Published on May 24 by Diode Editions as the winner of its book contest, "No Rest" marks a significant achievement in Koo’s career as a poet and educator.

"I see ‘No Rest’ as my most ambitious, personal and experimental book to date," said Koo. "Readers can expect funny, irreverent, bitterly honest poems that move much more quickly than they're probably expecting. My challenge for the book was to write long poems that did not seem long to readers, that were accessible and engaging, and enacted the way the mind moves."

“Many readers have reported reading the book all in one sitting, despite its unusual length for a poetry collection, which has been great to hear," Koo added.

Specializing in teaching poetry and creative writing, especially by underrepresented writers, Koo brings a wealth of experience and passion to his work.

Koo is the author of three previous full-length collections of poetry: "More Than Mere Light," "America's Favorite Poem” and "Man on Extremely Small Island," which won the De Novo Poetry Prize and the Asian American Writers' Workshop Members' Choice Award for the best Asian American book of 2009. He is also the author of the chapbook "Sunset Park" and served as the coeditor of the Brooklyn Poets Anthology. His poems have appeared in esteemed publications such as the American Scholar, Best American Poetry, Missouri Review, Poetry Northwest, Village Voice and Yale Review, among others. Koo’s literary contributions have been recognized with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Vermont Studio Center and New York State Writers Institute.

Named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture" by Brooklyn Magazine, Koo is also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Brooklyn Poets and the creator of the Bridge, the world's premier poetry network connecting poets and mentors.