Author Bio:Maya Jewell Zeller is a multi-genre author of several poetry collections and collaborations, most recently out takes/ glove box, selected by Eduardo Corral as winner of the 2022 New American Poetry Prize; and the co-authored textbook (with Kathryn Nuernberger) Advanced Poetry: A Writer’s Guide and Anthology (Bloomsbury, 2024). Maya’s prose appears widely, and her essay, “Scavenger Panorama,” was honored by Vivian Gornick as a Notable in Best American Essays 2023. Maya is Professor of English for Central Washington University, and Affiliate Faculty of Poetry and Nature Writing for Western Colorado University’s low-residency MFA program. Maya lives in the Inland Northwest with her children. Her memoir, Raised by Ferns, will be out in early 2026 from Porphyry Press, and her book on fungi phenomena, The Wonder of Mushrooms, in Fall 2025 from AdventureKEEN.Get to know the kingdom of Fungi like never before with this unique book that blends mycology with lyrical prose and watercolor paintings.
Take an extraordinary expedition into the diverse and enchanting realm of fungi. The Wonder of Mushrooms is where science meets poetry, where ancient wisdom converges with modern discovery. Maya Jewell Zeller and Jenny deFouw Geuder guide you into the hidden world beneath our feet. With a blend of scientific insight and artistic appreciation, the authors portray the crucial role of mushrooms in our ecosystem and celebrate their profound cultural significance.
Whether you’re an artist, naturalist, or someone who’s simply curious about the natural world, this book presents a profound journey into the kingdom of Fungi, where beauty and science intertwine in unique and unexpected ways.
Book Features:
- Lyrical prose that blends science with literary references and poetry
- Professional watercolors that help make complex scientific concepts accessible
- Wide range of topics, including anatomy, biology, and ecology
- Educational tribute that promotes wonder and curiosity
Lawrence Millman –
“This delightful marriage of fungal poetry and fungal watercolors is the perfect gift for the beginning mycophile, be that individual a child, an adult, or even an elder. May the fungi be with you, it eagerly declares, and if you purchase the book, they will indeed be with you!” — Lawrence Millman, author of Fungipedia
Lesley Wheeler –
When it comes to fungi, art and science often overlap,” writes Maya Jewell Zeller in The Wonder of Mushrooms. This marvelous new book guides us through the enchanted territory that literature and mycology share. Zeller’s precise yet poetic language emphasizes the otherworldliness of the fungal kingdom; lovely watercolor illustrations by Jenny deFouw Geuder likewise balance the scientific with the mystical. I recommend The Wonder of Mushrooms to readers of all ages—as long as they’re willing to be carried away. – Lesley Wheeler, author of Mycocosmic