Born in Colorado, Carter McKenzie earned her master's degree in English at the University of Virginia. She currently lives in Oregon's Cascade foothills with her two daughters and teaches creative writing to students of all ages. In addition, she continues to study and perform songs of the Scottish Gaelic tradition with the women's a cappella group Kitchen Ceilidh at festivals as well as in college classrooms. Among the publications her poems have appeared in are Fireweed, Dona Nobis Pacem: Grant Us Peace, and Raising Our Voices: An Anthology of Oregon Poets Against the War. Her chapbook Naming Departure was published by Traprock Books in 2004. OUT OF REFUSAL is her first full-length book of poetry.