Michael Simms

Who is Michael Simms?

Michael Simms is an American poet and literary publisher. His most recent book is Black Stone. His poems have been published in literary journals and magazines including 5 A.M., Black Warrior Review, Mid-American Review, Pittsburgh Quarterly, Southwest Review, and West Branch. His poems have also been read by Garrison Keillor on the nationally syndicated radio show The Writer's Almanac. Born in 1954 in Houston, Texas, Simms attended the School of Irish Studies in Dublin, Ireland; Southern Methodist University; and the University of Iowa. From 1979-1987 he served on the faculty of Southern Methodist University and from 2005-2013 in Chatham University Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing.

Since 1998, he is founder and Editor-in-chief of the literary publishing house Autumn House Press in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been the lead editor on over 100 full-length books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by authors such as Gerald Stern, Ed Ochester, Martha Rhodes, Jo McDougall, Chana Bloch, Samuel Ligon, Samuel Hazo, Sue Ellen Thompson, Frank Gaspar, Sheryl St.