Biography
Julianza (Julie) K. Shavin hails from the southeastern Bible Belt, a constriction she never really suffered, because her writer/father and artist/mother were, happily, if distressingly non-conformingly, beltless (explaining, perhaps, her conception). She began journaling at age 11, composing her first “real” poem in fifth grade, stunning both teacher and class with its vivid imagery and inane, unbridled absurdity. "Star of the Mangled Pain" has not become a classic in the annals of literature.
Julianza edited her high school newspaper and literary magazine, was one of two graduation speakers, and was chosen for Emory University's promotional brochure, receiving a scholarship for excellence in writing and music composition. She holds degrees in English and Philosophy She was poetry editor of her college literary magazine, is a licensed professional proofreader, and former journalist holding several editorial positions. She is past Salon Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Vice-President, and, currently, President of Poetry West, a thriving Colorado Springs-based collective. She has performed both original poetry and music for the "Classically Alive" music salon series. She recently recorded poetry, for the first time, for the Blind and Dyslexic, and hopes to make this volunteer opportunity a regular activity. She teaches poetry in school settings, and currently works as an editor/proofreader.
She facilitates an open mic, The Live and Breathe {Poetry}Society, twice monthly in Manitou Springs and participates in readings and poetry performance at as many venues as time allows. Her greatest poetic loves include Lawrence Durrell, Dylan Thomas, John Keats, Anne Sexton, Mark Strand, John Donne, Maxine Kumin, Dylan Thomas, Mark Jarman, Leonore Wilson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Robinson Jeffers, Conrad Aiken, Sylvia Plath, John Milton, Delmore Schwartz, Richard Wilbur, Sidney Lanier, Diane Ackerman, and Leonard Cohen, to name a few.
She claims to be a “relentless reviser to the point of insanity,” in terms of poetry, her greatest passion besides music composition. She has had several of her artworks selected as covers for or as inclusion within literary magazines both in-state and out. An insomniac, "chronically tormented by muses of all types and degrees of hilarity and lividity," she was recently labeled as “one who lucubrates.” She serves as Vice-President of Blissfest, an annual month-long collaboration of artists' raising funds for various charities, and hopes to serve on the Pikes Peak Art Council board this coming year. In September, 2011, she was named Pikes Peak Performance Poet of the Year. She would love if you visited her animal welfare site.
Julie has three books of poetry (non-self-published): a chapbook, The Snake Will be There Soon, In the Air, Against the Air; and a collected poems to April 2011, Of Mortality a Music, which includes artwork. She is at work on a fourth book tentatively titled An Octave Above the Sea. Her website is www.droppinglikerubies.com. She has been published in fifteen or so anthologies, and has garnered a few humble awards.