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John W. Maxwell was born in 1960 into a working-class family of eight
in rural Michigan. He quietly began writing poetry for himself at age
12. His writing continued throughout high school and college,
cataloging the struggles of adolescence and young adulthood. He
stashed them in a raggedy manilla folder. After college, he continued
writing, though less frequently. A dozen years ago while cleaning his
basement, he rediscovered that thick folder of poetry from his youth.
That began his second life as a poet. He resumed writing with fresh
perspective as a husband and father. In December 2022 he published
his first book of poetry after 50 years of writing. His book Hammering
Nails is a collection of poems about the ordinary struggles and
triumphs of every stage of life.
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