Colin Punt

Author

Through some strange writing compulsion, many of my stories feature God as a main character. Sometimes he's the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, but these stories are the exception, not the rule. In most stories, despite being omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent, he's just a sadder, unluckier version of myself. I'm sure there's some interesting psychological insight there. However, if you, like I, are unable to find it, I hope you at least enjoy the stories.

I started writing in earnest when home on paternity leave, which began the same week COVID-19 shut everything down. With nowhere to go, I began making up stories with questionable morals for my older child, which you can view in the “Children’s Corner.” Eventually, I started writing more mature stories, poems, and creative nonfiction, which are linked on the “Published Works” page. 

As all good writers should, I love to read. I firmly believe Leaves of Grass is the greatest and most important work of American Literature and the greatest and most important work of 19th Century world literature. Other than Walt Whitman, my favorite author is Jorge Luis Borges. Some of my other favorite books are Invisible Cities, Ada, or Ardor, O Pioneers!, and The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Moreso than Whitman and Borges, the authors that have had the greatest impact on my own writing voice are Joy Williams, Donald Barthelme, and John Cheever.

Born, raised, and still living in the Midwest, I do most of my writing as a practicing city planner in Wisconsin, envisioning the future of cities. 

When I’m not reading, writing, or planning the future urban form, I enjoy riding and tinkering with bikes and messing about in sailboats.