Junior Burke

Burke is author of the novel "Something Gorgeous" (Farfalla, McMillan & Parrish, 2005).[1] This work of speculative fiction explored the background of the era that spawned The Great Gatsby, and was lauded for its invention by the UK's Historical Novel Society. In 2012, in a slightly revised version, it became available as an e/book. In 2005, Burke founded the online literary journal, "not enough night" and served as Executive Editor until he chose to discontinue publication in 2014. "A Thousand Eyes", an eco-horror novel, was published in May 2018 in the UK and US by Cosmic Egg Books, an imprint of John Hunt Ltd. On May 15, 2020, "The Cold Last Swim", a novel of alternate history, was published by Gibson House Press.

"While You Were Gone" (2007, Red Thread Records) because of its lyrical content, was named by New York's Bowery Poetry Club as one of the best recordings of that year. "Spot of Time", a collection of original, poetically-based songs, was released in February 2018 on the Fast Speaking Music label, produced by Max Davies. "Guess I'm Naïve", a song written by Burke and Billy McKay, was featured in 2020 on "Homestead, Volume Four" an Americana compilation (Bongo Boy Records). In 2021, Burke will release a seven song ep, produced by Billy Panda.

In 1999, Burke was invited to Naropa University to teach in the Summer Writing Program and, for Naropa, designed and implemented a highly successful low residency MFA degree in Creative Writing. After three years of directing Naropa’s low/res program, he was tapped to be Chair of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics founded by poets Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg and served from January 2006 to June 2010. In 2008, he received Naropa's President's Award, for the most outstanding faculty contribution of that year. He designed and introduced Naropa's BA Minor in Film & Media Studies in 2014. In the summer of 2020, Burke informed Naropa he would no longer be serving on its faculty, deciding to focus exclusively on creative writing.

• Burke's Official faculty page at Naropa