Edward Jerzy Stachura, pseudonym "Sted" (born August 18, 1937 in Charvieu, died July 24, 1979 in Warsaw) – Polish poet, prose writer, singer and translator, laureate of the Kościelski Foundation Award (1972); lived in France until November 1948. In January 1967, he came to the Kotla commune at the invitation of his friend Jan Czopik-Leżachowski. His stay in Kotla and the surrounding area provided many observations later used in the novel Siekierezada or Winter of the Forest People. He made notes consolidating the material for the future novel – he wrote down ideas and conversations of lumberjacks, sketched descriptions and reflections, and planned further preparatory activities. The background of the novel, which was published in 1971, were the surrounding forests and villages: Grochowice and Kotla (hidden under the names Bobrowice and Hopla). The prototypes of the characters were local inhabitants and forest workers (including Władysław Majdański and Michał Serediuk).