Ali F. Bilir

Who is Ali F. Bilir?

Ali F. Bilir is a poet, author and critic, and an active member of Turkish Authors Association. He attended the School of Medicine for a year, but graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Istanbul, in 1969.

During his university years, he worked part-time at a tourist youth hostel in Istanbul as a reception clerk and later as a manager. In 1967, as an adventure, he toured Europe and North Africa, mainly on foot. For a while, he lived in Essex and London to improve his English language skills, doing odd jobs such as picking fruit from trees, washing dishes and serving as a waiter at restaurants. He participated in the student and youth movements of 1968.

His poems, short stories and articles on various subjects have been published in local, regional, national, and international periodicals, magazines, and journals. His work has won many awards. Ali F. Bilir's last poetry book "Migration Ballads" is being granted by the Turkish government as one of the significant examples of Turkish written heritage. Migration Ballads is published by Plain View Press, U.S.A, in 2008, within the scope of TEDA project.

Ali F. Bilir is also a member of Turkish Authors Association, Turkish Writers Syndicate, Big Bend Poets chapter of the Florida State Poets Association.