Travis Nichols (born 1979) is an American

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

, and

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicate ...

. His work spans various genres, including

experimental poetry Experimental literature is a genre of literature that is generally "difficult to define with any sort of precision." It experiments with the conventions of literature, including boundaries of genres and styles; for example, it can be written in ...

, satirical novels, and children's books. He is also known for his professional roles in advocacy and journalism.

Early life and education

Travis Nichols was born in

Ames, Iowa Ames () is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately north of Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines in central Iowa. It is the home of Iowa State University (ISU). According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Ames ha ...

, in 1979. He earned a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree from the

University of Georgia The University of Georgia (UGA or Georgia) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Athens, Georgia, United States. Chartered in 1785, it is the oldest public university in th ...

and a

Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admi ...

from the

University of Massachusetts-Amherst A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degree An academic degree is a qualification awarded to a student upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a co ...

. Prior to his writing career, Nichols held a variety of professions, including

film projectionist A projectionist is a person who operates a movie projector, particularly as an employee of a movie theater. Projectionists are also known as "operators". Historical background N.B. The dates given in the subject headings are approximate. Early ...

, bookseller, dishwasher, teacher, estate sales consultant, movie critic, and journalist. He participated in the Wave Books Poetry Bus Tour.

Career

Literary works

Nichols's poetry often explores themes of everyday observation, human relationships, and the absurd. His collections include: * ''Iowa'' (Letter Machine Editions, 2010) * ''See Me Improving'' (Copper Canyon Press, 2010) His novels are characterized by their experimental form, humor, and engagement with contemporary culture, particularly internet phenomena and societal obsessions. His published novels are: * ''Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder'' (Coffee House Press, 2010) * ''The More You Ignore Me'' (Coffee House Press, 2013)

Children's books and illustration

As an author and illustrator, Nichols has contributed to numerous children's books and comics. His work in this field includes: * "The Terribles" series: ** ''Welcome to Stubtoe Elementary'' ** ''A Witch's Last Resort'' ** ''Clash of the Gnomes!'' * ''The Totally Awesome Book of Useless Information'' * ''Betty's Burgled Bakery'' * ''Fowl Play'' * ''Matthew Meets the Man'' * ''Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-To Guide for DIY, Punk, Indie, and Underground Bands'' * ''Maze Quest'' * ''Monstrous Fun'' * ''Skedaddle: An Out-There Travel'' ''Journal'' * ''Cassidy: Biggest Monster, Smallest Monster'' He has also provided illustrations and comics for ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', ''Uglydoll'', ''Nickelodeon Magazine'', and ''Hello Kitty''. His children's books have been published by Penguin Random House, Chronicle Books, Macmillan Publishers, and Viz Media.

Professional and advocacy roles

Beyond his literary and artistic endeavors, Nichols has engaged in journalism and advocacy. As of late 2024, he is the Director of Content Strategy for the international humanitarian organization CARE.org and is the editor of the organization's ''CARE News & Stories''. Previously, Nichols was the media director for Greenpeace USA. From 2008 to 2012, he was an associate editor for the Poetry Foundation's website. He also collaborated with the activist group The Yes Men on the "Arctic Ready" spoof, a satirical campaign targeting Shell Oil's Arctic drilling plans.

External links

Travis Nichols on the Poetry Foundation website

Travis Nichols on the Poets Society of America website

Travis Nichols at Penguin Random House

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nichols, Travis 1979 births American male poets University of Georgia alumni University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni People associated with Greenpeace Living people American male novelists Artists from Ames, Iowa Poets from Iowa Novelists from Iowa 21st-century American poets 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American male writers