK 2015-2018
MFA, Creative Writing & Literary Arts
Drexel University
School of Information Science and Technology
Philadelphia, PA, 2005-2008
MS, Masters of Library and Information Science
Sigma Chapter, Beta Phi Mu, 2009
University of Michigan
School of Literature, Science and Arts
Ann Arbor, MI, 1999-2003
BA, Bachelors of General Studies (Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts)
Concentrations in English Language and Literature, Secondary Education and Social Studies.
Jonas Lamb 