Michael Ives’ poetry and prose have appeared in many publications, including Conjunctions, New American Writing, Fence, Sulfur, and The Exquisite Corpse.  In addition, he is a well-known jazz musician and sound/text performer whose work with the performance trio F’loom has been featured several times on National Public Radio, the CBC, and on other radio programs throughout South America and Europe.  In 1996, F’loom received the Lillian Fairchild Award for significant contribution to the arts given once a year by the University of Rochester.  Mr. Ives has taught creative writing at Bard College since 2003; previously, he was composer-in-residence at Hobart William Smith Colleges under the auspices of the Cantori Commission project and as a teaching artist, performer, and consultant for the Aesthetic Education Institute of Lincoln Center.  The External Combustion Engine is his first book.