Six Ft. Swells Press began in 2005 on a moonlit night with a cluster of three barstools, many dollars in the jukebox and an open tab. Three friends & After Hours poets–Matt Amott, Todd Cirillo, and Julie Valin–were talking about how poetry can be fun and more accessible to the “everyperson.” After many notes and poems scribbled on cocktail napkins and the shout of last call, Six Ft. Swells Press was born with the mission of bringing our brand of After Hours poetry to truck stops, bowling alleys, bars, couch surfers, soccer moms, and everyone in between. And to have fun while doing it. We believe our poetry readings are a reason for friends to get together and celebrate what the written word can do–with the best music playing, and rounds of the best adult beverages flowing….

Todd Cirillo is co-founder and editor of Six Ft. Swells Press and one of the originators of the After-Hours Poetry movement. His latest books are Three for the Road (co-authored with Wolfgang Carstens and Rob Plath, 2018), Burning the Evidence (Epic Rites Press, 2017). Other books include; Sucker’s Paradise, Sexy Devils, Still a Party, This Troubled Heart, Everybody Knows the Dice are Loaded, ROXY (co-authored with Bill Gainer and Will Staple) among others. Todd is widely known for his poetry performances. He has been published in numerous national and international publications and on cocktail napkins everywhere. Todd lives in New Orleans, Louisiana and can be found soaking his pirate heart in second lines and smiling under the neons searching for shiny moments. You can find books, videos, poems at toddcirillo.com 

Matt Amott is a poet, musician and photographer who rambles around the Pacific Northwest. He is co-founder and co-editor of Six Ft. Swells Poetry Press and has been published in numerous collections as well as two books of his own, THE COAST IS CLEAR (Six Ft. Swells Press) and GET WELL SOON (Epic Rites Press). You can view and purchase his art and photographs at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtByAmott​