Hanz Olson is a poet born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. He earned a BA in English from the University of Wyoming where he was the recipient of an undergraduate creative writing award for poetry. His poems have appeared on Uut Poetry, in Flag and Void, Alt Poetics, and in a couple of pamphlets issued by Greying Ghost Press. Carried by the old echoes of detected planets tinkering next to their summit ceasefire or the boarded up down towns of Wyoming, his aim is that each poem should resonate on some level; that each should be personal having come from somewhere with a listener in mind.

The Madtown Poetry Open Mic, hosted by Ron Czerwien at Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, welcomes all forms of poetry. Each month a featured reader is showcased for 15-20 minutes, followed by the open mic. Readers in the open mic are invited to read their original work for up to five minutes. Sign up starts at 7:00pm and the event begins at 8:00pm.

For over ten years Ron hosted poetry readings as well as an open mic at Avol's Bookstore in Madison. His poems have appeared both on-line and in print journals. His manuscript, "The Office of Uncomfortable Admissions," received an honorable mention in the Concrete Wolf Chapbook Contest. Ron serves on the board of The Council for Wisconsin Writers, and sells used and out-of-print books on-line under the name Avol's Books LLC. If you have questions about the open mic, call Ron at 608-255-4730, or email him at avols@chorus.net.