Whatever Shines is an admirable and dazling first collection. The voice is undisputably unique and haunting and one looks forward to anything the poet writes in the future. --Jim Harrison

The writing of Kathleen McGookey shines more brightly than most fine things we feel pleasure to read. Celebrate it! --Naomi Shihab Nye

At first, you don't turn the antique coin, don't feel the chip in the crystal, the dented armor, you just coo in admiration. You simply close your hand around whatever shines... --from the title poem

Kathleen McGookey holds a Ph.D. in literature from Western Michigan University. She is managing editor of Third Coast and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 1998. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.