About
about me
W. Todd Kaneko is the author of This is How the Bone Sings (Black Lawrence Press 2020) and The Dead Wrestler Elegies, Championship Edition (New Michigan Press 2023). He is co-author with Amorak Huey of Poetry: A Writers’ Guide and Anthology (Bloomsbury Academic 2018), and Slash / Slash, winner of the 2020 Diode Editions Chapbook Contest. His poems, essays, and stories can be seen in Poetry, Alaskan Quarterly Review, Los Angeles Review, The Normal School, Hobart, [PANK], Blackbird, The Rumpus, Song of the Owashtanong: Grand Rapids Poetry in the 21st Century, Bring the Noise: The Best Pop Culture Essays from Barrelhouse Magazine , Best Small Fictions 2017 and 2018, and many other journals and anthologies.
He holds degrees from Arizona State University (MFA, Creative Writing) and the University of Washington (BA, English). A Kundiman fellow, his work has been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. Originally from Seattle, he is currently an Associate Professor in the Writing Department at Grand Valley State University and lives with his family in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
press kit
Publicity materials will be available for download here (they aren’t here yet—sorry). Photo credits should be given to Tyler Steimle.
AN ANSWER KEY: William • Japanese American and Chinese American • 69 • Since I was fifteen • Only since my late thirties • I only miss it in Winter • No, I do not speak that language • No, I haven’t forgotten • That isn’t done yet • It’s when the body falls asleep before the brain • I wasted a lot of it playing video games • Yes, I am allergic to that • No, but I have a tee-ball bat • Pork • The Death Star • Gary Payton • Pokémon Go • Motörhead • I always say the Nature Boy Ric Flair, but I’m really thinking Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer • Subaru Impreza • Guitar, but really bass guitar • Yes, I know it’s fake • Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister when I was in 10th grade • The egg because it does not believe in exclusivity • Exile on Main Street, of course • Son of Gold, or Money Child • No, but I believe in hard work • Yes, but only when I’m playing music • The Hulk because he doesn’t follow a code of conduct • Elvis Presley • Birds • It’s a bad place in Idaho • It started as a joke, but it became real at some point • Fallout 4 • Yes, and it grows straight out like a weird thistle • I always say Tyrannosaurus Rex, but I’m really thinking Triceratops • Slash • Burger King • Because I am obsessive like that • I bought it on eBay • Orange • Telekinesis • The day after Valentine’s Day • The Rock • I am busy protecting my son from monsters and bad guys • Interrupting cow