Amelia Cotter

Poet

Chicago, IL
Illinois US

Author's Bio

Amelia Cotter is an author, poet, researcher, and storyteller with a special interest in the supernatural, history, and folklore. Her books include Where the Party Never Ended: Ghosts of the Old Baraboo InnThis House: The True Story of a Girl and a GhostMaryland Ghosts: Paranormal Encounters in the Free State, the children's book Breakfast with Bigfoot, and the poetry collection apparitions.

Amelia's award-winning poetry and short fiction explore themes of anxiety, isolation, and trauma, often incorporating supernatural elements. Her work has appeared in journals like Barren MagazineFrogpondModern HaikuThe Heron's Nesttinywords, and many others. Amelia is also a frequent research contributor to Haunted Magazine, Paranormality MagazineThe Feminine Macabre, and Troy Taylor's The Morbid Curious.

Amelia has appeared on various radio and television programs, including Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, Travel Channel's Hometown Horror, and in the documentaries Scary Stories and Tinker's Shadow: The Hidden History of Tinker Swiss Cottage. She also appeared as a regular cast member on Really Channel's The R.I.P. Files.

Amelia lives and writes in Chicago but is originally from Maryland, where she earned a degree in German and History from Hood College. She regularly presents at conferences and events and is a member of The Society of Midland Authors. In 2020, the 10th anniversary edition of This House: The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost received the Higgypop Paranormal Entertainment Awards Gold Winner award for Best Paranormal Book. In 2023, apparitions was shortlisted for The Haiku Foundation 2022 Touchstone Awards for Distinguished Books as well as nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Award. 

Together with her husband, recording engineer and photographer Jonathan Montgomery Pollock, Amelia also owns Amelia's DragonGoddess Boutique, a small online store offering handmade incense blends and other magickal items. Visit her official website at www.ameliacotter.com or write to her any time at ameliamcotter@gmail.com.

Amelia is available to speak to audiences of all ages on a variety of topics related to the supernatural, history, folklore, and writing. To schedule Amelia for an appearance or interview, contact her at ameliamcotter@gmail.com.

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
2019 Turtle Light Press Haiku Contest Favorites (Turtle Light Press, 2020)
,
The Signature Haiku Anthology: Including Senryu and Tanka (Middle Island Press, 2020)
,
Beyond the Grave: Contemporary Afterlife Haiku (Middle Island Press, 2015)
,
Lifting the Sky: Southwestern Haiku and Haiga (Dos Gatos Press, 2013)
Book:
apparitions (Highland Park Poetry Press, 2022)
Journals: ,
Autumn Moon Haiku Journal
,
Black Bough
,
Cattails
,
Chrysanthemum
,
Crêpe & Penn
,
East on Central
, ,
Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine
, ,
The Heron's Nest
,
Prizes won: 
  • Nominated, 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Award, apparitions (Highland Park Poetry Press, 2022)
  • Shortlisted, The Haiku Foundation 2022 Touchstone Awards for Distinguished Books, apparitions (Highland Park Poetry Press, 2022)
  • Gold Winner, Best Paranormal Book, Higgypop 2020 Paranormal Entertainment Awards, This House: The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost (Haunted Road Media, 10th anniversary edition, 2020)
  • Second Place, 2018 Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine World Haiku Competition
  • Third Place, 2016 Haiku Society of America Best Unpublished Haibun Awards

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
German
Born in: 
Baltimore, MD
Maryland
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 10, 2024