Bill Ransom

Bill Ransom was born in Puyallup, Washington, in 1945, and he began full-time employment at the age of eleven as an agricultural worker. He attended Washington State University on track and boxing scholarships, and the University of Puget Sound on a track scholarship. He received his BA in Sociology and English Education from the University of Washington in 1970. From 1965 to 1970 Ransom worked as an expeditor on a quick engine change team, building and repairing military and commercial jet engines. He studied American Minority Literature and Old and Middle English on an NDEA Title IV Fellowship at the University of Nevada, Reno, then began a pilot project with the Poetry in the Schools program in Washington State. He received his MA in English from Utah State University. He founded and directed the popular Port Townsend Writers Conference for Centrum. He was a firefighter, fire fighting basic training instructor, and CPR instructor for six years, and an advanced life support emergency medical technician for ten years in Jefferson County, Washington. He volunteers with humanitarian groups in Central America. Ransom has published six novels, seven poetry collections, numerous short stories and articles. "Learning the Ropes" (Utah State University Press), a collection of poetry, short fiction and essays, was billed as "a creative autobiography." Three of his short stories from this collection have been selections of the PEN/NEA syndicated fiction project, often called "the Pulitzer prize of the short story": "Uncle Hungry," "What Elena Said," and "Learning the Ropes." These appeared in the Sunday Magazine editions of major newspapers around the country. His latest book, "The Woman and the War Baby," is available from Blue Begonia Press. His poetry has been nominated for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Bill Ransom currently serves as Academic Dean of Curriculum at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.