Rita Coleman

Rita Coleman writes award-winning poetry, memoir, and picture books in rural Greene County, Ohio. A former journalist and educator, her work has been published in anthologies and literary journals. Rita's first poetry chapbook, Mystic Connections, 2009, is described by Kirkus as "deeply felt." Her attendance at writing workshops includes the University of Iowa, Antioch Writers Workshop, and Thomas More College as well as state and national workshops with SCBWI (the Society for Children's Book...See more

Rita Coleman writes award-winning poetry, memoir, and picture books in rural Greene County, Ohio. A former journalist and educator, her work has been published in anthologies and literary journals. Rita's first poetry chapbook, Mystic Connections, 2009, is described by Kirkus as "deeply felt." Her attendance at writing workshops includes the University of Iowa, Antioch Writers Workshop, and Thomas More College as well as state and national workshops with SCBWI (the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illlustrators). Rita reads her poetry on Conrad's Corner WYSO 91.3 FM along with other regional poets. She holds a BA and an MA in English Literature, with a Concentration in Creative Writing, from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. She has been a poetry/memoir student of Pauletta Hansel, the first Poet Laureate of Cincinnati, since 2013. Rita is a talented photographer and has been a member of Town and Country Fine Arts Gallery and the Dayton Visual Art Center. Her photos are exhibited in juried art shows and regional venues. Rita is married and lives in a restored farmhouse with her husband Frank Baxley and their cat EL BK, fractured Spanglish for The Black Kitty. Visit her website www.ritacoleman.com See less