The Kansas Creative

{A note about the text: if print is too small to read clearly, click the poem to view in a new screen, then click to zoom in.}

Matthew Hefti lives with his wife and three daughters in Wichita, Kansas.  He was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and he grew up as the son of a preacher man in Bangor, Wisconsin.  He joined the military in a fit of idealism and naïveté after the terrorist attacks of September 11^th, 2001.

He is a highly decorated explosive ordnance disposal technician who has two combat tours to Iraq and two combat tours to Afghanistan, in addition to numerous other temporary duty assignments across the globe.

He earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Technical Studies from the University of Phoenix, an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from American Military University, graduating with honors.  He has also completed all classes for his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing from National University and is currently writing his final thesis, a novel about the emotional recovery of a wounded war veteran.

Matthew’s chapter in the military is coming to a close at the end of this summer and he’s currently looking for meaningful employment in the Wichita area.  Feel free to contact him at MatthewHefti@gmail.com.