National Poetry Month was established eleven years ago by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry, and is commemorated every April.
The concept: to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media-to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our poetic heritage, and to poetry books and magazines.
The Hudson Valley Writers’ Center first began as the Sleepy Hollow Poetry Series (at the Warner Library) and then broadened into a comprehensive Writers’ Center which includes the Slapering Hol Press, one of the few small presses to present chapbooks by promising poets who have not previously published in book form. Since 1990, the Slapering Hol Press has conducted a national competition and publishes one or more of the most outstanding manuscripts from an average of over 300 submissions (entry deadline for the 2007 competition is May 15, visit www.writerscenter.org for more details)
With our roots in poetry we always enjoy putting on a terrific month of poetry readings in April. Beginning a bit early, we start with two poets, Mary Kaiser, the 2006 Slapering Hol Press chapbook competition winner, and David Petruzelli of New York City, who will read at the Center on Sunday March 25. The following Sunday we officially kick off National Poetry Month, on April 1, by celebrating two of our very own instructors at the Center-Suzanne Cleary and Rebecca McClanahan-both of whom have new published poetry collections
On April 13, join us for Second Friday Café-our monthly poetry reading-for The Laureate Readings, where we will welcome past and present poets laureate. Join Stephen Stepanchev (Queens, NY 1997-2000), Brenda Conner-Bey (Greenburgh, NY) and Jackie Sheeler (Rikers Island, NY) for this truly unique and special event.
For further information on events, readings and workshops, call the Writers’ Center at (914) 332-5953 or visit online at www.writerscenter.org. We hope to see you at the Center soon!
