John Lehman is the founder and original publisher of Rosebud, a national magazine of short stories, poetry and illustration for people who enjoy good writing. He is the poetry editor of the Wisconsin People & Ideas as well as managing partner of Zelda Wilde Publishing and—with editors Andrea Musher and Marilyn Taylor—for three years published the free, street-quarterly Cup of Poems and a Side of Prose. He also originated the Prairie Fire Poetry Quartet which includes Shoshauna Shy, Robin Chapman, Richard Roe and John Lehman. His latest venture is an interactive website called www.CoolPlums.com. John was a finalist for the Wisconsin Poet Laureate position in 2004 and again in 2008. Dramatic readings of his plays, A Brief History of My Tattoo, The Jane Test and The Writer’s Cave have been presented in Milwaukee and Madison.
John Lehman’s collections of poetry include Acting Lessons, Shrine of the Tooth Fairy, Dogs Dream of Running and Shorts: 101 Brief Poems of Wonder and Surprise. His latest nonfiction books are America’s Greatest Unknown Poet: Lorine Niedecker Reminiscences, Photographs, Letters and Her Most Memorable Poems and Everything is Changing: How to Gain Loyal Customers and Clients Quickly. He publishes short stories under the name Jack Lehman.
John Lehman grew up in Chicago but for the last twenty years he has lived with his wife, Talia Schorr, their four dogs and six cats in Rockdale, the smallest incorporated village in Wisconsin.