River Maria Urke is a published poet, author, and multimedia artist. In addition, River is the founder and Senior Editor of the art and literary journal, The River Muse. She lives in the St Croix Valley of Minnesota with her daughter Willow, her boyfriend Tommy, and all their pets. River has the heart of a poet and the eyes of an artist. She sees the world through a lens of creation filtered through her imagination. River's first publication, Stumbled & Standing, is a collection of poetry and essay focused on life with Multiple Sclerosis. Her second publication, Womens Obsession with Shoes, is a creative book of memoirs by women about life through a pair of shoes. River is a member of the Mulberry Street Poets in Stillwater and the TGI Frybread poetry group in Minneapolis. River's poetic writings and artistic touches reflect her Ojibwe and Celtic heritages along with her ponderings being a thirty something American mother. Her poetry has been published on various journals online. In addition, she is a contributor in the Poets United Anthology, Thoughts That Breathe.