Ruth Danon, the Poet Laureate of Beacon and acclaimed author, continues her celebrated LiveWriting series at the historic Howland Cultural Center. This installment, titled “Poet-Publishers from Hudson Valley and Beyond,” features four distinguished literary figures who balance the creative act of writing with the vital work of independent publishing.

Curated and hosted by Danon, the evening will feature readings by Michael Broder, Stephen Motika, Elizabeth Murphy, and John Yau. Doors open at 7:00 PM.

The Featured Readers:

• Michael Broder is the author of the chapbooks Drug and Disease Free (Indolent Books, 2016) and This Life Now(A Midsummer Night’s Press, 2014). He is the founder and publisher of Indolent Books, a press dedicated to publishing work that is provocative, risky, and socially engaged.

• Stephen Motika serves as the director and publisher of Nightboat Books, one of the most respected independent poetry presses in the U.S. He is the author of the poetry collection Western Practice and several chapbooks, including Private Archive and Arrival and At Mono.

• Elizabeth Murphy is the director and publisher of Grid Books, an organization dedicated to publishing creative work from the margins, with a particular focus on older writers and artists. Her collection of poems, Little Prayers, was published by Pressed Wafer.

• John Yau is an award-winning poet, art critic, and curator who has published over 50 books of poetry, fiction, and criticism. His most recent book is Diary of Small Discontents (Omnidawn). Yau is also the publisher of Black Square Editions, known for its eclectic and avant-garde catalog.

The LiveWriting series is made possible, in part, with support from Poets & Writers and the New York State Council on the Arts.