Dear Hudson Valley Writers Center (HVWC) Community, Happy April and Happy National Poetry Month! Many of you know that we celebrate all things poetry in April, but this year the celebration is more momentous than ever. 2026 marks the 30 th anniversary of National Poetry Month, an initiative launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. This April celebration has, over the years, grown to become one of the largest literary celebrations in the world. At the HVWC we

Participants from March's inaugural The People's Mic event Last Friday night (3/13) our storied Hudson Valley Writers Center made a bit more history as the site of the People's Mic, a monthly open mic series hosted by Westchester Poet Laureate, Phylisha Villanueva. Villanueva asked all performers to "write themselves into the room." Amid the sounds of the passing trains and the intro and outro music--expertly incorporated by Villanueva--participants read and recited poetry an

Though AWP can be an overwhelming 3-day juggernaut, we were inspired by panels, readings, literary journals and small presses--including our very own Slapering Hol Press--and by the community building done by arts nonprofit organizations across the country.

Slapering Hol Press Editors Susana H. Case, Mervyn Taylor, and Margo Taft Stever are pleased to announce that Slapering Hol Press , the small press imprint of the Hudson Valley Writers Center, recently published four volumes of translations of Chinese poems, organized and funded by Poetry Construction Literary Magazine of China and directed by poet Wang Jiaxin. These four poets are well known in China but are currently unknown in the United States. The mission of Slapering H

Dear Writers and Readers, I send you warm greetings from the Hudson Valley Writers Center and wanted you to be the first to know that the Conversations in Craft Lecture Series has returned for the winter/spring, with some of the most acclaimed writers in contemporary letters. These lectures are designed to explore the craft of writing: how do these literary legends do what they do? What can they teach us about language and form? What big ideas can we discuss and work out toge

Welcome to the winter/spring season of programming! Though fall has its own dedicated season, winter/spring spans two seasons that, when weather allows, feel distinct. There is the hunkering down and turning inward of winter—that quiet of the first snowfall and the darkness that, for a time, comes earlier each day. But then there is also the spring—the awakening and renewing, the greening of our favorite neighborhood trees.

As we enter this season of gratitude, I want to thank you for your support of the Hudson Valley Writers Center this year, and invite you to remember us in your end-of-year giving.

Photo: Thomas Brunot The Hudson Valley Writers Center is excited to announce the appointment of Beth Whitaker as its Executive Director, effective immediately. Beth Whitaker brings over 25 years of experience in writer-focused programming and organizational leadership at premier cultural institutions. As Executive Director, she will lead HVWC’s strategic vision and oversee all operations, including marketing, fundraising, and community engagement. Whitaker was selected throug

On November 1st, we proudly presented Luminations: Writing the Windows Project, an afternoon of original ekphrastic poetry from ten award-winning poets who wrote among—and about—Union Church's historic Chagall and Matisse windows.

The editors of Slapering Hol Press are proud to announce Gabriel Furshong's SURROUNDING THE COUNTRY A CHASM as the winner of the 2025 Chapbook Contest. Here is a complete list of honorees from this year's contest, with a poem from each manuscript. Winner SURROUNDING THE COUNTRY A CHASM Gabriel Furshong Gabriel Furshong is a father, writer, and teacher from Helena, Montana. A correspondent for Montana Quarterly, he also reports on politics for The Nation, High Country News,  

Photo: Margaret Fox We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who attended our Annual Benefit, “One Together In One Single Sky.” It...

The Hudson Valley Writers Center is proud to announce another successful year of Writers Express Youth Summer Camps.

As the new Program Director of HVWC I want to personally welcome all of you to our rapidly-approaching fall season! Since my April 1 start date, I have been busy curating a wide range of programming that I hope you will find inspiring and personally rewarding.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer, just getting started, or simply love literature, we hope this blog will help you stay informed and inspired.