Melissa Sussens is a queer veterinarian and poet. Her debut collection, Slaughterhouse, was published by Karavan Press in 2022 and was a finalist for the 2024 HSS Awards. She placed 2nd in the 2020 New Contrast National Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for the 2022 prize. She has also been Shortlisted for the 2024 Isele Poetry Prize. Her work has appeared in many publications, both locally and internationally. A Best of the Net nominee, Melissa has performed at various local poetry events and hosts poetry readings at The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Collective. In addition to doctoring small animals, Sussens is also a teaching assistant for Megan Falley’s international writing course, Poems That Don’t Suck and does freelance poetry editing.
Find her at melissasussens.com or on Instagram/X @melissasussens
