The ribbon of my grandma’s typewriter did not stand a chance. I could run through a spool in a small grip of weekends. Grew up to become the cashier always out of receipt paper. Then corporate world–emailing stray stanzas to myself on the daily. Made use of retired file folders and gave the glue sticks something to run out about. I lost count of stages. Transcribed last call poems off cocktail napkins. Left who knows how many parties for the midnight quiet of a porch and pen. Backed with bucket drum, or no one, or live band. You do what you must when what you love is less want and more need. 

the quick & dirt of it:
Nikki is the author of numerous books, including Hotwire(River dog Press ’21) and Ligaments of Light/Tigering the Shoulders(Night Ballet Press, ’13). Nikki has self-published a small crew of chapbooks, and she competed in poetry slams from 2001 to 2004, representing two different cities(Dayton & Pittsburgh) at Nationals during those years(a great place to grow/not a place to stay). Her work has appeared in Muzzle Magazine, Gasconade Review, Nailed, Profane Journal(pushcart prize nominee), Encyclopedia Destructica among others. In 2018/2020 she created a writing class for the Hope House women’s shelter in Middletown, Ohio. For two years she taught the class every Friday night–a life-changing experience. In 2021, Nikki became a Teaching Assistant for Megan Falley’s workshops Poems That Don’t Suck, and After the Ode. Alongside TA’s Carson Wolfe, Melissa Sussman, and Megan, she has provided feedback to hundreds of students. This has helped jumpstart a freelance editing career.

She currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with her partner and daughter.