KEARNS, Josie 1954-

PERSONAL: Born October 21, 1954, in Flint, MI; daughter of James V. and Gladys (Randall) Kearns; married Joseph M. Matyzak July 18, 1981. Education: University of Michigan, B.A., B.S., M.F.A., 1994. Hobbies and other interests: Egyptology, memoir, science theory.

ADDRESSES: Home—120 Litchfield, Clinton, MI 49236. Office—3262 Angell Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. E-mail—jakearns@umich.edu.

CAREER: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, professor, 1994—. Ragdale Foundation, writer-in-residence, 1995-2002.

MEMBER: Associated Writing Programs.

AWARDS, HONORS: Fellow of National Endowment for the Arts; first prize, Poet Hunt Contest; four awards from Michigan Council for the Arts; three Hopwood Award from University of Michigan.

WRITINGS:

New Numbers (poetry chapbook), March Street Press, 1999, expanded edition, New Issues Press, 2000.

Author of nonfiction work Life after the Line, Wayne State University Press (Detroit, MI). Poetry represented in anthologies, including Contemporary MichiganPoetry, Passages North, and Boomer Girls. Contributor of poetry to journals, including Georgia Review and Iowa Review.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Art in America, a novel; The Theory of Everything, a poetry collection.

SIDELIGHTS: Josie Kearns told CA: "In poetry, my focus has been looking at scientific ideas and bringing them to bear on human problems. Thus, physics has played an important role in using these terms and ideas for human problems, views, and ways of seeing the world. I use double-voiced pieces in the same way to look at two or more views of the same subject at the same time. The human condition of choices, failures, and successes is paramount to the ideas in mathematics and physics specifically. However, something like Drake's Equation—a complicated series of variables that may or may not help to determine the likelihood of life on other plants—has also been a touchstone for my poetry, as well as women inventors.

"The novel manuscript in progress is the result of looking at how artistic people survive in the world. Thus, I enjoy working in all kinds of groups in writing situations."