Randy Brown

Poet, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Des Moines, IA
Iowa US
Email: 
sherpa@redbullrising.com
Website: 
www.fobhaiku.com
Twitter/X: 
@FOB_haiku

Author's Bio

Randy Brown embedded with his former Iowa Army National Guard unit as a civilian journalist in Afghanistan, May-June 2011. A 20-year veteran with a previous overseas deployment, he subsequently authored the poetry collection Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire (2015). The work was awarded a 2016 Gold Medal in Poetry from the Military Writers Society of America.

Brown's poetry and non-fiction often feature wry humor, and explore themes of parenting and family, cultural landscapes, and personal mythologies. He often uses his work to bridge gaps in understanding and empathy between  "civilian" and "military" communities.

Brown is a member of Military Reporters and Editors, Military Writers Guild, and Military Writers Society of America. He serves as the poetry editor for the non-profit Military Experience & the Arts.

As “Charlie Sherpa,” he blogs about citizen-soldier culture at www.redbullrising.com, and about military-themed writing at www.aimingcircle.com.

He lives and works in Central Iowa.

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Anthologies:
City of Hustle: A Sioux Falls Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2022)
,
Midwest Architecture Journeys (Belt Publishing, 2019)
,
Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War (Middle West Press, 2019)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 6 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2017)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 2 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2013)
Journals:
Consequence
,
Drunken Boat
,
Negative Capability
,
Sandbox

Poetry

Anthologies:
Level Land: Poems For and About the I35 Corridor (Lamar University Literary Press, 2022)
,
Proud to Be: Writing By American Warriors, Vol. 10 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2021)
,
Local News: Poetry About Small Towns (MWPH Books, 2019)
,
Beyond the Hill (Lost Tower Publications, 2018)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 7 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2018)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 6 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2017)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 5 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2016)
,
No, Achilles: War Poetry (WaterWood Press, 2015)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 4 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2015)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 2 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2013)
,
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 1 (Southeast Missouri State University Press, 2012)
Book:
Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire (Middle West Press, 2015)
Chapbook:
So Frag & So Bold: Short Poems, Aphorisms & Other Wartime Fun (Middle West Press, 2021)
Journals:
Collateral
,
Deadly Writers Patrol
,
F(r)iction
,
Flyway
,
Good Men Project
,
Line of Advance
,
Midwestern Gothic
,
O-Dark-Thirty
,
Pass In Review
,
So It Goes
,
Spillway
,
Stone Canoe
,
The Wrath-Bearing Tree
,
War, Literature & the Arts: An International Journal of the Humanities
Prizes won: 
  • First-prize: "Untold Stories" contest, Flyway Journal (2018)
  • Honorable mention, poetry: "Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors," Vol. 7, Southeast Missouri State University Press (2018)
  • Finalist, poetry: Line of Advance journal's Third Annual Col. Darron L. Wright military writing awards (2018)
  • Nomination, Pushcart Prize, poetry: "fighting seasons," War, Literature & the Arts journal (2017)
  • Finalist, poetry: Line of Advance journal's Second Annual Col. Darron L. Wright military writing awards (2017)
  • Winner, essay: Madigan Award for humorous military writing, Negative Capability Press, Mobile, Ala. (2015)
  • Finalist, poetry: "Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors," Vol. 4, Southeast Missouri State University Press, (2015)
  • Winner, independent-blogging category: Military Reporters and Editors (2012)
  • Finalist, "reporter" category: Milblogging.com annual awards (2012)
  • Finalist, "veteran" category: Milblogging.com annual awards (2011)

Watch

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Prefers to work with: 
Any, Veterans
Fluent in: 
English
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jan 24, 2023