Tyler Erlendson

Tyler Erlendson's work has been called "raw and tender at the same time," as well as "unflinchingly blunt, taking turns that are unexpectedly necessary." He is the Director of the documentary film, Straight White Male, which premiered in Hollywood at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre.(2011) While putting himself through college, Tyler worked a number of jobs that included being a truck driver, a funeral director, a bodyguard for famous musicians, a landlord, a meat cutter, and a ghost editor for PhD dissertations. All of these experiences influence his poetry and world perspective. He was encouraged to write from a young age by his father, a carpenter. Tyler earned his M.A. at San Francisco State University and his MFA at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He currently teaches advanced critical thinking and composition at the community college level. He aspires to learn the art of non-fiction writing and fabulous cooking. Tyler lives with his wife and son on their chicken farm in Sonoma County, CA.