My life and my 2023 would not have
been the same without my friend Igor Bjorn Brezhnev, the publisher and
co-founder of Lightship Press.
Bjorn is a tireless supporter of poets and writers locally. I first became aware of
him when he hosted a weekly open mic at the Rocking Frog that included multiple
features and a very democratic process of deciding who would read in the open
mic. He picked names from a hat.
Since
then Bjorn has organized great series and individual readings at Rose City Book
Pub, CoHo Theatre, Birdhouse Books, and elsewhere.
Bjorn is
determined to get poets paid, and puts all of himself into organizing and
executing many events in the community. We should not have to work for free.
What we do can be both a vocation as well as a profession if we believe in it
enough to treat it that way. I respect Bjorn for his determination to raise money
for poets to de remunerated for their time and hard work.
I could
not be more proud of my Voracity, my book from Lightship Press, edited by Sam
Preminger and designed by Igor Bjorn Brezhnev in December 2022.
 |
| Lightship Press cofounders Bjorn Brezhnev and Sam Preminger at The Haven PDX |
Many of
us owe a debt of gratitude to Bjorn for all he has done to make the greater
Portland metropolitan area and Ghost Town, USA safe for poetry.
Why not
show your support in a more tangible way and contribute to Bjorn’s Patreon.
Bjorn is
also available for consulting or you can buy
one of his books. I love his epic “nights since” series.
Support
Living Artists ‘Cause the Dead Ones Don’t Need it!
