Ron Wallace publishes new book on poetry
Press Release Date: 08-06-2010
Ron Wallace presents copies of his books to Southeastern president Larry Minks for placement in the University archives.
DURANT, Okla. – Ron Wallace, a member of Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s adjunct English faculty, is publishing a new book of poetry.
"Oklahoma Cantos and Other Pieces of the Whole," with an introduction by best-selling author and former Southeastern professor Billie Letts, will be released in August/September.
Wallace is scheduled to read from the new work at the Performing Arts Studio in Norman, Oklahoma, on Oct. 10 with fellow Southeastern instructor Chuck Ladd opening with the work of the late Southeastern professor Howard Starks.
He is the author of three volumes of poetry, "Native Son (American Poems from the Heart of Oklahoma)," a finalist in the 2007 Oklahoma Book Awards; "Smoke and Stone (The Voices of Gettysburg"); and "I Come from Cowboys… and Indians," the winner of the 2009 Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Best Book of Poetry Award.
Wallace’s work has also been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.
Proud of his Oklahoma roots and Native American blood, Wallace’s poetry is frequently tinged with the language and stories of his land and family. His work is predominantly narrative free verse, at times a storytelling style common among the Native peoples of the area, and strongly influenced by Howard Starks, James Dickey, Yusef Komunyakaa and Robinson Jeffers. His work also bears the marks of songwriters such as Chris Wall, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson, earning him recognition from "Outlaw Magazine" as a modern Outlaw Poet.
A Durant native, Wallace served 30 years as an instructor and coach in the Oklahoma Public School System at Colbert, Oklahoma.