Andrea Dietrich Biography

Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent two decades now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines, for the website Shadow Poetry, and for Poetry Soup. 

Ms. Dietrich has won numerous awards, as well as the title Poet of the Year 2008, from the Yahoo group, Poetry For Thought. In addition, she has won prizes from the magazines Lucidity, Bell's Letters, Art with Words, Poets at Work and SP Quill, the magazine for which she wrote grammar and poetry articles as well as movie reviews and for which she acted as poetry editor for the head editor Marie Summers for six years. Many of her poems appeared in Shadows Ink, a yearly published series of chapbooks of award winning poetry as well as in numerous other anthologies. Her short stories appeared in many issues of SP Quill and much of her poetry was published in eight chapbooks (no longer sold online). 

Since coming to Poetry Soup, Ms. Dietrich has been both contest sponsor and winner of numerous contests. In 2010, her poem "Cinder Girl" was first place winner of Soup's International contest (these contests are no longer held).  A song was created from her lyrics "Honeymoon Serenade" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWxc4cpHDc) and two movies have been made featuring the poetry of Andrea Dietrich: "A Tale of Fire and Ice" (a 4 min. Z-Film Fest Project, 2014) and the full length movie "Six Days of Sistine" in which 20 poems of Ms. Dietrichs serve as the thoughts of two characters played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Elarica Johnson (directed by Richard J. Perry, 2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7710360/

On the Passing of Judy Konos

Blog Posted by Andrea Dietrich: 2/13/2026 6:18:00 PM

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La France Avatar
June 24, 2026 at 9:50 AM
So sorry to hear this, rest in peace Judy ~
Callus Avatar
February 26, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Thank you for letting us know, Andrea. It is with great sorrow that I read of Judy's passing away. During these past 9 months I had made several attempts at contacting her, but to no avail. Judy and I became friends soon after I joined Poetry Soup in 2014. She supported, encouraged, and praised my writing. The fact that I write lyrics for songs also contributed to the way we bonded. She will be missed, though I know she will still be rooting for me from her heavenly abode. I offer my condolences to all her family, who she was very proud of.
Hind Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 10:05 PM
God bless her
Kauffman Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Thank you for letting us know, Andrea! Sad to lose a poetic voice. You are doing a wonderful job keeping everyone in the love - in the soup! Creating a sense of community. Blessings.
Dietrich Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Thanks, Sam
Jones Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Thanks sweet poet! I don’t think I interacted with her but embrace her kindred spirit! May she rest in peace.
Dietrich Avatar
February 16, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Yes she became inactive before you arrived. You missed out on a lot of lovely poets we used to have here
Fraser Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 4:21 PM
From Eloisa and I, we're saddened to know that Judy has passed. We loved her honest critiques on our poetry. In all truths, we learnt from Judy. Such a loss knowing :( :( xx ty Andrea xx
Dietrich Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 10:42 PM
God bless you and your wife.
Fowler Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Thank you Andrea. A very sweet poet.
Dietrich Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Glad you knew her.
Allison Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Thanks for doing the blog Andrea, Judy was so so supportive to me when i first joined soup and we became good friends and maintained contact after she stopped posting in about 2017. I didn't hear back from my Christmas mail and have since found out she had passed away. hugs jan x
Dietrich Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Gosh. I suppose that must be the time her health was failing her. I had no idea. Many new poets would not even be aware of her then
Trestrail Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 2:34 AM
I remember Judy well. She was a friend of mine on Facebook as well. She was a hoot and smart too. RIP.
Dietrich Avatar
February 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
She sure was a hoot!

Previous Blogs

Thanks for Making My Day with Beautiful Triolet
Date Posted: 7/2/2026 12:00:00 AM
A Missing Soup Feature I really hope comes back
Date Posted: 6/21/2026 10:15:00 AM
Unbelievable: I messed up directions for my contest
Date Posted: 6/16/2026 1:03:00 AM
A TRIOLET TO MAKE MY DAY: I messed something up on my contest
Date Posted: 6/14/2026 7:01:00 PM
My May Themed Contest is Finalized
Date Posted: 5/30/2026 5:49:00 PM
Regarding my Dessert Acrostic Challenge
Date Posted: 4/9/2026 2:27:00 PM
On the Passing of Judy Konos
Date Posted: 2/13/2026 6:18:00 PM
My Funny Valentine contest page had typos
Date Posted: 2/8/2026 10:25:00 AM
MY Funny Valentine Contest - Title should be My Funny Valentine
Date Posted: 2/7/2026 2:19:00 PM
Thanks for Making My Clerihew Contest A Fun One to Judge
Date Posted: 1/13/2026 3:21:00 PM
On my clerihew contest
Date Posted: 1/9/2026 9:10:00 AM
What Famous Literary Figure Pops into Your Mind?
Date Posted: 12/31/2025 11:30:00 PM
Congratulations, Karen Jones, on your Anthology "What Makes Me Smile"
Date Posted: 12/23/2025 2:55:00 PM
Heads up before I judge My A Trois-par-Huit Contest (update)
Date Posted: 12/23/2025 12:33:00 PM
oops, I messed up on titles in my latest contest
Date Posted: 12/5/2025 10:22:00 PM
Everyone a Winner/ My ODE challenge & How I Determine Placements
Date Posted: 11/16/2025 4:00:00 PM
Oh My Gosh. I Just Learned Pangie Romios Passed Away
Date Posted: 11/9/2025 11:28:00 AM
A Message from Caycay Jennings to all her Poet Friends
Date Posted: 11/8/2025 2:16:00 PM
Clarification on my Newest Contest
Date Posted: 11/7/2025 2:22:00 PM
My October Challenge is Finally Closed
Date Posted: 11/3/2025 12:57:00 AM
If you submitted to I AM (Color) Contest
Date Posted: 8/24/2025 11:00:00 AM
Thank You, Jerry T. Curtis & a Shout Out to others who create songs
Date Posted: 8/20/2025 1:39:00 PM
An Apology and Discussion on Poetry Forms
Date Posted: 8/17/2025 4:39:00 PM
Congrats to Winners of my Mid Summer Contest
Date Posted: 7/27/2025 10:41:00 PM
Need Advice on AI checkers/ Please don't enter my contests with AI
Date Posted: 7/25/2025 9:27:00 AM

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