Where I Find My Words
I am a writer, poet, and observer of the natural world, based in Appleton, Wisconsin. My work is inspired by the landscapes I walk every day—the creeks, prairies, woodlands, and gardens that pulse with seasonal rhythms and wildlife. From the shimmer of bats at twilight to the call of eagles overhead, the natural world informs my writing, teaching me to notice the subtle textures, movements, and sounds that shape our experience—from the rustle of grasses to the steady buzzing of bees among the flowers.
My books, including Salt and Soil, Earth and Echo, and River and Root, explore how the land carries memory, resilience, and connection. I write to listen first, to shape second, and to invite readers into the quiet conversation between humans and the environment.
I am also committed to observing the ethical relationship between humans and nature. Every poem and essay is an attempt to honor the landscapes that inspire me, to witness the fragile beauty of life, and to encourage care for the world that sustains us.
When I’m not writing, I can be found wandering my native prairie garden, tending my vegetable and herb gardens, nurturing my indoor "jungle," or enjoying quiet moments cooking and listening to music with my partner, Jeff. Together we spoil our two rescue cats, Freddie and Dobby—each with a lap of their own. Nature is both my muse and my teacher, and I hope my work invites you to notice the rhythms, colors, textures, and subtle sounds—like the buzzing of bees—of the world around you.
Curriculum Vitae
JEAN KIERNAN DETJEN
Poet · Writer · Arts Advocate
jeankiernandetjen.com | Appleton, Wisconsin
POETRY
Environmental and place-based poetry
Books
Salt and Soil — chapbook, Kelsay Books, 2026
Earth and Echo — chapbook, Kelsay Books, 2026
Manuscripts
River and Root — poetry manuscript, submitted
Something Older Than Law — poetry manuscript, under contest consideration
PUBLICATIONS & JOURNALISM
Freelance Journalist — 2025–present
Columnist, Artful Living — Scene Newspaper, 2015–2016
HONORS & AWARDS
Featured Arts Organization of the Year — National Independent Film Association (NIFA), 2019
(for Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association)
Feature Profile — Insight on Business Magazine, February 2018
Feature Profile — Fox Cities Magazine, “Splash City,” June 2017
Cover Feature — Women Magazine, January 2017
Dreamers and Doers Award — Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI), 2014
(for Mile of Music Team)
Volunteer of the Year — The Trout Museum of Art, 2012
JURIES, PRESENTATIONS & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Presenter — Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Annual Awards, 2014 & 2018
Juror — Bergstrom Mahler Museum Art Fair, 2018
Juror — Art at the Park, Fox Cities Building for the Arts / Trout Museum of Art, 2017
Judge — Avant Garde Challenge Fashion Runway Competition, Creative Appleton Downtown, Inc., 2018
READINGS & MEDIA
Podcast Guest — Media Rants with Tony Palmeri, February 2026
Topics: poetry, writing, activism, civic engagement, environmental literature
Podcast Guest — But Why Not? with Evan Freimuth, April 2019
Topics: founding Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association (NEWAA), poetry, community engagement
Podcast Guest — Fresh Take with Josh Dukelow, WHBY, January 2018
Topic: launch of Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association (NEWAA)
ARTS LEADERSHIP & CURATORIAL WORK
Founder & President — Northeast Wisconsin Arts Association (NEWAA), 2017–2020
Founder & Curator — Take Me to the River, ArtRevivalFoxCities, 2016–2017
Vice President, Arts, Culture & Music — Launch Wisconsin, 2017
International Artist Representative & Fine Art Curator, 2016–2017
CULTURAL & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Board of Trustees, Past President — Appleton Public Library, 2009–2013
Founder & Executive Director — Project Starfish, 2008–2015
Creative Mentor & Project Approval Board Member — Antix! Productions, 2021–2022
Placemaking Team Member — Creative Downtown Committee, Appleton Downtown Inc., 2016–2021
Committee Member — Acre of Art / Sculpture Valley, 2017–2020
Artist Recruitment Team — Mile of Music, 2013–2015
Committee Member — The Trout Museum of Art, 2012–2013
Board Member — Toward Community: Unity in Diversity, 2009–2011
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame — B.A., American Studies, 1989
Emphases: Journalism & Communications, Fine Arts, Social Sciences
London Program — University of Notre Dame, United Kingdom
SELECTED PRAISE
“Soft, yet fierce poems… she captures it all, simmers the world to an essence of beauty, grace, and opportunity.”
— Karla Huston, Wisconsin Poet Laureate (2017–2018)
“A surprising first book that reads like the work of a well-published eco-poet… soft yet rebellious… A delightful read from start to finish.”
— Cathryn Cofell, Appleton’s first Poet Laureate
“Calling Detjen a poet feels insufficient. She is a true painter whose pieces read like short stories, as if Mother Earth itself is speaking.”
— D. R. Baker, poet and author
“Ablaze with imagery… Detjen bears witness to a world worth saving in luminous, Vermeer-like detail.”
— Bobbie Lee Lovell, poet
Contact us
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