Born in Victoria in 1952, Richard Stevenson received a B.A. and teacher's certification from UVic and an MFA from UBC prior to teaching for two years in Nigeria. That experience resulted in a series of exploration in poetry of Africa viewed from without and from within; Driving Offensively (Sono Nis), Horizontal Hotel: A Nigerian Odyssey (TSAR publications) and Flying Coffins (Ekstasis). His lyrics and serial monologues in Learning to Breathe (Ekstasis, 1992) explore themes of masculinity and violence. His extended poem sequence on the life and works of Miles Davis is Bebop to Funk: A Miles Davis Tribute (Thistledown, 2000). In addition to various chapbooks such as Hierarchy at the Feeder (Pierian Press, 1984) and Twelve Houseplants (Pierian Press/Dollarpoems Series, 1985), he has published Why Were All the Werewolves Men? (Thistledown, 1994) and A Murder of Crows: New and Selected Poems (Black Moss, 1998). He has taught Canadian Literature, Creative Writing, and Business Communication at Lethbridge Community College in Lethbridge, Alberta and he has performed occasionally with Naked Ear, doing a Miles Davis tribute show, and with Sasquatch, doing light verse for middle grade schoolchildren. He returned to live on Vancouver Island, in Nanaimo, in 2015.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Driving Offensively (Sono Nis Press, 1985) ISBN 0-919203-56-6.
Suiting Up ( Third Eye Publications, 1986)
Horizontal Hotel: A Nigerian Odyssey (TSAR Publications, 1989)
Whatever It Is Plants Dream ... (Goose Lane Editions, 1990) ISBN 2: 0-86492-122-5.
Learning To Breathe (Cacanadadada (now Ronsdale ) Press, 1992) ISBN 0-921870-11-6.
From The Mouths of Angels (Ekstasis Editions, 1993) ISBN 0-921215-65-7.
Flying Coffins (Ekstasis Editions, 1994) ISBN 0-921215-73-8.
Why Were All The Werewolves Men? (Thistledown Press, 1994) ISBN 6: 1-895449-30-8.
A Murder of Crows: New & Selected Poems (Black Moss Press, 1998) ISBN 0-88753-317-5.
Nothing Definite Yeti (Ekstasis Editions, 1999) ISBN 1-896869-54-0.
Live Evil: A Homage To Miles Davis (Thistledown Press, 2000) ISBN 1-894345-08-8.
Hot Flashes: Maiduguri Haiku, Senryu, & Tanka (Ekstasis Editions, 2001) ISBN 1-896860-96-6.
Parrot with Tourette's (Black Moss Press, 2004). 0-88753-398-1
A Charm of Finches (Ekstasis Editions, 2004)
A Dog Named Normal (Ekstasis Editions, 2014) $23.95 9781771710053

AWARDS:

Norma Epstein Award for Creative Writing (co-winner), 1983.
Stephen G. Stephansson Award, 1994.
ACIFA Excellence in Promoting Student Learning Award, 1996.
Literary Rose Award, 1997.
Second Prize, Sketches of Miles Contest, 2001.

[BCBW 2003] "Poetry" "Music"