Kwame Dawes was born in Ghana, grew up in Jamaica, and studied and taught in New Brunswick, Canada. In the UK he has published five volumes of poetry, an anthology of reggae poetry, and a critical volume on reggae music and literature. His first book of poems, Progeny of Air, won the prestigious Forward Poetry Prize. He teaches at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Matthew Shenoda's first book, Somewhere Else (Coffee House Press),was named a 2005 debut book of the year by Poets & Writers, winner of the Hala Maksoud Award for Emerging Voice, and 2006 American Book Award. A Faculty member of the MFA Program at Goddard College, Shenoda has taught extensively in the fields of Ethnic Studies, Literature and Creative Writing.