Bryan Thao Worra

Poet

Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota US
Email: 
thaoworra@gmail.com
Website: 
thaoworra.wordpress.com
Twitter/X: 
@Thaoworra

Author's Bio

Bryan Thao Worra is the Lao Minnesotan Poet Laureate. A Board Member
appointed by the governor to the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans,
he is 2009 NEA Fellow in Literature and a 2019 Joyce Fellow. He holds
over 20 awards for his writing and community leadership. He is
featured in over 100 publications and cited in over 9 textbooks. The
author of over 8 books, he has been a consultant for the National
Endowment for the Arts, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center,
the Minnesota State Arts Board, and many others. He serves as the
Creative Works Editor for the Journal of Southeast Asian American
Education and Advancement, and is the president of a 40-year old
international poetry association. In 2012 he represented the nation of
Laos as its Cultural Olympian during the London Summer Games. 

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
Bamboo Among the Oaks (Borealis Press, 2015)
,
How Do I Begin? (Heyday Books, 2011)
,
Language for a New Century (Norton, 2008)
,
Outsiders Within (South End Press, 2006)
Books:
DEMONSTRA (Innsmouth Free Press, 2013)
,
BARROW (Sam's Dot Publishing, 2009)
,
Winter Ink (Minnesota Center tor the Book Arts, 2008)
,
On the Other Side of the Eye (Sam's Dot Publishing, 2007)
Journals:
Arbutus
,
Asian Pacific American Journal
,
Astropoetica
,
Big Bridge
,
Big City Lit
,
Buddhist Poetry Review
,
Cascadia Review
,
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal
,
Defenestration
,
Hyphen
,
Illumen
,
In Our Own Words
,
Kartika Review
,
Lantern Review
,
Mastodon Dentist
,
Mid-American Poetry Review
,
Missing Slate
,
Muse Apprentice Guild
,
Out of Line
,
Paj Ntaub Voice
,
PaperTiger: New World Poetry
,
Pedestal Magazine
,
Poems Niederngasse
,
Poetry Midwest
,
Quarterly Literary Review Singapore
,
Real Eight View
,
Rock Salt Plum
,
Speakeasy
,
Stirring: A Literary Collection
,
Tales of the Unanticipated
,
The Tamafhyr Mountain Poetry Irregular
,
Whimperbang
,
Whistling Shade
Prizes won: 

2019 Joyce Award; 2019 Forecast Mid-Career Grant; 2018 Rhizome Microgrant: Poetry; 2017 University of CA Merced Center for the Humanities Artist-In-Residence; 2015 NBC Asian American Poet to Watch; 2014 Book of the Year, Science Fiction Poetry Association; 2014 Readers Choice Award, Strange Horizons; 2012 Cultural Olympian, Southbank Centre, London Summer Olympics; 2011 Artist Initiative Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board; 2010 Literacy Award, Lao Professionals of Illinois; 2009 Asian Pacific Leadership Award, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans; 2009 NEA Fellowship In Literature; 2008 Artists Initiative Grant, MN State Arts Board; 2007 Career Initiative Grant, Loft Literary Center; 2005 MN State Arts Board Cultural Collaboration; 2002 MN Playwrights Center Many Voices Fellow; 1991 James E. Casey Scholar; 1991 Otterbein College Ammons-Thomas Award.

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Asian American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Vientiane, Laos
Raised in: 
Saline, MI
Michigan
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: May 06, 2019