Leonard Gontarek’s books of poems include Déjà Vu Diner (Autumn House, 2006), Zen For Beginners (Green Bean Press, 2000), and Van Morrison Can’t Find His Feet (My Pretty Jane Press, 1996). His poems have appeared in The Best American Poetry 2005, The American Poetry Review, Poetry
Northwest, FIELD, Fence, Volt, and Exquisite Corpse. In 2005 he received poetry awards from Mudfish and the Mad Poets Society.

Gontarek has twice been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, and has twice received poetry fellowships from the Pennsylvania  Council on the Arts. His work is forthcoming in The Autumn House Anthology of American Poems and Prayers. He has coordinated Peace / Works: Poets and Writers for Peace (2003—present) and The Philadelphia Poetry Festival (2002- 2003). He conducts poetry workshops at The Arts League in Philadelphia.