Connor Bjotvedt

Connor Bjotvedt, a Tucson-based public school teacher, is an accomplished poet and scholar. He earned his MFA in Writing from Spalding University in 2018 and a BA in English, Literature, and Creative Writing from Northern Arizona University in 2016. During his time at Northern Arizona, he participated in the local reading series The Narrow Chimney and won the Charles E. Bull Creative Writing Scholarship for Poetry. At Spalding, he published his academic thesis The Politics of Storytelling: Narrative Bias in Maurice Manning's The Common Man and his creative thesis A Contemporary Portrait of the Southwest. For over a decade, Connor has refined his approach to haiku, transforming the traditional form into experimental micro-poetry and dramatic verse. His creative influences include poets Richard Brautigan and Malena Mörling and songwriters such as Scott Hutchison and Sean Bonnette. Connor's writing reflects a commitment to exploring themes of deurbanization, decolonization, faith, and love, while celebrating the richness of the American Southwest. Through his innovative approach to poetry and storytelling, Connor strives to create art that challenges conventions and uplifts marginalized perspectives, leaving a lasting impression on readers and the literary world alike.