Marty Achatz, a poet and storyteller with a unique perspective on life, love, and mystery, is celebrating the release of his latest collection, "A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders." It's a captivating volume that explores the human experience through the eyes of an unexpected character: Bigfoot. Achatz shared the inspiration behind his work and how this mythical figure became a vessel for exploring some of life’s most profound moments.
The character of Bigfoot first emerged in a surprising way. “The first Bigfoot poem I ever wrote was actually an anniversary poem for my wife,” he says, chuckling at the memory. Though initially intended as a single piece, the poem sparked a creative journey. Achatz found himself revisiting Bigfoot as a character and eventually realized he was building a collection of poems that followed this figure’s view of the world—an outsider’s perspective that mirrored humanity’s deepest emotional and psychological journeys.
Bigfoot, in this context, becomes more than a cryptid; he is a mirror reflecting human nature, a creature unburdened by the pretenses and facades we often maintain. “Bigfoot is emotionally much smarter than most humans,” Achatz explains. “There’s no façade, no pretenses; he’s just fully himself.” Through this honest lens, A Bigfoot Bestiary examines themes of love, loss, grief, and resilience.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Marty about his book:
Achatz says that this character and the mystical world he inhabits serve as a way of exploring humanity’s collective challenges and curiosities. “Bigfoot came to be a huge, hairy metaphor for all the things human beings grapple with—love, grief, addiction, death.” Through these poems, Bigfoot becomes a guide, a figure who helps readers navigate complex emotions while maintaining a sense of curiosity about life’s mysteries.
As he reflects on the broader themes of the book, Achatz shares a favorite quote from anthropologist Jane Goodall: “An element of mystery in life is very, very important.” For Achatz, Bigfoot represents this mystery, embodying the quiet, sometimes overlooked layers of human experience.
Through "A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders," Marty Achatz invites us to consider what it means to be human, using Bigfoot as an unexpected lens to capture the poetic and humorous complexities of our lives. He’ll be sharing these insights, along with readings from the book, at an upcoming event that promises to blend humor and contemplation—just as Bigfoot himself would.
You can join Marty at the Peter White Public Library on Thursday, November 7th from 6:30 to 8 pm for his book release, where Bigfoot may even make an appearance. The free event takes place in the Community Room. Find more information on the Facebook event page here.
