Deanna Nikaido is the author of two volumes of poetry and is a graduate of Art Center College of Design with a degree in Illustration. She has always loved the mystery of linking the inner world with the outer and looks for ways to throw paint on the invisible. For her, the visual and literary arts are both listening processes, each unplanned certainties where pen point or brush intersect the page and conversation begins.

Deanna is currently a poetry coach for Bookinday (BID) a non-profit, educational services company that fosters literacy skills, teaching students the fundamentals of creative writing, through poetry and student-run publication--in one day.

Her venues include editorial assistant to the 2007 Capitol Bookfest Anthology: Family Pictures, Martha's Vineyard-Bunches of Grapes Bookstore filmed with CEO Shana Yarborough and aired by Public Television,Visionary Art Museum: Rumi Festival featured guest Coleman Barks, Caribbean Literary Festival in Antigua 2006: co-sponsored by Writers Lair, Performances at highschools with Kwame Alexander, Television Interview: Ideas In Writing/Pat Patten. Her work has appeared in several journals and anthologies such as Family Pictures, Beltway Poetry Journal, Fledgling Rag and Urbancode Magazine.

She has been involved in workshops at Gallery G: Collaborative monthly workshop with featured visual artist, Breathe Books: Meditative Writing Workshops, Baltimore City Community College: Youth Writing Workshop, University of Maryland/Baltimore: Publishing Workshop/Panel and Co-editor/facilitator for Writing Workshop/Book: "Into Our Clothes" for Goucher University.

She is a native of Denver, Colorado and currently resides near her children in Baltimore Maryland.

“"Poems are all about emotion, and there is no stronger emotion than love. "VOICE LIKE WATER" is a collection of poetry by author Deanna Nikaido,using her passion and compassion for life and the word. Enhanced with a CD of audio performances of her favorites from the volume, "VOICE LIKE WATER" is an excellant choice for poetry fans everywhere."”

Midwest Book Review
Small Press Bookwatch July 2009

“Deanna Nikaido's noble debut is full of visual melody. Listen closely, and you will hear these colorful poems sing 'like birds sing,' and dance right off the page. Plus they look good too, like golden lemons or children playing on a Summer night. 'VIBRATING WITH SILENCE' embodies a voice so honest and graceful, like Rumi says, 'you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

KWAME ALEXANDER
Author of CRUSH: LOVE POEMS & DANCING NAKED ON THE FLOOR

“Keen intellect meets fathomless heart, encased in grace. Neither east nor west, this is citzen of the world poetry - at its esoteric best.”

REBECCA HOFFBERGER
Founder, American Visionary Art Museum

“I don't typically write reviews - I'm ungainly about it and am not nearly to-the-core pin pointy as a reviewer should be. But some poetry collections appear - often from out of the blue that make me chirp. They deserve all efforts of acclaim.

Ms. Nikaido's first collection, 'VIBRATING WITH SILENCE', has the golden touch of craft. It has reverence along with a shyness that's belied by the clearest of eyes. It has the grace of a seed. And yes, indeed, it has smarts.

Congratulations Writer's Lair Books for assembling such a debut. I'm grateful.”

HIRAM LAREW
Author of MORE THAN ANYTHING

“Somehow, some way, the word please was transformed from politeness to pitiful and thank you was altered to become a sign of weakness. Gentleness has gone out of fashion and may God help quiet. In poetry and in our other forms of communications, attitude, which translates to loud, angry, I'm-not-taking-any-crap-from-anyone, has assumed a certain preeminence.

I don't like it.

In the interest of semi-full disclosure, this editor, when young, often put his hands over his ears and went inside when his father started the mower, so I have a predisposition to quietude and contemplation. It is with this in mind and in heart that the sixth issue of "Fledgling Rag" features Deanna Nikaido. Deanna's poetry is gentle and passionate. We often forget that passion is frequently whispered and not screamed, and these poems speak softly with a profound truth and clarity about our personal lives and relationships. When reading her poems, I want to hold them gently, like a child, and simultaneously sit at their feet and absorb their wisdom. You can provide your own adjectives after reading her work.”

LE HINTON
Editor of FLEDGLING RAG

“'VIBRATING WITH SILENCE,' is spiritually resting in a metaphoric language of longing and love. This fine book of poetry, written by Deanna Nikaido, is reminscent of the works of Rumi, who Ms. Nikaido seemingly admires. Her "tribute to Rumi" indicates such a relationship.

With no outright or obvious intention of mimicking Rumi, Ms. Nikaido presents her own uique style with beauty and intense emotion.

The poetry is love, united by 4 categories: 1)Seed; 2)Harvest; 3) Infusion; 4)Ceremony. "Seed" speaks of emptiness and longing - perhaps of a love lost, or a of a need. "Harvest" asks and answers questions from lessons learned. "Infusion" hints of the beginnings of a relationship with another entering her realm of hope and love. "Ceremony" - a perfect ending - acceptance and fulfillment of love in all its forms.

The story is complete, embraced by poetic harmony and grace.”

SUE NAGAMOTO
Richland, WA