Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joan Houlihan has been a teacher, technical writer, reporter, critic, and editor. Her books include THE US (Tupelo Press, 2009), THE MENDING WORM (New Issues Poetry & Prose, 2006), and Hand-held Executions: Poems & Essays (Del Sol Press, 2003). In 2004, she founded the Concord Poetry Center, and in 2006 she established the Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference for advanced writers. She is also currently on the faculty of Lesley University's low-residency M.F.A. in Creative Writing program.