Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader Mary Clare Powell

Belding Memorial Library 344 Main Street, Ashfield, United States

Here’s how it works: The featured writer reads recent work and describes the journey to publication, followed by Q & A. Then the floor opens to other writers, who can read for five minutes each; we also draw two names for 10-minute readings. If you want to read, put your name in the hat before 2:15. Featured Reader Read More

Writers Night Out – Featured Reader Patrick Donnelly

The Basement

OPEN MIC & FEATURED READER Every month we host a  different guest Author to be our evenings Featured Reader. The Featured Reader reads from their writing and shares their experience as a Writer. THE BASEMENT - 21 Center Street, Northampton, MA  If you’d like a chance to read, place your name in the hat up until Read More

Voices for Resistance – a Celebration

Forbes Library Coolidge Museum, 20 West Street, Northampton, 01060

Confirmed readers include: Andrea Hairston, Chivas Sandage, Christopher J. Sparks, Doug Anderson, Ilina Singh, India Smith, John Sheirer, Kent Alexander, Lanette Sweeney, Maria Luisa Arroyo,  Marya Zilberberg, Mary Warren Foulk, Nicole M. Young,  Patrick Donnelly, & Theresa Vincent

Roundtable Discussion – Summer Goals

Lilly Library 19 Meadow Street, Florence, MA, United States

Come join a roundtable to discuss your hopes and challenges in writing during the busy summer months. We will converse and share fellow writers’ ways and working routines as well as share ideas on maneuvering through difficult schedules. At the end of the discussion, participants will be asked to set a writing goal for the Read More

Literary Rendezvous Open Mic/Featured Reader

The Rendezvous 78 3rd Street, Turners Falls, MA

Dina Stander is a practitioner of radical kinship. Her favorite day jobs have been a school bus driver and hospital chaplain. Her first book of poems 'Old Bones & True Stories was published in 2018 (Human Error Publishing). She is an end-of-life navigator, a nondenominational Celebrant, and maker of burial shrouds. You can read her sporadic blog posts Read More

Writers Night Out – Featured Reader Howard Faerstein

The Basement

Featured reader - Howie Faerstein Howard Faerstein’s first book of poetry, Dreaming of the Rain in Brooklyn, was published in 2013 by Press 53. A second collection, Googootz, and Other Poems came out in September 2018. His work can be found in numerous journals including Great River Review, Nimrod, CutThroat, Off the Coast, Rattle, upstreet, Read More

Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader Christian McEwen

The Basement

July 7 Writers Read/Hilltowns Christian McEwen is a freelance writer, workshop leader, and cultural activist, originally from the UK. She is the author of several books, including World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down, now in its sixth printing. Her new book, Legal Tender: Women & the Secret Life of Money, appeared in April 2019. Read More

Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader Amy Laprade

The Basement

Featured Reader - Amy Laprade An MFA Graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Amy Laprade’s work has appeared inSilkworm, Canyon Voices, Plum Literary Journal and Meat for Tea: the Valley Review. Her debut novel, “So Nice to Finally Meet You,” 2016, and “Behind the Magic 8 Ball,”2018, have been published through human Error Press. “Silence is Read More

Writers Night Out – Featured Reader Joan Livingston

The Basement

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers. The first two books in her Isabel Long mystery series are Chasing the Case and Redneck’s Revenge (Crooked Cat Books). Checking the Traps has a 2019 release. Her other books include The Sweet Spot and Peace, Love & You Know What. A journalist Read More

Writers Night Out – Featured Reader James Arthur

The Basement

Canadian-American poet James Arthur is the author of The Suicide’s Son (Véhicule Press 2019) and Charms Against Lightning (Copper Canyon Press, 2012.) His poems have also appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The New York Review of Books, The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, and The London Review of Books. He has received the Read More

Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader Trish Crapo

The Basement

Trish Crapo - Poet, writer, collage artist, and photographer Trish Crapo was educated at Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Author of the recently republished chapbookWalk through Paradise Backwards from Slate Roof Press (2004 and 2018), she has had work featured in former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser’s syndicated newspaper column, “American Life Read More

Writers Night Out – Featured Reader Andrea Hairston

The Basement

Andrea Hairston is a playwright and novelist. She is author of Will Do Magic For Small Change, a finalist for the Mythopoeic, Lambda, and Tiptree Awards, a Massachusetts Must Read, and a New York Times Editor’s pick. Her other novels include: Redwood and Wildfire, winner of the Tiptree and Carl Brandon Awards, and Mindscape, winner Read More

Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader D. Dina Friedman

Ashfield Community Hall , 521 Main Street, Ashfield, MA

D. Dina Friedman has received two Pushcart Prize nominations and published in many literary journals including Lilith, Negative Capability, The Sun, Common Ground Review, San Pedro River Review, Steam Ticket, New Plains Review, Blue Stem, Red Booth Review, Bloodroot, Anderbo, and Rhino. Dina is also the author of two award-winning young adult novels, Escaping Into the Read More

Annual Meeting 2019

Lilly Library 19 Meadow Street, Florence, MA, United States

Come join us for our annual meeting. This is a time to have the community come together and discuss ways in which Straw Dog can further support the writing community in Western MA.  

Writers Read/Hilltowns – Featured Reader Janet MacFayden

Janet MacFadyen is the author of four poetry collections, including Waiting to Be Born (Dos Madres Press 2017), In the Provincelands (Slate Roof 2012), and A Newfoundland Journal (Killick Press 2009). Her work has been nominated for the Forward Prize (UK) and two Pushcarts. It also has been anthologized in 50/50: Poems and Translations by Women over 50, and has appeared in The Atlanta Read More

Straw Dog Writers Guild