Martin Willitts, Jr.

Martin Willitts, Jr. was born in East Syracuse, New York and has a BA in World Literature from SUNY Brockport and a joint MLS in Information Studies and School Library Media from Syracuse University. He is currently a Senior Librarian for the New York State Department of Corrections and won the 2003 International John Cotton Dana Award for library programming and publicity.

Formerly a professional puppeteer, he’s performed at the Kennedy Performing Arts, has been a professional oral storyteller winning numerous storytelling prizes, and a Jazz, Swing, and Blues on his vintage 1935 Dobro "resophonic" Mandolin player during the 60’s.  Also an artist working with paper mediums in his spare time, he teaches high school students his origami haiku jumping frogs that actually bounce, makes paper cutouts using Victorian style, hua yang Chinese style, 3-d paper statues and masks for them.  He also advises the students at the Norwich High School in NY on their poetry and they’ve won the High School poetry contest.
 
Martin has been writing and publishing for over thirty years. He has been funded by Poets And Writers, listed on performersandprograms.com and www.nyslittree.org. He has published chapbooks such as "The Circle Will Not Be Broken" (Raw Dog Press, 1980), "Exit Laughing" (Backstreet Editions, 1982), "Transitions" (Writers Resource Center of Toledo, 1985), "Falling In and Out of Love" (Pudding House Publications, 2005.  His first full-length 72 page book of poetry “The Secret Language of the Universe” (March Street Press, 2006) has recently been released.  Martin has is co-editor for www.hotmetalpress.net