Bruce Sweet

  Writings
  Biography
  Event Calendar
  Press
  Purchasing
  Contact
  Home

Comments,
Suggestions?
Send Email

 

 Biography/Fact Sheet

SHORT WORD ABOUT THE WRITER

Bruce Sweet is a prize-winning writer of stories, poems, essays and criticism that have appeared in numerous publications, in six chapbooks and in the volumes THIS IS A GOOD THING (Pudding House Publications), ARCHAEOLOGY, A DREAM OF ANIMALS and WHAT I REALLY WANTED (FootHills Publishing). A new volume of poems concerning family and the spirit called “I Am Praying” is planned for 2009. Twenty-six of his plays have been produced in various regional, educational and off-off Broadway theatres. He has been an artist-in-resident at the Adirondack Center for the Arts and a resident fellow at Blue Mountain Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY.

His recent teaching of creative and essay writing includes writer-in-residence at Saint John Fisher College (where he was Teacher of the Year 1998), at Roberts Wesleyan College, from which he retired in 2007, and at Writers & Books (Teacher of the Year For Adults 1997), of Rochester, NY. Dr. Sweet’s “WHAT’S THE WORD?” program celebrating local, national, and international poets, was heard on Rochester’s NPR affiliate WXXI 91.5 and 90.3 from 1995-2006.

He is a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rochester, NY, where he serves as Lector; is a member of Saint Joseph House of Hospitality, Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN); has been Coordinator of Episcopal Relief and Development; and a Stephen Minister. In March of 2009 Sweet presented an Evensong Concert of his poems with professional vocal and instrumental responses to benefit the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. In April of 2009 he and the composer and songstress Connie Deming presented a fundraising concert of words and music called LOVE GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER at Saint Paul's to benefit the McKelvey Fund for the International Relief of the Poverty Stricken and Homeless. Dr. Sweet is also an associate of Holy Cross Monastery.

Sweet lives with his wife, Madeleine Riordan Sweet, and one Manx cat, one calico, one Abyssinian, a domestic shorthaired tabby, and two Welsh corgis, one mile from Lake Ontario, where he is often visited by his seven children and five grandchildren.

September 2009

Information on Published Volumes

What I Really Wanted. FootHills Publishing. Kanona, NY. November 2004. 112-page paperback of new and selected stories, poems and plays.

A Dream of Animals. Illustrated by Sarah Cushman. FootHills Publishing, Kanona, NY. December 2003. 30-page chapbook depicting ten animals. Volume appropriate for both adults and children. Contains a glossary of terms possibly unfamiliar to young ones.

Archaeology. FootHills Publishing. Kanona, NY. November 2003. 70-page full-length volume of poems essentially exploring impact experiences in the life of a family.

This Is A Good Thing. Pudding House Publications. Columbus, Ohio. October 2003. 30-page chapbook considering the cycle of a life.

To view more about and/or purchase these volumes, click here.

For more information on author playwriting/performances,
readings, and publications, please scroll down.

Playwriting/Performance
  • 2006 April. "White Tree Lake." Monroe Community College Poetry Festival. Rochester, NY.
  • 2005 May. "Look How the Birds Are Walking On Her Shoulders." GeVa Theatre Centre Regional Playwrights Festival, Rochester, NY, 585-232-1366.
  • 2004 May. "Peace." GeVa Theatre Center Regional Playwrights Festival, Rochester, NY, 585-232-1366.

Readings

  • 2009 April 26. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420; 585.637-2260.
  • 2009 April 14. Finger Lakes Community College, Honors House, 4365 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, NY, 585-394-3500. FootHills Publishing National Poetry Celebration.
  • 2009 March 22. Evensong & Concert: Poetry reading with vocal and instrumental responses. Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Rochester, NY.
  • 2008 April 27. 4PM. St. Paul's Church. 25 Westminster Rd. Rochester, NY 14607. 585-271-2240. "Love God, Love One Another." Music and Words with Connie Deming.
  • 2008 April 13. 1PM. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420; 585.637-2260. Reading with other state-published poets to celebrate National Poetry Month.
  • 2007 August 30. 7:00pm.Small Press Author Showcase, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 330 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Rochester, NY 14426, 585.227-4020.
  • 2006 April 30. 1:00pm. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420; 585.637-2260. Reading with other poets of poems from "The Dire Elegies," Foothills Press, an anthology of peoms about endangered species.
  • 2006, April 23. 1:00pm. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420; 585.637-2260. Reading with other poets of poems on Shakespeare's birthday.
  • 2006 April 4. Black Box Theatre, Monroe County Community College, Rochester, NY. Performance staged reading of new verse play, "White Tree Lake," about a family enduring the impact of World War II.
  • 2005 May 16. "Peace." GeVa Theatre Center Regional Playwrights Festival, Rochester, NY, 585-232-1366.
  • 2005 April 20. Roberts Wesleyan College, Division of Religion and Humanities, 65 Orchard Street, Rochester, NY 14624, 585.594-6972.
  • 2005 April 19. Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue Rochester, NY 14607, 585.473-2590.
  • 2005 April 17. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St, Brockport, NY 14420; 585-637-2260. Poetry Month Annual Reading.
  • 2005 March 13. Mr. Dominic's at the Lake, 4699 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612, 585.865-4630.
  • 2004 December 19. The Heritage/St. Ann's, 1450 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621; 585.342-1700. Second Annual Elizabeth Riordan Memorial Christmas Reading.
  • 2004 December 12. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420; 585.637-2260. Annual Local Authors Event, 29 authors reading from their own and others' work.
  • 2004 December 11. Seymour Library, 161 East Avenue, Brockport, NY, 14420, 585.637-1050. Dylan Thomas's A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES and selected holiday poems, stories by the author.
  • 2004 December 5. Golden Port Restaurant, 105 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604, 585.256-1780. Reading and Book Signing of New Publication: WHAT I REALLY WANTED: NEW AND SELECTED STORIES, PLAYS AND POEMS, 2004 (Foothills).
  • 2004 November 30. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St., Brockport, NY 14420, 585.637-2260
  • 2004 October 1. Poetry Event: Readings, Book Signings, and Open Mike. Lift Bridge Book Shop.
  • 2004 April 26. J.W. Brace Books, 211 North Franklin St., Watkins Glen, NY, (607) 535–2728.
  • 2004 April 25. The Heritage/Saint Ann's, 1450 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, (585) 342–1700.
  • 2004 April 18. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main St. Brockport, NY 14420, (585) 637–2260.
  • 2004 April 17. Borders Books and Music, 1000 Hylan Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, (585) 292–5900.
  • 2004 April 15. Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 473–2590.
  • 2004 April 8. The Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 473–7720.
  • 2003 December 21. The Heritage/Saint Ann's Senior Assisted Living, Rochester, NY.
  • 2003 December 18. Workshop/Reading, Jefferson High School, Rochester, NY.
  • 2003 December 11. Lift Bridge Book Shop/Java Junction, Brockport, NY.
  • 2003 December 7. Mr. Dominic's at the Lake, Charlotte, NY.
  • 2003 October 17. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY.
  • 2002 October 27. "Write to the Heart": A Benefit Reading for the Rochester Heart Institute, Rochester, NY.

Publications

Bruce Sweet has published over 200 poems, a dozen short stories, over 100 essays and reviews and has had published and/or produced 26 plays. Below is a "recent" list (2000 to present) of pertinent publication information.

Work Submitted for Publication/Production and/or In Progress

  • I Am Praying, poetry
  • We Tried Not To Act Surprised About the Whole Thing, poetry
  • To Tell You the Truth, play in two acts
  • Fat Chance and Warren-Bird, novel
  • Tales of a Grandfather, short stories

Books

  • What I Really Wanted. FootHills Publishing. 2005 November.
  • A Dream of Animals (illustrated by Sarah Cushman). Pudding House Publications. 2003 December.
  • Archaeology. FootHills Publishing. 2003 November.
  • This is a Good Thing. Pudding House Publications. 2003 October.

Individual Poems

  • Dog. Tales 4 Tails. Ontario Humane Society. Spring 2009.
  • Cat. Tales 4 Tails. Ontario Humane Society. Spring 2009.
  • Thanksgving 2007. RAIHN Newsletter. Rochester, NY. December 2008.
  • Bound East. Stone Canoe, Journal of Arts and Ideas. Syracuse University. Spring 2008.
  • So It Was, So It Will Be. Sea Stories Project: Blue Ocean Institute. 2008.
  • In the End. Sea Stories Project: Blue Ocean Institute. 2007.
  • You're Out. Lake Affect. Rochester, NY. 2006 Summer.
  • Night Cat. The Dire Elegies Anthology of Endangered Species. FootHills Press. 2006 Spring.
  • I Found a Fish In My Pocket and Light House Museum. Knocking on the Silence: An Anthology of Finger Lakes Poetry. 2005 Spring.
  • Night Cat. Hazmat Review. 2004 Fall.
  • We Decided Not to Act Surprised About the Whole Thing. Lake Effect. 2004 Winter.
  • Dreams of Animals. Promise. 2004 Summer.
  • Scouts Outing. Hazmat Review. 2004 Spring.
  • Sunshine. Redactions. 2004 Spring.
  • Genesee Remembrances. Blueline. 2004 Spring.
  • Snakes. Lake Affect. 2003 Fall.
  • Thanksgiving Candlemaking. Hazmat Review. 2003 Fall.
  • Brooklyn, NY: 1940-1945, Sunshine. Promise. 2003 Spring.
  • Honeymoon, Blueline. 2003 Spring.
  • Primordial Honeying, Neighbor, One Thing I Like About Jesus. Promise. 2002 Spring.
  • We Go To Celebrate Mother's Eightieth Birthday at the Hampton Bays Care Center. Earth's Daughters. 2002 Fall/Winter.
  • Moose in Winter, A Royal Game of Pool in a Little Bar in Northern Minnesota. Promise. 2001 Spring.
  • Night Cat, Your Cat. 2001 Spring.
  • Pond at Noon, Night Cat, Scouts Outing. Blueline. 2001 Spring.
  • Moose in Winter. Lake Affect. 2000 Winter.

Anthologies

  • Night Cat. The Dire Elegies Anthologyof Endangered Species. FootHills Publishing. 2006 Spring.
  • I Found a Fish In My Pocket and Lighthouse Museum. Knocking on the Silence: Anthology of Finger Lakes Poetry. 2005 Spring.

Story Publication

Essay

  • Joy for Christmas. Living Water. Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, NY. March 2009.
  • Some Thoughts and Intuitions On Writing. The English Record. 2004 Winter.

Awards

  • Where Is Your Home. Bright Hills Press Poetry, Chapbook Competition. 2007, Finalist
  • What I Really Wanted. Glimmer Train "Family Matters" Short Story Competition. 2007, September. Finalist.
  • So It Was, So It Will Be. Bright Hill Press Chapbook Contest. 2003, Finalist.
  • Dreams of Animals. Rose Velardi Prize. 2004, 1st Place.
  • This is a Good Thing, My Mother. Loella Cady Lamphire Prize. 2003, Honorable Mention.
  • Brooklyn, NY: 1940-1945. Rose Velardi Prize. 2003, 3d Place.
  • Primordial Honeying. Rose Velardi Prize. 2002, 1st Place.
  • Artie. Lake Affect Short Story Prize. 2001, Honorable Mention.
  • Moose in Winter. Rose Velardi Prize. 2001, 2nd Place.

Friday, March 28, 2008, 01:37 PM, webmaven