Jim McCrary, Poet-Connector-Curator

Jim is a national Poetic-Treasure. He is a writer, a veteran, and a community-activist, based in Lawrence, Kansas since the 1960’s. His friends, colleagues, and influencers include Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs, as well as poets across the USA through the decades. Jim is the author of many poetry books & chapbooks including the recent: A Yearbook 1941-2016 (Shirt Pocket Press, 2016); This Here (theenk Books, 2015); and All That: The Collected Chapbooks (ManyPenny Press, 2008). His poetry has also been published in so many print and online journals based in the USA and beyond. Jim has been contributing editor to several journals over the years including Grist, Loose Gravel, Avec, and First Intensity. He edited and published a zine called Smelt Money thru thirteen issues in the 1990’s. He has curated or co-hosted several reading series in Lawrence starting at the Mass St. Co-op, circa 1968; the first poetry open mic-slam’s in Lawrence, KS at The Flamingo (strip club) in the early 1990’s; and the on-going Taproom Poetry Series. Jim is currently helping KU’s Spencer Research Library build their collection on the history of poetry in this region. Follow Jim McCrary wherever you can!