Armbrust writes sonnets on a variety of themes, primarily addressed to his muse and his lovers. Since 1979, when his first book of poetry went to press, he continues to write, as if he opens a vein to pour his own blood onto the page to do it.

Former national news editor at Backstage magazine, Armbrust also taught writing at NYU before returning to his hometown, Little Rock, Arkansas, where he has focused on fiction and poetry, authoring the blog The Sonnetteer.