This chronology documents the literary career of Thomas L. Vaultonburg, American poet, haikuist, editor, publisher, and founder of Zombie Logic Press. It records books, publications, editorial work, organizations, awards, and significant career milestones from 1990 to the present. This page is maintained as part of the official literary archive of Thomas L. Vaultonburg.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg begins his professional literary career with the publication of his first poems. This marks the beginning of a publishing career that will eventually include more than 250 appearances in literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and collections.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg founds Zombie Logic Press, an independent literary press devoted to poetry, fiction, and experimental literature. Zombie Logic Press becomes a long-running publishing and editorial project that supports both Vaultonburg's own work and the work of other writers. His work appears for the first time in Exquisite Corpse, edited by Andrei Codrescu. Those poems later appeared in the anthology Thus Spake the Corpse: An Exquisite Corpse Reader 1988-1998.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry while expanding the editorial activities of Zombie Logic Press. His chapbooks Demented Children's Story Hour is published by News Sins Press and Poems At the End of the World is Published by Subourbon Press.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry and developing Zombie Logic Press as an independent literary publisher.
Publication, editing, and independent publishing continue as Thomas L. Vaultonburg expands his literary career.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry while broadening the editorial scope of Zombie Logic Press.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry, editing literary projects, and building the catalog of Zombie Logic Press.
Publication of Detached Retinas by Thomas L. Vaultonburg, an early poetry collection that establishes many of the themes and stylistic qualities found throughout his later work.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry and editing literary projects through Zombie Logic Press.
By the close of the decade, Thomas L. Vaultonburg has established himself as an independent poet, editor, and publisher through the continuing work of Zombie Logic Press.
Throughout the decade, Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues writing poetry, publishing literary work, editing books and journals, and expanding the publishing activities of Zombie Logic Press.
Appears as Partygoing Pimp in the short film Memoirs of a Stinky Sofa.
Appears as Slit-Throat Zombie in the short film Nation Undead: Kept.
2011 Publication of Flesh Wounds by Thomas L. Vaultonburg
Publication of Submerged Structure by Thomas L. Vaultonburg.
November 2012 — Interviewed by With Five Questions, discussing his writing process, influences, publishing philosophy, and the release of Submerged Structure.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg undergoes mitral valve surgery following life-threatening heart complications. The experience becomes a significant influence on the themes of mortality, impermanence, gratitude, and attention that emerge throughout his later poetry.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues writing, publishing, editing, and developing new book-length manuscripts while expanding his body of published work.
2017
The children's book Atrocious Poems A to Z, written by Thomas L. Vaultonburg and illustrated by Jenny Mathews, is published. The project becomes part of the Bittersweet Observations exhibition at Rockford Art Museum, where Vaultonburg and Mathews participate in a Coffee with the Curator program and a poetry-and-illustration workshop for children.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing poetry and preparing several major literary projects.
Following a stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas L. Vaultonburg begins writing haiku. Influenced by Soto Zen practice and a period of profound personal change, this marks a major turning point in his literary career and begins the work that ultimately becomes Vanished Roads.
Haiku by Thomas L. Vaultonburg begin appearing regularly in English-language haiku journals and literary magazines.
Publication of Moonscape: Haiku Phase I by Thomas L. Vaultonburg and Tré documenting the emergence of his work as a haiku poet and his long-standing creative partnership with artist and writer Tré."
Publication of Small Songs for Weary Travelers by Thomas L. Vaultonburg.
Publication of Tea with the Tigress: Poems 2010-2020 by Zombie Logic Press.
Haiku by Thomas L. Vaultonburg continue appearing in leading international journals devoted to English-language haiku.
The work of Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues gaining international recognition through publication in literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and online venues devoted to haiku and short-form poetry.
Thomas L. Vaultonburg continues publishing internationally while completing several major book-length manuscripts.
(Expand this year with publication dates, journal appearances, awards, and editorial milestones.)
Publication of Necromancers Don't Read Toe Tags by Thomas L. Vaultonburg.
Publication of Vanished Roads, a collection of 104 haiku by Thomas L. Vaultonburg exploring grief, impermanence, attention, and renewal.
Vanished Roads is published by Wolf Twin Books and becomes available through Rockford Art Deli, with ten dollars from every copy sold donated to Wild Roots Nature Center at Severson Dells.
Haiku by Thomas L. Vaultonburg appear in Modern Haiku, Presence, Mayfly, The Heron's Nest, Acorn, Haiku Dialogue, and Wales Haiku Journal.
The official Thomas L. Vaultonburg website launches as a comprehensive literary archive documenting his books, publications, editorial work, chronology, bibliography, and ongoing literary career.