Jason Mashak (b. 1973) grew up in Michigan and lived in Georgia, Tennessee, and Oregon before following family roots to Central/Eastern Europe in 2006.

After a decade in sales and running his own small businesses, Mashak earned degrees to be a secondary-level English educator. Currently, he works as a Senior Manager in marketing communications, public relations (PR), and analyst relations (AR).

His first poetry book, Salty as a Lip, was listed among Black Heart Magazine's six "Most Kick-Ass Books of 2010," and he has been a featured writer in many print and online publications, as well as at several international poetry festivals:

• 2013 – Ars Poetica (Bratislava, Slovakia)
• 2011 – Protimluv Fest (Ostrava, Czech Republic)
• 2010 – Ostrovy bez Hranic Festival (Olomouc, Czech Republic)
• 2010 – Prague Microfestival (Prague, Czech Republic)
• 2006 – Wordstock/Poetland (Portland, Oregon, USA)

When not working, reading, or spending time with his wife and daughters, he sometimes writes and records songs.

Mashak has been a songwriter/vocalist/guitarist since the early '90s for bands Liquid Velvet, Deacon Jones, and The Steppers (Georgia); Seldomfence (Oregon); and Argonauti (Czech Republic).

Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/jasonmashak