Jude Genereaux and Norb Blei
Jude Genereaux was born and raised in Detroit, but says she “got to Wisconsin as soon as she could.” After earning a B.S. degree at Western Michigan University, her career was county government -- elected Barron County Clerk 1981-1997, through to retiring as Door County’s first County Administrator, 1998-2006.
As a writer and poet, Jude focuses on family, her belief that Wisconsin is a treasure, and the years she shared with writer, Norb Blei. Blei was born and raised in Chicago, but moved to Door County, Wisconsin in 1968, where he lived his passion and joy as a writer, teacher and artist. He became the "writer in residence" at The Clearing Folk School, a position he held for 40 years. He was also the editor and publisher of Cross+Roads Press, which was devoted to emerging and accomplished poets, short story writers, essayists, novelists, artists and photographers. He authored 17 books, including his Chicago trilogy: "Neighborhood," "Chi Town" and "The Ghost of Sandburg's Phizzog."
To those who flinch at the word Poetry, Genereaux says “the words to all the music you hear, every wedding or funeral you attend and nearly every meaningful passage in life - is poetry.” She believes we write because we can’t stop ourselves, and there’s always the chance someone out there may desperately need to hear what you have to say.
She’s been published by Cross+Roads Press, the Wisconsin Academy and a number of small presses and newspapers. She’s authored three chapbooks of essay & poetry: Base Camp, More Than One Door and a private collection, Lingerie.
These days she splits her time between Long Lake and Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. To hear Jude's full Poetry Spoken Here interview, click here.