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Ten Biographies, by Christa King


Sphinx, by Edward Supranowicz

-1-


She is the oldest of seven children and the mother of one.

She and her next sister were born in Pratt, Kansas.

Her family moved to American Falls, Idaho where her father

bought his first newspaper.

Three more sisters were born.

When she was seven, the family moved to Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Her father bought his second newspaper.

Two brothers were born.

When she was 13, her family moved to Golden, Colorado.

Her father bought his third newspaper.

No more children were born until she was 19.

She says “I’ve been a mother all my life,”

and “My son was raised as the last in a big family,

rather than as an only child.”


-2-


She is extremely well-organized, cheerful, and resourceful.

She is an excellent writer and editor. She creates & adapts

administrative systems to meet best practice standards.

She is highly skilled in research,

and an experienced conference and event planner.

She enjoys arranging travel.

She is good at keeping deadlines and schedules.

She keeps her head in a crisis.

She is creative and ingenious.


-3-


She has always lived in the West.

The landscapes, experiences and people

of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho

inspire and inform her writing.

She received a BA in Creative Writing

at the age of 51, and a Master’s Degree

in Library Sciences in 2012,

both from the University of Arizona.

She is working on a poetry collection and a novel.


-4-


She is chatty, friendly and curious,

with a good sense of humor and fun.

She visits with everyone.

It may not look purposeful,

but relationships, morale and efficiency improve.


-5-


She has been in love with two men in her life.

One died at 29 and the other was married

to someone else.

She has had many passionate, but brief relationships.

She wishes that someone had told her earlier

that character and humor are far more important

than sex appeal and rebellion.

She had to learn that by making mistakes.

Many mistakes.

She considers her curiosity about men appeased.


-6-


As a leader, she expects and models an excellent work ethic,

a strong level of helpfulness, and a sense of urgency.

She “makes the leap” by thinking beyond

the immediate question to next steps and consequences.

She often asks “who else is affected by this?”

She is especially good (perhaps relentless) at researching

and discovering the solution to a problem.


-7-


In September of his 30th year, her only child

committed suicide.


-8-


She considers New Mexico her home.

Something about its landscape and sky.

Open space, blue mesas in the distance,

the scent of piñon and juniper,

the warmth of red soil.

She answers “green” to the state question.

She has been lost in the Navajo Nation.

She knows where Pie Town is.

She loves the town where Georgia O’Keeffe lived.



-9-


Longing for poetry,

she founded a group with four friends.

One friend agreed to participate only if

no one “ever tries to make me write a poem.”

They all agreed—no writing, only reading and talking.


To start, she wrote and presented short courses

about forms, movements, styles,

rhythm, meter, and structure.


The group has been meeting once a month for seven years.

They have read Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning poets,

Poets Laureate (national and state),

Asian American, African American, and Native American poetry,

Middle Eastern poetry, South American poets, Irish poetry,

humorous poems, poems for children,

song lyrics as poetry, poetry about art, about oceans,

about heartbreak,

regional poetry, Elizabethan poetry,

prose poems, poetry about landscapes.

The list continues…


-10-


She and her siblings meet for coffee and crosswords

every Sunday morning.

During the pandemic, they meet via Zoom.

Five live within 10 minutes of each other.

Two live in Tucson.

They are a close family,

each quirky and filled with laughter.

They love bad puns and clever language.

They celebrate holidays and birthdays together.

They love to cook.


 

Christa King has always lived in the West. The landscapes, experiences and people of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Idaho inspire and inform her writing. She received a BA in Creative Writing at the age of 51, and a Master’s Degree in Library Sciences in 2012, both from the University of Arizona. She is working on a poetry collection and a novel.

 

Edward Michael Supranowicz is the grandson of Irish and Russian/Ukrainian immigrants. He grew up on a small farm in Appalachia. He has a grad background in painting and printmaking. Some of his artwork has recently or will soon appear in Fish Food, Streetlight, Another Chicago Magazine, The Door Is a Jar, The Phoenix, and other journals. Edward is also a published poet.

 

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