Tommy Pico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Pico
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Pico at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | December 13, 1983 |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, and podcast host |
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Notable work
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IRL, Nature Poem |
Tommy Pico (born December 13, 1983) is a talented writer, poet, and podcast host. He is a member of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up on the Reservation
Tommy Pico grew up on the Viejas Reservation. This reservation belongs to the Kumeyaay tribe, located near San Diego, California. His father was a leader for their tribe.
Discovering a Love for Writing
From a young age, Pico enjoyed writing. At five years old, he started creating his own comic books. As a teenager, he made small magazines called zines and wrote poetry. His name in the Kumeyaay language means "bird song."
College and Career Path
Pico attended Sarah Lawrence College. He first studied to become a doctor, hoping to help his community on the reservation. However, he later decided to follow his passion for writing. He moved to New York City and began working as a barista. This is where he truly started his journey as a poet.
Moving to New Cities
In 2008, Pico lived in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Later, in 2019, he moved to Los Angeles with a friend.
Creative Works and Projects
Early Recognition
In 2011, Tommy Pico was chosen as a mentor for the Queer/Art/Mentors program. This program helps young artists. In 2013, he was recognized as a Lambda Literary Fellow in Poetry.
His First Books
Pico's first book, IRL, was published in 2016. It was written like one long text message. The story is told by a character named Teebs, who is like Pico's fictional friend. IRL was very popular and won the Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize in 2017.
His second book, Nature Poem, came out in 2017. Like IRL, it also featured the character Teebs. In this book, Pico used poetry to explore ideas about Native Americans. He wanted to challenge old stereotypes. Nature Poem also received great reviews.
Pico continued his writing with Junk in 2018 and Feed in 2019. He calls these four books his "Teebs tetralogy," meaning a series of four works.
Podcasts and TV Shows
Tommy Pico is also known for his work in podcasts. He co-hosts Food 4 Thot, a podcast that discusses different identities, relationships, literature, and pop culture. He also co-hosts Scream, Queen! with Drea Washington. This podcast talks about horror films and how they relate to people from different backgrounds.
Pico has also written for popular TV shows. These include Reservation Dogs and Resident Alien. In 2021, he was selected as a Sundance Institute Fellow, which is a special honor for filmmakers and writers. He also appeared in the 2022 documentary series Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror.
Other Creative Projects
In 2018, Pico created special sound art for New York City's High Line park. He also designed a walking tour for Seattle.
Awards and Honors
Tommy Pico has received several awards for his writing.
- In 2017, his first book, IRL, won the Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize.
- His second book, Nature Poem, won a 2018 American Book Award. It was also a finalist for the 2018 Lambda Literary Award.
- In 2018, he was a Whiting Award Winner for his poetry.
