Born in Neenah, Wisconsin, Ryan G. Van Cleave grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago before attending Northern Illinois University, where he studied English and Philosophy. He received his M.A. in fiction and American Literature from Florida State University, as well as a Ph.D. in poetry and American Literature. He is the author of five poetry collections, including a co-authored book (with Cuban-American writer Virgil Suarez) entitled Landscape & Dream. Also with Virgil Suarez, he co-edited four poetry anthologies published by the University of Iowa Press, including Like Thunder: Poets Respond to Violence in America, which received the 2002 American Poetry Anthology Award. Ryan is also the editor of Contemporary American Poetry: Behind the Scenes (Allyn & Bacon/Longman, 2003) and co-editor (with Todd James Pierce) of Behind the Short Story: From First to Final Draft (Allyn & Bacon/Longman, 2006). His latest book is entitled The Magical Breasts of Britney Spears and is published with Red Hen Press. He teaches creative writing and literature at Clemson University; he also serves as Poetry Editor for The South Carolina Review.