Biography

Valerie A. Szarek is an award-winning performance Poet and Native American Flute player. Her poems are healing, present, political, and Shamanic, and cross between the seen and unseen worlds effortlessly. Her words, music and workshops are featured at festivals and events around Colorado, including the International Young Leadership Conference, The Mercury Cafe, The Telluride Literary festival, and Ziggie’s Poetry Festivals. She was named “Poet of the Year” Blissfest, 2018. Other awards: Colorado Author’s League best poem 2020, 2021 and 2022 plus The National Poetry Federation Winner’s Circle Award 2016. Valerie offers “Writing as Ceremony” workshops monthly. She has been a leather artisan for 50 years and owns Breezy Mountain Leather as well as a Shamanic Practitioner and energy healer with a private practice.