Francine Marie Tolf is a poet and essayist whose work has appeared in numerous journals including Water~Stone, Rattle, Under the Sun, Contrary Magazine, and Christian Century. Before returning to school to earn her Masters in English at Kansas State University and an MFA from the University of Minnesota, Francine worked for many years in Chicago, mostly as a legal secretary. She has received grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board; the Barbara Deming/Money for Women Foundation; the Loft Mentor Series; and the Elizabeth George Foundation. She has also been awarded fellowships for residencies at Blacklock Nature Sanctuary and the Ragdale Foundation of Lake Forest, Illinois. Francine lives and works in Minneapolis, where she loves taking long walks around the city’s beautiful lakes. She shares an apartment with her golden cat, Lilly.