Welcome Sergey, Associate Marketing and Communication Intern
We are excited to announce the addition of Sergey Bielecki to our team as our associate marketing and communication intern.
Sergey is currently a senior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he is pursuing a double major in English and Psychology. His academic journey has been enriched by the mentorship of esteemed poet Yona Harvey, who has guided him in honing his craft and exploring the intricate relationship between language and emotion. Sergey is engaged in an honors capstone project under the guidance of poet John Hennessy, where he is delving into advanced literary concepts and developing his own unique voice as a writer.
Outside of his academic pursuits, Sergey has six years of experience working in the restaurant industry. This hands-on experience has not only provided him with valuable life skills but has also served as a source of inspiration for his writing. He describes his time working in kitchens by quoting chef and writer Anthony Bourdain: " I challenge the writer with writer's block to shuck oysters for six hours and then tell me writing is difficult." Sergey adds," it's not that writing is difficult but writing is a pleasure and privilege that not anyone can do, do well and use their resources even rarer. "With the constant drive that I developed in restaurants, I was able to find a passion and solace in writing."
Sergey's passion for storytelling is evident in his literary contributions; he has published poetry and fiction in a diverse array of literary journals, including publications such as Rye Whiskey Review, Ink Horn Review, Infoacoplyse, Bloodroot Magazine, and Blood Moon. As a capstone project in high school, he wrote a book titled Truth and Myth: Poems to Remember, (Amazon,2024) which is aimed at a teenage audience, addressing themes of identity, growth, and the complexities of youth through evocative poetry.
Sergey is also taking on the role of editor and creator for Polymnia, an online magazine whose inaugural issue is now live. He has contributed an interview with Richard Siken, a poet, painter, and filmmaker whose first book Crush (Yale University Press, 2005) won interviewthe 2004 Yale Series of Younger Poets prize. Sergey is excited to contribute to the literary community by curating works that reflect diverse voices and perspectives.
In addition to his literary achievements, Sergey has engaged in research on Native American creative arts at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum in Hadley. This experience has deepened his understanding of cultural narratives and artistic expression, further enriching his perspective as both a writer and a communicator. He is now working on publishing a series of poems thought to be lost forever written by Elizabeth Porter Phelps.
Born in Russia, Sergey emigrated from St. Petersburg to America at the young age of five. This transition has profoundly influenced his worldview, and he expresses a desire to explore the complexities of the world, particularly as societal issues continue to evolve. He has a keen interest in visiting Paris, a city he admires for its rich cultural heritage and artistic legacy. Sergey articulates his yearning, "to meet new people and engage in meaningful conversations as the world goes from worse to terrible." When asked about individuals he would like to interview, whether living or deceased, he mentioned iconic figures such as writer Patti Smith, Anthony Bourdain, and chef Marco Pierre White. He admires these role models for their creative approaches to life, particularly noting, "They don't use life as a race, actively trying to race ahead of everything," highlighting his appreciation for a more contemplative and artistic existence.
In addition to his literary and academic endeavors, Sergey was a personal trainer at the UMass Rec Well Fitness Center. He fronts a hardcore band, where he's organized and publicized fundraiser shows for the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA and for those in need of help with hospital bills. Currently he is working on a new chapbook and hopes for his novella to go public soon.
Sergey will be interviewing exhibitors, writing for our blog, and posting to social media and helping to find new ways reach out to long-time and new book fair exhibitors and attendees. You should expect to hear frequently from him over the next two months. He'll also be helping out at the book fair in November: assisting at the admissions table, selling tickets, troubleshooting, and coordinating with exhibitors to ensure a safe, welcoming, and successful fair for booksellers, ephemera specialists, book artists, and local writers.
His diverse interests and experiences position him as a dynamic contributor to our team, and we look forward to seeing the impact he will make during his internship.
Mark Brumberg, 29 September, 2026
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