Melissa Fite Johnson

Poetry Editor

Melissa Fite Johnson took a college creative writing class to study fiction and accidentally fell in love with poetry, thanks to her incredible professor. Melissa has an MA in literature and poetry, and she’s taught high school English since 2006. She couldn’t imagine loving a career more. Her own high school English teacher published her first book, While the Kettle’s On (Little Balkans Press, 2015). She is also the author of the full-length collections Green (Riot in Your Throat, 2021) and Midlife Abecedarian (Riot in Your Throat, 2024). Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, Pleiades, Diode, and elsewhere, and has received a special mention for the Pushcart Prize. Some of Melissa’s favorite poets are Sharon Olds, Lucille Clifton, Chen Chen, Leila Chatti, and Safia Elhillo. Melissa and her husband live in Lawrence, KS, with their three dogs. Connect with her at melissafitejohnson.com.