Bill O'Neill grew up in rural Ohio and graduated from Cornell University. Elected to the New Mexico State Legislature in 2008, he is now in his third term as a New Mexico State Senator. His first novel and poetry collection have received national critical acclaim, and SHORT SESSION (Red Mountain Press, 2021) is a sequel to his much praised PANORAMIC DIARIES (Red Mountain Press, 2020). He is also the author of the poetry collection THE FREEDOM OF THE IGNORED (Red Mountain Press, 2017). Bill's career has been framed by his work with non-profits, with a focus on incarcerated juveniles and adults. Named an Emerging Leader in 2016 by the University of Virginia's Darden School, he credits his early literary inspiration to his mentor E.L. Doctorow.