Katherine (Katie) Riegel

poet, writer, teacher, mentor, editor, Midwesterner, new permanent resident of beautiful Scotland

Looking more like my mom every day (I hope).

Interested in my books? You can find them at Amazon or Bookshop.

Latest book: What Life Is Like Here on Earth

My most recent book is a collection of poems available from Sheila-Na-Gig Editions. I think most of us walk a line between hope and despair these days, between the beauty of a green-veined leaf and the dread of whatever doom the news is reporting. Like everyone, I shift between these moods myself, sometimes within the minute, and my poems grapple with that. So expect a touch of sardonic humor and some complaining about chronic illness and insomniac musings, acceptance of climate change and wishes for healing and giggling at the dog park. And grief, of course, the paradox of which–love and sadness–is well-served by poetry.

I was lucky enough to use a photo by Mili Vishwakarma, a photographer based in my hometown of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois (US), for my cover. The image called to me not only because of the gorgeous composition, but because it symbolized hope in the darkness, blooming even when it seems nothing else–and no one else–is, beauty despite the sometimes-battering wind. Also, I have to confess that the variety of daffodil in the photo is sometimes called a “poet’s daffodil,” and I couldn’t resist that.

I run asynchronous online writing workshops (poetry & short cnf). Click here to see current offerings and to sign up.

I also work with writers one-on-one to help polish poetry and creative nonfiction for publication, both individual pieces and book-length manuscripts.

The tiniest bit of snow our first winter

Sunset from Scott’s View, a lookout point that Sir Walter Scott loved. Less than an hour’s drive from where I live now in the Scottish Borders.
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Some bits that didn’t make the formal bio:

I dropped out of law school because I was writing poems during Civil Procedure, but I had enjoyed helping other students with their law papers and thought maybe I could teach writing for a living. Iowa wasn’t my first choice for an MFA; I wanted to go to Indiana University so I could hang out with my best friend from college who was there for her MFA in fiction (she’s still my best friend). I loved teaching at all the many colleges and universities where I taught, but the students in Tampa were my favorites in general because they laughed at even my lame jokes. I got to live in my old hometown of Champaign, Illinois for a few months before moving to southern Scotland in summer 2025, which is gorgeous even in rain and wind. My household includes two Golden Retrievers, two cats, and an engineer husband who tells dad jokes and hasn’t lost his English accent.

Hawthorn with early autumn berries

I’m learning about plants in the UK and enjoying gardening when I have the energy. Here’s a link to my poems about trees & folklore in the wonderful Plant-Human Quarterly.