OFF_press

Seweryn Górczak, born 1991 in Warsaw. Studying at the Stefan Wyszyński University; his poems have been published in PKP Zin, “Odra” and “Lampa”. From time to time he reads at poetry slams.

Seweryn Górczak, ur. 1991 w Warszawie. Student historii na Uniwersytecie im. kard. Stefana Wyszyńskiego; wiersze publikował w PKP Zinie, “Odrze” i “Lampie”. Od czasu do czasu występuje na slamach.

Michał Czaja (born 1983 in Warsaw). Literary and cultural critic, lecturer, works in partnership with the research team Literatura and Konteksty in IBL, and recently became the editor of the literary quarterly Wakat on-line, having been involved in the Warsaw literary scene for a number of years. In May of 2011, as part of the “Debiuty”  series, his first volume of poetry “Bo to nowa krytyka będzie o miłości” was published by Staromiejski Dom Kultury. He lives in Warsaw.

Marek Kołodziejski, lives in Inowrocław. His first book of poetry “Przekreślony horyzont” was published in 1983. 2009 saw the publication of his poetry collection “Koniec świata”, followed in 2011 by “Linijki” (Miniatura Press). The author regularly posts his verse on his own blog.

Jacek Maczka – poet and literary scholar. Born in 1965 in Sanok. He has published the following books: Bliższe okolice (Wydawnictwo Mamiko, Nowa Ruda); Pomyśleć prześwit (Miniatura, Kraków); Kroisz coraz cieńsze (Miniatura, Kraków) as well as a treatise on Janusz Szuber’s poetry: Powidła dla Tejrezjasza (Księgarnia Akademicka, Kraków). His poems have been published in, among others, Gazeta Wyborcza, Tygodnik Powszechny, Rzeczpospolita, Studium.  Winner of various literary prizes, including the “Jacek Bierezin” national competition and “Tyska Zima Poetycka” competition. He lives is Sanok.

Marta Górska (b. 1984) – writer of short stories surreal and poetic prose, cultural articles, literary and theatrical reviews and a travelling blog written under her own name or under the pseudonym “Nadia”. Marta works as an independent human rights journalist, working with Radio Tok FM (radio and portal), campus radio, and now the magazine Mida, portal “kulturaonline” and arttravel.pl; co-creator of the surrealist magazine Puzdro. Would most like to live her life on the go and turn it into something more than a metaphorical journey.

Justyna Bargielska (born 1977) – poet, prose writer. Winner of the 2010 and the 2011 Gdynia Literary Prize. Her poetry collections include Dating Sessions (2003), China Shipping (2005) and Dwa fiaty (2009) and the prose volume Obsoletki (2010). She lives in Warsaw.

Joanna Dziwak – (born 1986) – has had her verse published in numerous literary publications (including “Akcent”, “Czas Kultury”, “Portret”), her début collection “sturm&drang” appeared at the end of 2010. She also translates German poetry, mainly Bertolt Brecht. She is studying philosophy, lives in Krakow.

Asia Obstarczyk - born in 1976, has lived in Belgium for the past seven years where she also became friends with poetry: nostalgia has got her writing. By day, she is a musician and the occasional translator of Dutch writings.

Marek Chorabik, born 1962 in Krakow. Lives in Gdynia. His poems have been published in, among others, Akcent, Czas Kultury, Fraza, Kresy, Opcje, Res Publica, Topos, Tytul,  neurokultura.pl and dwutygodnik.com. In 1997, he published the volume Blisko prawdy /Wydawnictwo Marabut – Gdańsk/. His poems also appeared in: Antologia nowej poezji polskiej 1990-2000 /Zielona Sowa Kraków 2004/, Pięć wieków poezji o Lublinie /Wydawnictwo UMCS Lublin 2006/. Winner of various literary competitions, including: Nagroda Literacka Miasta Gdańska 1994; Dać Świadectwo Prize Kraków 1995 and 2009; Baczyński Poetry Prize Łódź 1997; Sarbiewski Prize Płońsk 2006; Złote Pióro Sopot 2006; Żeromski short literary forms award Nałęczów 2006; “Take Five” Art & Jazz Festival Oleśnica 2007; Against Poets Prize Czeladź 2007 and others.

Joanna Małgorzata Przybylska – bon in 1984 in Lodz. Graduate of sociology and Polish literature, University of Lodz. Winner of numerous poetry competitions. Her poems have been published in “Arterie”, “Tygiel Kultury”, “Cegla” and various anthologies. She works in a second-hand bookshop in the Limanka district of Lodz.

Kajetan Herdyński, poet, born 1980 in Zamosc. He studied philosophy and literature in Lublin. His poetry has been published in, among others, Kresy, Studium and FA-art. He is currently living and working in Bournemouth, UK.

Roman Honet – (born 1974), Polish poet, between 1995 and 2008 the editor of the bimonthly literary and artistic magazine Studium. Representative of the trend known as the “emboldened imagination” (a term suggested by Marian Stala) in most recent Polish poetry, also known as one of the new existentialists. He teaches creative writing at the School of Literary Arts, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.

Dawid Majer – born 1981 in Gdynia. Ma in Philosophy from the University of Gdansk. Poet and journalist. His writing has been published in, among others, “[fo:pa]“, “Autograf”, “Portret”, “Topos, “Migotania, przejaśnienia”, “Wyspa”, “Nowa Krytyka”, “Fragile”, “Kresy”, “Tygiel Kultury”, “Neurokultura.pl”,  “RED”, “Tygodnik Powszechny”, “Bliza”, “Biuletyn Fotograficzny”, “Pomorski Przegląd Gospodarczy”, “Gazeta Wyborcza” and many web publications. His “Book of Gravity” was nominated for the prestigious Silesius Award as best poetry debut of 2009, while the jury of the IV National Literary Award „Złoty Środek Poezji” chose the volume as the best debut of 2009. Currently living between Gdansk and Kielce. 

Krzysztof Ciemnołoński – (born 1985 in Warsaw), DJ, events organiser, music critic, loves post-punk and psychobilly. Has published the poetry volume “płaskostopie” (SDK 2003) and “przebicia” (SDK 2005). A new volume is being readied for publication – “eskalacje” (2011). More info can be found on his page ciemnolonski.pl, where you can download “przebicia” in electronic format. He lives in Zalesie Górne with his wife and son.

Zofia Bałdyga, 1987, Warsaw. Author of the volumes “Passe-partout” (Warszawa 2006) and “Współgłoski” ( Nowa Ruda 2010). Co-creates the poetry & music project Elektroliryka. Currently mastering in Western and Southern Slavonic Studies at the University of Warsaw. Her poems have also been translated into Czech, Swedish and Ukrainian. Her work can be read on wwww.literackie.pl.

Adam Wiedemann, (born 1967 Krotoszyn), Polish poet, novelist, translator, literary and music critic; winner of the Kościelski Poetry Prize 1999, nominated three times for the NIKE, Poland’s top literary prize, also winner of the Gdynia Prize for Literature in 2008 for the volume “pensum”. His work has been published in Tygodnik Powszechny, Oder, Kresy, Nowy Wiek, Czas Kultury, Pro Arte, Kursywa, Ha! Art, Rita Baum and Dziennik Portowy. He has been a regular columnist in the Res Publica Nowa and Przekroj.

Jakobe Mansztajn – born ’82, poet, blogger, in youth a proponent, currently a dissident. Deputy editor of the literary quarterly “Korespondencja z ojcem”, co-organiser of the cyclical poetry event K3 Sopot Slam, for which he has received the Andrzej Walentynowicz Award. He has been published in, among others, Tygodnik Powszechny, Portret, FA-art, Gazeta Wyborcza, Rita Baum, Pogranicza, Cegla. Author of the poetry collection “Vienna high life (Portret, 2009) for which he has received the prestigious 2010 Wroclaw Silesius Award in the Début of the Year category, which has also been nominated for the Gdynia Literary Award in the Poetry category and received thrid place award for the best debut of 2009 “Złoty Środek Poezji” . He comes from a working class family. A Kabbalist.

fot. Natalia Mierzewska

Maria Jastrzębska was born in Warsaw, Poland and came to England as a child. Poetry collections include Postcards From Poland (Working Press), Home from Home (Flarestack 2002), Syrena (Redbeck Press 2004) I’ll Be Back Before You Know It (Pighog Press 2009) and Everyday Angels (Waterloo Press 2009). She was co-editor of Forum Polek – Polish Women’s Forum, Poetry South and Whoosh! – Queer Writing South Anthology.  Her work is widely published in magazines and much anthologized, most recently in: See How I Land – Oxford Poets & Refugees (Heaven Tree Press 2009) and Telling Tales About Dementia (Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2009). Her drama Dementia Diaries was premiered in April 2009 by Lewes Live Literature at Eastbourne Festival, selling out over a four day run. She was winner of the 2009 OFF_PRESS International Creative Writing competition. Her work has been translated into French, Japanese, Polish, Romanian and Slovenian. See also www.south-pole.org.uk

Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dycki (born in 1962) is an award-winning Polish poet. Born in Wólka Krowicka near Lubaczów, he is the author of nine volumes of poems and numerous texts for the magazine Kresy. He has won the Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna Award, the Barbara Sadowska Award, Polish-German Days of Literature Award, Gdynia Literature Award, the “Passport of Polityka” and the Nike – Poland’s most prestigious literary prize.

Arkadiusz Frania – born 1973 in Przechlewa. Poet and literary critic. In 1999, he earned his masters in Polish literature, achieving his doctorate in Humanities in 2003 (University of Silesia). His poems, notes and reviews have been published in „Odra”, „Kwartalnik Artystyczny”, „Arkusz”, „Pogranicze”, „Akant”, „Poezja dzisiaj”, „Magazyn Literacki”, „Nowy Wiek”, „Tygiel Kultury”, „Fronda”, „Horyzonty”, „Radostowa”, „Obrzeże”, „Gazeta Kulturalna”, „Ruch Literacki”, „Pamiętnik Literacki”. He has published four volumes of poetry, one book of prose and four volumes of literary criticism. He has been a member of the Polish Writers Association since 1998. Currently living in  Częstochowa.

fot. Szymon Halter

Dariusz Dziurzyński (born. 1973, in Warsaw), poet and Doctor of Literature, employed at the Faculty of Polish Literature at Warsaw University since 2004, member of the Warsaw literary group Wybór. Collaborates with the periodicals “Red.”, “Wyspa” and “Przegląd Filozoficzno-Literacki”, published in, among others, “Powściągliwośc i Praca”, “Tekstualie”, “Nowa Okolica Poetów”, “Kwartalnik Artystyczny”, “Topos”, “Fraza”, “Akant”, “Red.”, “Zeszyty Poetyckie” i “Znaj”, and also in Belgium (“Remue-Méninges”). His work has been translated into French and German. He lives in Warsaw, where he lectures in comparative literature.

fot. Kinga Gibaszek

GRZEGORZ GIEDRYS – born 1979 in Olsztyn. Graduate of Polish Studies at the University of Mikolaj Copernicus in Torun. Between 1998-2004, worked for the literary quarterly „Undergrunt”. His poetry, prose and essays have been published in, among others, “Kartki”, “Lampa”, “ Lewą nogą”, “Nowa Okolica Poetow”, “Odra”, “PAL”, “Portret” and “Tytul”. He lives in Torun, where he works for the regional office of “Gazeta Wyborcza”. In March 2006, the Torun Wiczy Theatre staged a play based on his drama “Instant”.

Ewa Izabella Glińska – born 1977. Sociologist. Published in the following titles: “Fraza”, “Studium”, “ArteFakt”, ”Zeszyty Poetyckie”. Winner of the National Poetry Prize im. J. Śpiewaka (2003). Winner of the Połów 2008 project organised by Biuro Literackie. By day, she runs her own school of English as a foreign language. Lives in Warsaw.

Krzysztof Szymoniak – (born 1953 in Kepno) poet and literary critic, the first chief editor of “Nowy Nurt”, university lecturer, journalist and media expert. Graduate of the Adam Mickiewicz University (UAM) in Poznan. In 1988, he received the “Medal of Young Arts” for his literary reportage. He is currently lecturing at the Institute of Languages at UAM and journalism, press law and media studies at the Poznan Upper School of Foreign Languages. Has been published in numerous anthologies, including: „Świadectwo obecności” (1996) and „Droga do Ashramu” (1998). Currently editor at Zeszyty Poetyckie. In 2007 a member of the jury panel at Wielkopolska Press Photo.

Agnieszka Kłos – writer, art critic, photographer. Has published writings on the subjects of contemporary art, literature, photography and cinema. Author of “Complete cost of all” (2008, 2009 reprint). Has been published by all key periodicals covering literature and arts. Her stories have been translated into Serb, German and English. She lectures on anthropology of film and photography in the Southern Silesian Upper School. By day she keeps busy with art and the aesthetics of the Holocaust. This year, she is representing young literature at the Festival of Feature Films in Gdynia.

Simon Guest – born in 1965 and, for a long time, a lorry driver before going back to university to study. Travelled extensively in Europe and lived in Warsaw before relocating again temporarily in north west England. Proof-reader, occasional translator and short story writer; also likes to write political song lyrics for angry bands.

Marcin Bałczewski (born 1981 in Lodz). Author of the post-novel “In search of a lost point” (2002). has had several short stories published in, among others; Lampa i Iskra Boża, Fraza, Kresy, Portret, Pogranicza, Topos, Puzdro, Zabudowa Trawnika, Cegła, Arterie, fo:pa. Collaborates with Puzdro and Zabudowy. Has appeared in “2008 – Anthology of contemporary Polish stories”. This year, Forma Press wil publish his collection of short stories entitled “Malone”. Opcja (web) and Kresy has published selected passages from his  novel-in-progress “Eva Morales de Nacho Lima”.

Marcin Bałczewski (ur. 1981 w Łodzi). Autor postpowieści “W poszukiwaniu straconego miejsca” (2002), kilkudziesięciu opowiadań opublikowanych w prasie (m. in. Lampa i Iskra Boża, Fraza, Kresy, Portret, Pogranicza, Topos, Puzdro, Zabudowa Trawnika, Cegła, Arterie, fo:pa). Współpracownik Puzdro i Zabudowy. Znalazł się w antologii “2008 – Antologia współczesnych polskich opowiadań”. W tym roku Wydawnictwo Forma wyda zbiór opowiadań pt. “Malone”. Na łamach Opcji (net) i w Kresach publikowano fragmenty pisanej powieści “Eva Morales de Nacho Lima”.

Iza Smolarek – born 1977. Poet, writer, journalist, cultural activist. Winner of Ministry of Culture and National Heritage bursary (category – literature). Author of the volume “i laze” (Wydawnictwo Portret 2006r.)  and “sensory states” (Liberum Arbitrium 2007r.), as well as several crime novels. Winner of numerous literary competitions. Nominated for the Dżonka Literary Prize in the most talented young Polish poets category (2007). Has been published in, among others, “Odra”, “Topos”, “Akcent”, “Zeszyty Literackie”, “Gazeta Wyborcza”. Translated into Ukrainian and English. Most recent print publication: “Soloists. Anthology of women poets”, Warsaw 2009. From Poznan, currently living and working in London.

Iza Smolarek – rocznik’77. Poetka, prozaiczka, dziennikarka, animatorka kultury. Stypendystka Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego (w dziedzinie literatury). Autorka tomu “się lenienie” (Wydawnictwo Portret 2006r.)  i “stany zmysłowe” (Liberum Arbitrium 2007r.) oraz powiesci kryminalnych. Laureatka licznych konkursow literackich. Nominowana do Dżonki – nagrody literackiej im. Stachy Zawiszanki dla najbardziej utalentowanych poetów młodego pokolenia (2007r.) Publikowała m.in. w “Odrze”, “Toposie”, “Akcencie”, “Zeszytach Literackich”, “Gazecie Wyborczej”. Tłumaczona na język ukrainski I angielski. Ostatnia książka: “Solistki. Antologia poezji kobiet”, Warszawa 2009r.  Poznanianka, obecnie mieszka i pracuje w Londynie.

Ewa Chrusciel writes both in Polish and English. In 2003, Studium published her first book in Polish. Her second, “Sopilki”, came out in Dec 2009. She won the 2009 international book contest for her book “Strata” (due out in 2010, USA). Her poems have appeared in numerous journals including Fraza, Odra, Zeszyty literackie, Studium, Poetry Wales, Aesthetica, Il Giornale, Boston Review, Colorado Review, Aufgabe, Process, Lana Turner, hot metal bridge, Mandorla, Canary, Rhino, American Letters and Commentary and others. Her translations of poetry appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Carnivorous Boy, Carnivorous Bird and Six Polish Poets. She is a Professor of Humanities at Colby-Sawyer College.

Ewa Chruściel – zadebiutowaɫa tomikiem Furkot w 2003 w Bibliotece „Studium.” Je drugi tomik Sopiɫki ukazaɫ sięw Bibliotece Frazy w 2009. Swe wiersze publikowaɫa w „Odrze”, „Nowej Okolicy Poetów”, „Studium”, „Toposie”, „Pracowni”, „Zeszytach Literackich”, „Tekstualiach.” Pisze też w języku angielskim. Jej maszynopis po angielsku zdobyɫ pierwsze miejsce w międzynarodowym konkursie Emergency Press i ma się ukazać w postaci książkowej w Stanach Zjednoczonych w 2010. Jej amerykańskie wiersze prezentowane byɫy między innymi na ɫamach Boston Review” (2007) oraz w „Colorado Review”, „Squaw Valley Review”, „Aufgabe,” „Lana Turner, „Process”, „Poetry Wales”, „American Letters and Commentary” oraz w Poetry Wales i “Aesthetica Magazine.” Wykłada literaturę w Colby-Sawyer College w USA.

Wojciech Boros – born 1973, winner of „Czerwona Róża”, works with the bi-monthly literary journal „Autograf”, also responsible for the poetry section in the quarterly „Bliza”. Has been published in, among others, „Arterie”, „Autograf”, „Cegla”, „Die Aussenseite Des Elementes”, „FA-art”, „Fraza”, „Fronda”, „Gazeta Malarzy i Poetów”, „Migotanie, przejaśnienia”, „Opcje”, „Portret”, „Topos”, „Tytul”, „Undergrunt” and numerous anthologies, including: „Poza słowa. Antologia wierszy 1976-2006” (2006). Has had the following poetry collections published in Poland: „Nierealit górski” (1997), „Jasne i Pełne” (2003), „Złe zamiary” (2008).

Wojciech Boros – ur. 1973 r. w Gdańsku. Zdobywca „Czerwonej Róży” (1996). Współpracuje z dwumiesięcznikiem literackim „Autograf”, a w kwartalniku „Bliza” odpowiada za dział poezji. Publikował, m. in. w: „Arteriach”, „Autografie”, „Cegle”, „Die Aussenseite Des Elementes”, „FA-arcie”, „Frazie”, „Frondzie”, „Gazecie Malarzy i Poetów”, „Migotaniach, przejaśnieniach”, „Opcjach”, „Portrecie”, „Toposie”, „Tytule”, „Undergruncie” oraz w licznych antologiach, m. in.: „Poza słowa. Antologia wierszy 1976-2006” (2006). Wydał tomy wierszy: „Nierealit górski” (1997), „Jasne i Pełne” (2003), „Złe zamiary” (2008). borosw.webpark.pl

Robert Rybicki Born in 1976 in Rybnik, poet, writer, cultural activist. Studied law and literature at the Silesian University. Author of two books: “Epiphanies and Catatonias” (2003) and “Worm Mottoes” (2005) published by the Mikolowski Institute. Former editor of the Art Journal “Plama” in Rybnik and the weekly “New Time” in London; currently once again leading the Happy Literary Club in Chwałowice Cultural Centre in Rybnik.

Robert Rybicki ur. w 1976 r. w Rybniku, poeta, polonista, happener. Studiował prawo i polonistykę w Uniwersytecie Śląskim. Autor dwóch książek: “Epifanie i katatonie” (2003) i “Motta robali” (2005) wydanych w Instytucie Mikołowskim. Były redaktor Pisma Artystycznego “Plama” w Rybniku i tygodnika “Nowy Czas” w Londynie; obecnie znów prowadzi Wesoły Klub Literacki w Domu Kultury Chwałowice w Rybniku.

Dariusz Adamowski – born 1967; winner of several poetry prizes (including  K.K. Baczyńskiego, K. Ratonia, H. Poświatowskiej); has been published in “Kartki”, “Odra”, “Topos”, “Akcent”, “Gazeta Wyborcza” and on nieszuflada.pl and literackie.pl; author of the poetry collections “Adamowo” (2006) and “Skraj” (2007); lives in Białystok.

Dariusz Adamowski - ur. 1967; laureat kilku konkursów poetyckich (im. K.K. Baczyńskiego, K. Ratonia, H. Poświatowskiej); publikował swoje wiersze w “Kartkach”, “Odrze”, “Toposie”, “Akcencie”, “Gazecie Wyborczej” oraz na nieszuflada.pl i literackie.pl; autor tomików “Adamowo” (2006) oraz “Skraj” (2007); mieszka w Białymstoku.

Elżbieta Lipińska – born in Warsaw, but has lived for many years in Wroclaw. A lawyer. Has been writing for a long time, mainly poetry, alongside short prose. Has been published in Obrzeże, Akant, Autograf, Red, Fraza, Cegła, Wakat, Portret, Odra, Zeszyty Poetyckie and other collections. Has won numerous poetry awards, most recently im. Kazimierza Ratonia and im. Bolesława Faca (2007 r.). In January 2007 her first collection “Pożegnanie z czerwienią” was published, followed by “Maj to łagodny miesiąc” in November 2008. Winner of the XI Tyska Zima Poetycka Prize, resulting in her third volume, “Rejestry”, being published in 2011.

Elżbieta Lipińska – urodzona w Warszawie, ale od lat mieszkanka Wrocławia. Prawnik. Pisze od dawna, głównie wiersze, czasem także krótkie utwory prozą. Publikowała w Obrzeżach, Akancie, Autografie, Redzie, Frazie, Cegle, Wakacie, Portrecie, Odrze, Zeszytach Poetyckich, almanachach. Jest laureatką kilku konkursów poetyckich, ostatnio im. Kazimierza Ratonia oraz im. Bolesława Faca (2007 r.). W styczniu 2007 r. wydała tomik pod tytułem “Pożegnanie z czerwienią”, a w listopadzie 2008 r. drugi – “Maj to łagodny miesiąc”. Laureatka XI Tyskiej Zimy Poetyckiej – trzeci tomik “Rejestry” wydany w 2011, Biblioteka Tyskie Zimy Poetyckiej.

© L.Tietjen

Ewa Beata Mościcka, born in 1972. Ewa made her literary debut in 2005 with a book of poetry „Today I am” published by the Cultural Center in Lomianki/IBIS Publishing Company. Has also featured in almanacs, anthologies, poetry sheets and press titles. Photo exhibitions: „Today I am here” – individual exhibition; „Our walk in Kazimierz Dolny” – joint exhibition. Associated with artistic groups KORALE i E7. Her website can be found here.

Genowefa Jakubowska-Fijałkowska born 1946 in Mikolowo. Author of five volumes of poetry – in 2010, she published the collection “and then your fever will pass“. . Press debut in 1972 in “Odra”. Between 1970-80 she published her work in leading literary Polish periodicals. 1994 saw the publication of her first volume of poetry LIFE SENTENCE. 1994-2006 sees publications in, among others, “Akcent”, “Fraza”, “Magazyn Kulturalny”, “Arkusz”, “Opcje”, “Arkadie”, “Topos”, “Śląsk”, “Twórczość”, “Kwartalnik Artystyczny”, “Zeszyty Literackie” and on-line. Radio Katowice has adapted her poems for a series of radio plays. In 2006 receives the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage grant. Still residing in Mikolowo.

Piotr Czerwinski born 1972. Journalist and columnist. A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of Warsaw University. Has worked for the past 12 years in the media, including „Express Wieczorny”, the Polish edition of “Maxim”, “Cosmopolitan” and “Playboy” (as a columnist). In 2005, he defended his thesis and the made his literary debut with the novel “Desecration”. Shortly thereafter, he left Poland. As a result, as they say, of a wonderful combination of accidents, he settled in Dublin.

Jakub Winiarski (born. 1974 and still living in Warsaw). Poet, writer, literary critic, creative writing tutor. Author of the following volumes: „Przenikanie darów” (1995),  „Obiektyw”  (1997), as well as the novels „Loquela” (2004), „Kronika widzeń złudnych” (2004). Currently working on a novel with the working title “Calm the dogs inside me”. Following some dozen years of waiting, he has another collection of poems ready to see the light of day: “Songs from an old heart”, from which the attached translations are taken. His official website is here www.literatureissexy.pl

Piotr Siwecki, the author of two novels and two collections of poetry written in Polish and two novels written originally in English (Minimal Bios; In Residual Shape). He is also a critic, translator (English, Russian) and performer (his latest performance project is procesual describing of European bios including different techniques e.g. publishing books, public drawings, loud readings, long walks through the streets of European towns with books in each pocket). He has been published widely in Polish literary magazines: Borussia, Portret, Pracownia, Twórczość. His novel was broadcast by Polish Radio (2000).

Tomasz Hrynacz born 1971. Poet. He debiuted in 1997 with a volume of poetry „Zwrot o bliskość” („Studium”, Kraków 1997). Author of seven collections of poetry, the most recent being “Prędka przędza” (Wydawnictwo “Forma”, Szczecin- Bezrzecze 2010). His poetry has  appeared in numerous literary publications in Poland, including „brulion”, „Kresy”, „Odra”, Twórczość”, „Res Publica Nowa”, „Fronda”, „Czas Kultury” and abroad: in England, Czech Rep., USA, Canada, Serbia, France and Croatia. He has been translated into numerous languages, including Croat, German, English, French and Serb. He lives in Świdnica in the Silesian region of Poland.

Tomasz Ososiński – student of German and Classical Literature, assistant at the Institute of Old Imprints at the National Library and the Higher School of Linguistics. Specialises in the history of the German Romantic movement and incunabulism. Has published neo-Latin literature and has written on the concept of irony in the work of Friedrich Schlegel. Has translated widely from Latin and German, including the works of Gottfried Benn, Friedrich Schlegel, Johann Georg Hamann, Rainer Maria Rilke, Judith Hermann, Renate Schmidgall and Jan Wagner. Winner of numerous literary prizes (including the Sulkowski Prize in Lodz).

Joanna Lech, born 1984, Poet, writer, author of the volume „Zapaść” (Biblioteka Arterii, Łódź 2009). Winner of numerous national poetry competitions, published widely including the print journals Opcje, Studium, Tygiel Kultury, Akcent, Wyspa, Ósmy arkusz Odry, Portret, Topos, Gazeta Wyborcza, Czas Kultury and the literary magazine Red. Graduate of the Literary-Arts faculty of Jagiellonian University, Krakow. Orignally from Rzeszow, currently living and working in Krakow. www.joannalech.pl

Joanna Lech, ur. 1984 r. Poetka, prozaiczka, autorka tomu „Zapaść” (Biblioteka Arterii, Łódź 2009). Laureatka wielu ogólnopolskich konkursów poetyckich, w tym nagród głównych w XIII konkursie im. Jacka Bierezina w Łodzi i VI konkursie im. R. M. Rilkego w Sopocie. Publikowała m.in. w Opcjach, Studium, Tyglu Kultury, Akcencie, Wyspie, Ósmym arkuszu Odry, Portrecie, Toposie, Gazecie Wyborczej, Czasie Kultury oraz w czasopiśmie  literackim Red. Absolwentka Studium Literacko-Artystycznego przy Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim. Pochodzi z Rzeszowa, od kilku lat mieszka i pracuje w Krakowie. www.joannalech.pl