Linda Aldrich currently serves as Portland, Maine's sixth Poet Laureate and has published two previous collections of poetry, Foothold (2008) and March and Mad Women (2012). She received an MFA from Vermont College and has been published in numerous journals and anthologies. She was recently awarded a Hewnoaks residency fellowship. Her poem "Woman without Arms" won the Emily Dickinson Award from Universities West Press. Before becoming a poet, Linda was the director of the Young Conservatory and a member of the repertory at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and later was Associate Professor of English and Humanities at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado. More recently, Linda has taught English and writing classes at Keene State College and Southern Maine Community College. As Portland's Poet Laureate, Linda founded the Leaf of Voices reading series at the Portland Public Library and has given readings and writing workshops around the state. She also co-hosts the Local Buzz reading series at the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth.