New Interview in The Good Life Review
The Good Life Review has a poem of mine in their latest issue and also this interview where I talk about that poem, the pandemic, and my time as State Poet (and how that feeds into what I’m up to now). Check it out here:
https://thegoodlifereview.com/2026/03/06/author-qa-with-matt-mason-2/
Sign up for My Writing Workshop in March and April
I’m leading a free, 7-week writing workshop for people age 55 and older with me at the La Vista Library, contact the library to sign up by March 7th. It’ll be all about telling your story, your family’s story, what brings you to, well, be within driving distance of La Vista right now and will take some cues from the PBS series The American Revolution (by the Ken Burns team).
The workshop is brought to us by the La Vista Public Library, the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Nebraska Public Media, PBS and NPR.
The Reviews Are In (for Matt’s visits to schools through Poetry Forward)
After a visit to South Platte Schools in Big Springs, the rave reviews have been coming in for teaching poetry to students in elementary, middle and high school grades:
“FIVE STARS”
“If he came again I would drop everything, miss all my classes, and take zeros in every class just to hear him again.”
“I didn’t think I would enjoy poems. But Mason said stuff truly made me kind of understand what poetry kind of is.”
“He really brought out my spark…I hope he can come visit again.”
“I think a lot more schools should invite him”
I’m excited to be out, and just got home from schools in Dunning and Gothenburg, I’m grateful to Poetry Forward making these visits happen.
Hire This Poet!
I’m booking appearances for schools, colleges, libraries, nonprofits, keynotes, for-profits (you name it!) for the coming year.
I do readings, writing workshops, team-building trainings, talks, and I put together programs for you. I’ve done a few things… and I’m looking for more. See details on my Bookings page.
I did something new yesterday
I was honored to give my first commencement address yesterday (and, no, I’m not counting my poem “Graduation Address to the Kinder Kingdom Awesome Tots Preschool Class of 2023” from Rock Stars). Here’s to the 2025 grads of the University of Nebraska High School: Be dreamers but be practical. And, of course, be practical but be dreamers.
Matt’s Events for July and Early August
So what am I up to the rest of this summer? Well, lots! I was just in Broken Bow for a library event (the photo is from along the drive there), and I’m excited for a few things coming up. As ever, refer me to your local schools and libraries and businesses, this is the work I love:
July 3
I have a segment on Poets on the Plains, a weekly segment broadcast on High Plains Public Radio (but you can hear it at the link whenever you like). This week, I talk about a poem by Sarah McKinstry-Brown:
https://www.hppr.org/podcast/hppr-poets-on-the-plains
July 18
I give the Graduation Address to University High School in Lincoln. This is my first actual graduation address (I don’t count the poem “Graduation Address to the Kinder Kingdom Awesome Tots Preschool Class of 2023” in Rock Stars).
July 20
2:30-3, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I lead a writing workshop at the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln (12th and R Sts).
July 24
7pm, I lead an online Button 101 Poetry Workshop, Rock Stars Mix Tape. Register for this and other great workshops at: https://buttonpoetry.com/products/workshops/
July 26
7-9pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I Read at the Sheldon Museum of Art (12th and R Sts, Lincoln) along with Jewel Rodgers and music acts.
July 27
8-10pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I Read at the Gene Leahy Mall (11th and Douglas Sts, Omaha) along with Jewel Rodgers and music acts.
August 2
–12:30-1pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I lead a storytelling/poetry workshop for young people, 4th grade and older at the Joslyn Art Museum in the Founders Room (2200 Douglas St, Omaha). And then:
–1:30-2:00pm, performance by current Nebraska Poet Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, also in the Joslyn’s Founders Room.
August 3
1-4pm, I Emcee the 60th Annual Neihardt Day at The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site (306 W Elm St, Bancroft):
https://www.neihardtcenter.org/events/60th-annual-neihardt-day
August 7
I have a segment on Poets on the Plains, a weekly segment broadcast on High Plains Public Radio (but you can hear it at the link whenever you like). This week, I talk about a poem by Nebraska poet JV Brummels:
https://www.hppr.org/podcast/hppr-poets-on-the-plains
August 7
6-7pm, I lead a writing workshop as part of Nights at The Joslyn, a 5-8 PM community program at the Joslyn Art Museum (2200 Douglas St, Omaha).
In the meantime, enjoy some poetry this July. Buy poetry books, go to poetry events, review poetry books online, sing poets praises, live the poetry dream!
I’ll be on Rattle Magazine’s Rattlecast this Sunday night
Tune in Sunday night, June 8th, 7pm Central for the weekly Rattlecast where I’ll be talking poetry and reading a few poems. Catch it live or watch later at: https://www.youtube.com/live/-dhiv84_hE4
June 28 Workshop (and a podcast interview)
I’m featured on Advocacy Is Medicine, the most recent Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy podcast, talking about what I’ve been up to lately. Also, I’m leading a writing workshop for them on June 28th, it’s open to the public (registration required) so please join us!
To register, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl_quSkpqbrq1P-xyzODZHK_XXI-KRWNWt2aOOw199y50hPA/viewform
And for the podcast, you can listen in here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-mason-ne-state-poet-and-physician-writing/id1726854857
Poem of the Day at Rattle
My poem “I Owe You a Poem” is today’s poem of the day on Rattle.com (and you can still see it (and hear it, if you like) at: https://rattle.com/i-owe-you-a-poem-by-matt-mason/ ). It’s for my mom and, really, for everyone, so thanks, Rattle, for publishing it.
My May and June Schedule, catch an in-person or online event
I have a few things coming up, including a number of online events open to all!
5/2, 6-8pm I’m one of the “friends” for the Toddfather And Friends reading at Pageturners Lounge (5004 Dodge, Omaha).
5/4, 7-8:30pm, I run an online writing workshop based on The Great British Baking Show for Button Poetry. It’s about being fearless with first drafts and, yes, there will be someone declared Star Writer at the end. $25. For more information and to register, go to: https://buttonpoetry.com/product/button-university-matt-mason-workshop/
5/19, I’ll be featured as the Rattle Poem of the Day at https://rattle.com/
5/31, at the Loess Hills Seminar, I lead a writing workshop titled “Writing Down the Outdoors.” Info will be up soon at https://www.loesshillsprairieseminar.com/
6/8, I’m featured on Rattle’s online Rattlecast, 7pm. All the info is up at https://rattle.com/page/rattlecast/ and you can also watch afterward at that same site.
6/14, 10-11:30, lead online writing workshop for NE Poetry Society called Playlist: Turning Songs Into Poetry. To register and find more information, go to: https://www.nepoetrysociety.org/event-details/playlist-turning-songs-into-poetry
6/27, 4pm, I lead a program aimed at teens at the Broken Bow Library Program.
In addition, I’ll be running writing workshops for physician groups as well as visiting a few schools and communities for events.
Support Matt through Patreon:
And buy his 4th book, At the Corner of Fantasy and Main: Disneyland, Midlife and Churros from The Old Mill Press:
Matt Mason served as the Nebraska State Poet from 2019-2024 and has run poetry workshops in Botswana, Romania, Nepal, and Belarus for the U.S. State Department. His poetry has appeared in The New York Times and Matt has received a Pushcart Prize as well as fellowships from the Academy of American Poets and the Nebraska Arts Council. His work can be found in Rattle, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, and in hundreds of other publications. Mason’s 5th book, Rock Stars, was published by Button Poetry in 2023.