Born on January 7, 1946 in the town of Bosanski Petrovac in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he left as a refugee. Bahtijaragic graduated from the University of Sarajevo, where he majored in Southern Slav literature. He has worked as journalist for the Oslobodjenje (Liberation) newspaper house in Sarajevo and as a business publisher for numerous companies. He has written poetry, short stories for adults and children, literary criticisms and works of long prose. He has been published in a number of literary magazines, among which are Izraz (Expression), Putevi (Paths) and Bosna Press. His first novel, Krv u ocima (Blood in the Eyes), chronicles the tragic odyssey of the Bosniac population of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Footprings: Poetry and Threads of Poetical Impressision (Trafford, 2009), interweaves poetry and philosophical prose. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1994 and lives in North Vancouver.

AWARDS:
Blood in the Eyes - Best novel in Bosnia in 1999
Chernovs' Toil and Peace - Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize 2011

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Chernovs' Toil and Peace (Publish America 2011)
Footprints: Poetry and Threads of a Poetical Impression (Trafford, 2009)
Eyes to the Cold Cky, poetry; (Bosnian Word, 2004)
Bosnian Boomerang, novel; (Bosnian Word, 2001)
Blood in the Eyes, novel; (Bosnian Word, 1999)
Barren soil, poetry; (Zapis, 1982)
Skits for Cycles, poetry; (Oslobodjenje, 1971)

[BCBW 2011]