Honoring Our First, A Tribute to Stephan Silich and The Journey That Started It All

Part 1 of our "Celebrating Our Authors" tribute series

There are moments in a publisher's journey that define everything that comes after. For the Brooklyn Writers Press, that moment came in 2018 when we published The Silence Between What I Think and What I Say by Stephan Silich—our very first title and the beginning of what would become a remarkable seven-year partnership.

But the real story began nearly two decades earlier.

"All Art Should Be Free"

When I first met Stephan and asked if he would ever publish his work, his response was immediate and firm: "All art should be free." He seemed perfectly content gifting hand-bound collections to close friends and family, sharing his poetry in the most intimate way possible.

I never thought the day would come when he would agree to have his work published. Fortunately for me, for the Brooklyn Writers Press, and for every reader who has discovered his poetry, that day finally arrived—it just took nearly twenty years to get there.

The Power of Fatherhood

What changed Stephan's mind wasn't time alone, though time certainly played its part. It was love—specifically, his love for his daughters, Emma and Mia. Becoming a devoted father shifted his perspective on legacy, on the permanence of words, and on the gift that published poetry could become for his children.

I can imagine them years into the future, finding hope and love and comfort in their father's words. What better gift can a father leave for his children than his authentic voice, preserved forever in beautifully crafted books?

A Voice Worth Preserving

Stephan's poetry possesses a rare quality—it's at once fresh and familiar, tender and thoughtful, endearing and haunting. His words carry readers back to the innocence of childhood, through the fragile yearnings of love, and gently guides them forward to the preoccupations of adulthood and parenthood. Finally, they lift the spirit while placing readers mindfully into the center of their own mortality.

This is the voice that has sustained five published collections and continues to create new work that will become books six, seven, and eight in our ongoing partnership.

From "Free" to "Freed"

While Stephan once firmly believed that art should be free, I've always held a different belief: that art should be freed.

There's a profound difference between keeping beautiful work locked away and setting it free to find its readers, to comfort strangers, to inspire other writers, and to create the kind of lasting impact that only published literature can achieve.

The Collections That Built Our Foundation

"The Silence Between What I Think and What I Say" (2018) Our inaugural title that launched the Brooklyn Writers Press and introduced readers to Stephan's distinctive voice.

Tonight Will Be the Longest Night of Them All A deeper exploration of time, mortality, and the moments that define our lives.

Putting the Trembling Kiss at Ease Poetry that captures the vulnerability and beauty of human connection.

Remember Me as A Time of Day Reflections on memory, presence, and the fleeting nature of human experience.

How Impossibly Beautiful Everything Really Is Stephan's 6th collection How Impossibly Beautiful Everything Really Is is in pre-production.

The Honor of Partnership

Working with Stephan has been one of the greatest privileges of my publishing career. He trusted me with work he had protected for decades, allowing the Brooklyn Writers Press to transform his private gift into published art that reaches readers around the world.

Each collection has been crafted with the same care and attention to detail that Stephan puts into his poetry. From the cover design that captures the essence of his words to the interior layout that honors the rhythm and flow of his verses, every element reflects our commitment to creating books that are as beautiful as the poetry they contain.

The Ripple Effect

Stephan's willingness to become our first published author created ripples that continue to this day. His trust in the Brooklyn Writers Press gave us the foundation to build our reputation for publishing award-winning, visually stunning, and expertly crafted books. Every author who has followed has benefited from the standard of excellence that Stephan helped us establish.

Looking Forward

With book six in pre-production and books seven and eight already written, our partnership with Stephan continues to evolve. Each new collection brings fresh insights, deeper wisdom, and the kind of mature artistry that comes from a poet who has found his voice and his purpose.

A Publisher's Gratitude

As I reflect on the journey from that first conversation about free art to holding Stephan's fifth published collection, I'm filled with gratitude.

Grateful he changed his mind about publishing. Grateful he trusted the Brooklyn Writers Press with his life's work. Grateful his daughters will have these beautiful books as a permanent testament to their father's artistic vision.

But mostly, I'm grateful that Stephan allowed his art to be freed—because in freeing his poetry, he helped free the Brooklyn Writers Press to become the publisher we are today.

To Stephan: Thank you for being our first. Thank you for trusting us with your words. Thank you for showing us what it means to publish poetry with purpose and heart. Your voice has been the foundation upon which everything else was built, and we couldn't be more honored to continue this journey together.

Next in our "Celebrating Our Authors" series: We'll honor the fiction that has captivated readers and established Brooklyn Writers Press as a publisher of compelling narratives.