Jarod K. Anderson is a writer and poet from Central Ohio. He has published three books of nature poetry as well as the memoir Something in the Woods Loves You, about his lifelong struggle with depression and the healing power of the natural world. His contemporary fantasy novel Strange Animals was published in February 2026 by Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House.
Jarod’s work has been featured in diverse places such as The Marginalian, The Sun Magazine, Literary Hub, musical adaptations performed at Carnegie Hall, and even on Patagonia brand clothing. He has been a featured guest, workshop teacher, and speaker for organizations including Georgetown University’s Earth Commons program and The Henry David Thoreau Foundation.
In what ways does nature inspire or inform your work?
Nature inspires my work in so many ways, most especially in how I approach my own mind and craft. I have springtimes of growth and productivity. I have drowsy autumns of quiet contemplation. Nature has taught me to accept my own “brain weather” and to be kind to myself. Cycles and seasons bring constant change, but there is always something new to learn and appreciate.
What does it mean to you to be part of a thriving ecosystem?
Being part of a thriving ecosystem means noticing and acknowledging the countless ways in which we rely on the organisms around us with humility and gratitude. It also means finding ways to give back, doing work that recognizes we are both garden and gardeners on this planet. There’s a sense of obligation in that idea, but I think it’s obligation rooted in love.
