John Doelman is a semi-retired real estate broker in Florida who now lives permanently in New Hampshire. John has been creatively writing, especially poetry, since the 2nd grade. The outdoors has been one of his great loves for over 50 years. His first canoe trip was 1969 in northern Maine, on the Allagash River system. Five weeks in the wilderness changed his life and launched a deep love of paddling. In 2012 Doelman discovered Quetico Provincial Park in NW Ontario while searching online for a new place to canoe camp. His life changed.

Doelman’s poetry is deeply personal and evocative. John carries you with him, whether at that moment of inspiration, or the slowing down moments of twilight. To John, moments of life are snapshots of so much more. Doelman is a master of sharing that detail. Doelman has read his poetry in numerous slams and readings in Florida. His poetry highlight was a reading of one of his poems prior to a Caroline Kennedy speech before several thousand at a Barack Obama campaign event in 2008.

John is a director of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire and will be the Artist-in-Residence at Quetico during the first two weeks of September 2024. 

Quetico Connection is a threaded collection of intimate, yet simple, poems and photos which began on a two week solo canoe trip into Quetico. If you haven’t been there yet, this inspiring book will spark the urge. If you have been, it will recall moments you cherish. Just notice.