While studying poetry with Richard Hugo at the University of Montana in the early '70s, Paul Zarzyski took up a second "lucrative career" as a rodeo circuit bareback bronc rider. He's been featured at 20 consecutive annual Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Elko, NV, has toured Australia and England, and has appeared on Garrison Keillor's A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.

The author of 10 books and 2 spoken-word CDs, Paul is the recipient of The Wrangler Award ("Cowpoke Pulitzer"), The Spur Award, and The 2005 Montana Governor's Arts Award for Literature. He lives west of Great Falls.