In the Saddle with Josh Burton

For our annual NaPoMo issue this year, one of our editors had the amazing opportunity of interviewing Josh Burton to talk about his writing studio and the space that has both inspired and helped produce his amazing works so far.

Joshua Burton is a poet and educator from Houston, Texas, and received his MFA in poetry at Syracuse University. He is a 2019 Tin House Winter Workshop Scholar, 2019 Juniper Summer Writing Institute scholarship winner, 2019 Center for African American Poetry and Poetics fellowship finalist, 2018 Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize honorable mention, 2020 Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing finalist, and a 2023 Elizabeth George Foundation grant recipient. His work can be found in Mississippi Review, Gulf Coast, The Rumpus, Conduit, TriQuarterly Review, Black Warrior Review, Grist, and Indiana Review. His chapbook, Fracture Anthology, is currently out with Ethel, and his debut poetry collection, Grace Engine, is out with the University of Wisconsin Press.

According to our editor, Josh Luckenbach, he writes IN THE SADDLE column of the NaPoMo issue, “When it was my turn to pick a writer for our NaPoMo IN THE SADDLE column, I knew I wanted to invite Burton, not only because I think more people should read Grace Engine, but also because I was eager to learn about how and where one of my favorite poets writes.” Below is an image of Burton's writing studio and the various materials that exist within it:

Image of Josh Burton's writing studio

You can learn more about Josh Burton on his website. His debut poetry collection, Grace Engine can also be found by clinking on the link here.

            Also, our 2024 NaPoMo issue is now available for you to read or to download and read on Issuu. Happy national poetry month!