John Casquarelli is the author of two full-length collections: On Equilibrium of Song (Overpass Books, 2011) and Lavender (Authorspress, 2014). He is the Chairperson of the Santa Fe chapter (The Santa Fe Poetry Trails) of the New Mexico State Poetry Society (NMSPS). He received his MFA in Creative Writing at Long Island University—Brooklyn. John was awarded the 2010 Esther Hyneman Award for Poetry, 2016 Kafka Residency Prize in Hostka, Czech Republic, and a 2017 residency at the Writer’s Room of The Betsy Hotel on South Beach. His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Pilgrimage Magazine, Suisun Valley Review, Expound Magazine, Peacock Journal, Black Earth Institute, and Boarder Senses.

In addition to being John Casquarelli’s grandfather, Luis Figueredo was a poet, musician, and businessman in Cuba. He is the grandson of Perucho Figueredo, composer of “La Bayamesa” (Cuban National Anthem).