Susan Marie Swanson is an award-winning poet and children's author known for her lyrical and evocative works. Her picture book "The First Thing My Mama Told Me" received a Charlotte Zolotow Honor and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. She has also published "Getting Used to the Dark: 26 Night Poems" and the picture book "Letter to the Lake," both illustrated by Peter Catalanotto.
Swanson has spent over two decades fostering creativity in young writers through programs like COMPAS Writers and Artists in the Schools and St. Paul Academy's summer arts program. Her writing often explores themes of childhood, nature, and memory with a poetic sensibility. As a contributing editor for Riverbank Review, she has published numerous reviews and essays on children's literature.
A longtime resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, Swanson continues to engage with young readers and writers as a visiting poet in schools. Her work reflects her deep appreciation for the natural world, often drawing inspiration from the landscapes and rhythms of everyday life.