[note: see March update at bottom]

deer frenz uv bill bissett,

We had a poetic idea. It was endorsed by lunarians. Now we ask for your earthly participation.

The Idea: We noticed each time we talked to bill bissett we learned something about ourselves. We listened to him and he inspired us to write. Sometimes we wrote poems about him. We imagined he must have the same effect on other poets. We thought, why not collect poems about bill from his friends and fellow poets? (pause: what a great idea!) We believe a range of insightful voices speaking about bill will create an intoxicating kaleidoscopic reflection-portrait almost as interesting and multi-faceted as bill.

The Endorsement: We presented the idea to bill for his blessing and this is what he wrote: "yr idea is brillyant love it fine totalee dont know tho if thers enuff around abt my work or me 2 make a book wud b way fun tho thanks a lot 4 yr brillyans raging happee trails mor as it cums in much love totalee n rockin love yu bill"

The Collection: We know bill is modest. Certainly we're not alone thinking he's inspired hundreds, if not thousands of electric/eclectic poems from friends all over the continent, if not galaxies beyond. We welcome you to send us your poem(s) about bill for consideration in this meaningful anthology. And, we encourage you to forward this email to as many friends of bill you think might want to write and submit a poem. We are looking for poems by poets, painters, songwriters, dancers, actors, waitresses, gas jockeys, bus drivers, movie house doormen... anyone who knows and loves and is inspired by bill.

The Logistics: We will be in touch with bill, seeking his guidance along the way. A visionary publisher will be chosen. We imagine a great book release reading party in bill's honour. Please submit your poem(s), list of people to contact, and willingness to participate in a timely manner (deadline: March 20, 2004) to: frenzuvbillbissett@hotmail.com

Many excellent and raging thanks!
Sincerely,
Jeff Pew and Stephen Roxborough,
Project bill Editors

March 1st Update:
Thanks to the following frenz uv bill bissett
who have either submitted
or are submitting to this tribute anthology:

Sandra Alland
Leanne Averbach
Margaret Avison
Kemeny Babineau
George Bowering
Di Brandt
Alice Breeze
Allen Briestmaster
Jim Brown
John Burgess
Stephen Cain
Sabine Campbell
Steve Clay
j.d. crosato
Lorna Crozier
Jason Dennie
John Donlan
M.A.C. Farrant
Candis Graham
Jane Eaton Hamilton
Lenore Herb
Mitch Highfill
Ellen S. Jaffe
Kedrick James
Adeena Karasick
Penn Kemp
Patrick Lane
Carol Malyon
rob mclennan
Susan McMaster
Diana McMullen
Jay MillAr
Gustave Morin
Wendy Morton
Susan Musgrave
Brian Nation
Sharon H. Nelson
P.K. Page
Hilary Peach
Carl Peters
D. Ross Priddle
Jamie Reid
Ali Riley
Linda Rogers
Stuart Ross
Ann Walsh
Rhondda Wilson
Sheri-d Wilson