Kewayne Wadley Biography

Kewayne Wadley (November 5,1987, Groton, Connecticut) hails from the soulful city of Memphis, Tennessee. Kewayne is a Memphis-based poetic storyteller whose mission is to spread love and inspiration through the power of words. Breathing his first human breath in Connecticut, he wound up spending most of his childhood days in the Deep South: Birmingham, Alabama, Soperton, Georgia, and much farther south: Central America.

Distinctly amorous lines, infused with sultry overtones, Kewayne's poetry paints vivid pictures of whirlwind romances and loves as unshaken as placid lakes. The unwavering support of his loved ones, especially his grandmother, is what drives him the most. His innate ability to see life through an unconventional lens can be witnessed in his innovative approach to his craft. Notably, his books ‘Listening to Songs at Midnight', ‘More Songs to Listen to at Midnight', ‘The Memorandum: An Ode to the Workplace or Something Like That', and Mumbo Jumbo... I Love You have been cataloged and accepted into the Library of Congress, a prestigious honor that highlights his contribution to the arts. Kewayne's poem 'Community Garden' was featured as an epigraph in Katherine H. Brown's book 'A Sweet Folly Of Hope.'

In addition to his writing, Kewayne has also contributed to the creative world as a producer. His producer credits, earned through crowdfunding support, are listed for Good Neighbours (IMDb,2024) , as well as shout-outs and mentions in the special thanks section of various movies, books, websites, and music albums.

Throughout his writing career, Kewayne's poems have been featured in an array of anthologies and zines, including but not limited to Collected Whispers (2006) , For This Cause Writers Unite (2012) , The Poetic Bond IX (2019) , The Porter Gulch Review: 36th Edition (2020) , and Mingled Voices 6 (2021) . He was crowned the 3rd Place Winner for his haiku ‘Full of Posies' (Dreamers Magazine,2022) and received Honorable Mention for his poem ‘Love Sometimes' (The Poetic Bond X,2020) . He was featured in Blavity's Love Poems by Black Poets slideshow, celebrating Black voices in poetry, showcasing his poem 'New Year Comes Twice A Year.

Kewayne's creative process is deeply influenced by his diverse upbringing. Growing up in various cultural settings, he has developed a unique perspective that infuses his work with rich, vivid imagery and emotional depth. He often draws inspiration from his surroundings, finding beauty in the mundane and the extraordinary alike.

His writing routine is a blend of spontaneity and discipline. While he doesn't adhere to a strict schedule, he remains committed to his craft, allowing ideas to flow naturally. He believes in the power of words to heal and connect, sometimes reconnect. Often revisiting his work to refine and perfect it, or sampling himself as he likes to call it. When he sits down to edit he often turns what he is working on into something else entirely.
Through his work, Kewayne hopes to leave a lasting impact, encouraging others to embrace their unique voices and share their stories with the world. He believes that every individual has a narrative worth telling.

When he isn't jotting down romantic free verse on any writing surface he can find, this multi-passionate writer is either drawing, painting, or listening to an eclectic assortment of music. He also has quite the green thumb, having taken up gardening.

Anthologies & Magazines Participated in:

Collected Whispers (2006) , For This Cause Writers Unite (2012) , Where the Mind Dwells (2015) , The Poetic Bond V (Willowdown Books) (2015) , The Poetic Bond VIII (Willowdown Books) (2018) , Best Of 2019: 4th Edition (2019) , The Poetic Bond IX (Willowdown Books) (2019) , The Poetic Bond X (Willowdown Books) (2020) , Honorable Mention for ‘Love Sometimes', Best Poets of 2020: Quarantine Edition (2020) , Porter Gulch Review 2020: 36th Edition (2020) , Poet's Choice: Desires (2021) , Human to Human (Willowdown Books) (2021) , Who's Who in American Poetry (2021) , DRIP 05/06 (2021 Double Issue) Coffee People Zine, Mingled Voices 6 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2021) , Dreamers Haiku Contest: 3rd Place Winner for ‘Full of Posies' (Dreamers Magazine,2022) , Mingled Voices 7 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2022) , Looking in, Looking Out (Willowdown Books) (2023) , Poet's Choice: Ace of Spades (2023) , Mingled Voices 8 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2023) , Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry (Poetry Soup 2024) , Opening Words Closing Lines (Willowdown Books) (2024) , Mingled Voices 9 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2024) , Swept Away In February (Wingless Dreamer Publishing) (2025) .

Self-Published Books:

Listening to Songs at Midnight (2020) , More Songs to Listen to at Midnight (2022) , The Memorandum: An Ode to The Workplace or Something Like That (Short Poems & Stories about the Workplace) (2023) , Late Nights on Venus (2023) , Mumbo Jumbo... I Love You (2023) , Vibing With You (2023) , A Minute To Yourself (2023) , ISLAND BAEcation (2023) , Let's Get Out And Do Something (2023) , Twelve Midnight (2024) .