A poet, editor, and occasional critic, Michael Mercurio lives and writes in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. His poems, interviews, and reviews have been published or are forthcoming in Palette Poetry, Thrush, The Common, Cream City Review, Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club), Sugar House Review, Lily Poetry Review, and elsewhere. (A full list of publications may be found here.) Michael is the founder and curator of What The Universe Is: A (Virtual) Reading Series, where established and emerging poets read together monthly on Zoom. In addition, he posts regular dispatches on his Substack, A Slight Case of Overthinking, including close readings of notable poems and musings on life as an aging Gen Xer.

Michael also provides service to the world of poetry in several other ways:

• As the Director of Community Engagement for the Faraday Publishing Company, a non-profit press with the mission of amplifying historically underrepresented voices and fostering critical public discourse of enduring value through accessible scholarly and literary work.

• As a member of the steering committee for the Tell It Slant Poetry Festival, held each September at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA. In addition to the world-famous Emily Dickinson Marathon, Tell It Slant features contemporary poets for readings, panels, and master classes — and it’s all free

• As an instructor for Writers In Progress in Northampton, MA, teaching workshops on subjects like revision, project management for poets & writers, and the power of etymology

If you’re interested in working directly with Michael on a one-off editing project or you want to negotiate a rate as a private student, please reach out directly by using the contact form on this website.