Hello! My name is Sam Kauffman. Knowing what to write for a bio is probably more difficult than writing poetry itself so I'll give you some of the highlights.
I was born and raised in Seattle, WA. Graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Music and English- if one major was good, two were better - right?
I am married, to my college sweetheart, have two boys, three grandchildren and one Wheaten Terrier, Mr. Paddy, a show dog - pure octane on four paws! - and now live in California.
Have been writing poetry since college - not sharing how long that has been - along with music - seven albums released (played on Christian radio) - eight chapbooks of poetry, a series of eight faith based children's stories, three children's books, two full length books, short stories, eighteen one woman musical scripture dramas and a variety of music based programs for churches, youth and women.
Both the music and the poetry have been published. (I am exhausted looking at that list I might add!)
As you might have guessed I am a Christian singer, dramatist, songwriter, author, retreat leader and "actress," that I put in parentheses!
Have been very blessed to have had a music ministry for over twenty years - yikes! has it been that long - traveling coast to coast and sometimes internationally.
While working harder than I have ever worked in my life, I am shocked, amazed and grateful for the reponse this writing and composing - not possible without a lot of heavenly help - has received with numerous awards over the years for both lyrics and poetry.
When not writing - when does that happen? - I love to ski, walk, garden, cook, create needwork, train our show dogs and be with family and friends.
Well, there you have it in a nutshell - seems to be a rather large nutshell.
I am so grateful for the work of Poetry Soup and all of the "soupers" out there for creating a safe place of encouragement and a community of poets who support one another.
It is an honor to be among an international community of such talented and gracious poets and writers.