Shelly Reed Thieman's signature voice is steeped in reflection and evocation, mirroring the introspective nature of her poetry. She feels deep responsibility for sharing the beautiful and burlesque range of human emotion and experience through poetry. She is a disciple of vivid and unexpected imagery, a discoverer of glamour in the unglamorous, a mistress of montage. Readers of many ages find resonance in her reflections, making her work both intimate and broadly appealing. 

 

Shelly facilitates two monthly poetry workshops in the Des Moines area, Omega Poetry Group, and Poetry Brew. She is a patron member of The Iowa Poetry Association and sponsors the First Time Entrant Award in the annual Lyrical Iowa contest. Shelly is a two-time Pushcart nominee and received first place in the 2018  Joan Ramseyer Memorial Poetry Contest. Her poems have been published in a vast array of fine literary journals. 

 

Shelly lives in central Iowa with her husband, Kent, and two feline companions. Don’t ring the doorbell, she’s probably outdoors.