Short Summary

I'm Breena Clarke, author of the novels River, Cross My Heart and Stand The Storm. I'm working with my sister, the incomparable poet, educator and activist, Cheryl Clarke to create a community, an opportunity, a celebratory Festival of Women Writers in Hobart, NY, the book village of the Catskills. On the weekend of September 6,7, 8, 2013, we are bringing fifteen women writers to the beautiful and inspirational Catskills mountain community of Hobart, which is distinguished as THE reading capitol of New York State and is home to six unique, independently owned bookstores. In the rapidly changing landscape of book publishing and promotion, women writers are often marginalized. We would like the women we've invited to the first Festival of Women Writers to be honorably compensated for their readings and workshops and accomodated comfortably in this lovely environment. This will be a weekend for creative renewal, commerce, and community.    

Often women do not priortize their creative work. Most of the time there is no "extra" for the writer to attend a weekend like the one we are planning. We want to help these very exciting writers to set aside a weekend to celebrate their creative lives. We want to bring them to beautiful Hobart, NY. We want to facilitate connections between the writers and the many people who will attend their readings and workshops.   

We need help to provide food, lodging, and honoraria to the fifteen participating writers. We need your financial contribution to match the public funds we have received. We want as well to assist some participants who must travel from beyond the area.

We are building for the future of The Festival of Women Writers. You can show us that you are with us -- that you want to expand opportunities for women writers to reach their readers, sell their books, establish relationships with independent book sellers, and enrich their lives in this extraordinary setting.  

WE CAN USE ALL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALL FUNDS COLLECTED WILL BE USED DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL'S PARTICIPATING WRITERS.

Please help us with your contribution and please help by spreading the word.