Mountain Writers Series

Mountain Writers Series began as a literary arts program in 1973 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. Over the years, the popular campus readings evolved as central to a network of literary arts sponsors in the Northwest. MWS, now an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is a comprehensive organization that serves as the hub of literary partnerships for a network of over 90 sponsors.

MWS features authors of regional, national, and international reputation in a variety of events including readings, lectures, workshops, and master classes presented in diverse venues and formats throughout the region. Known for the quality and diversity of writers it features, MWS has included Nobel Laureates, MacArthur Fellows, US Poet Laureates, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and many other award winning authors. MWS also introduces writers with emerging reputations and promotes cultural diversity by hosting writers whose work reflects ethnic minority voices and special interests.

In addition to bringing writers from outside the Northwest, MWS promotes and supports writers who reside in the region by scheduling them for events or by actively promoting them and their work in other parts of the country.

MWS Programs are:

• MWS Readings at The Press Club : evening readings in Southeast Portland, Held regularly on the third Wednesday of the month and at other times for special guest appearances. Requested donation for these readings is $5.
• MWS Midday Readings: daytime readings usually held on community college campuses, with free or low ticket prices ($2-3), which are popular among students and seniors.
• MWS Northwest Regional Residencies: involve cooperative scheduling with sponsors in Oregon, Washington, and beyond to send writers to rural communities, guaranteeing artists interaction with audiences not usually accessible during the usual book tours and fostering literary community beyond major Northwest cities.
• MWS Workshops: These 8-week or short intensive workshops, offered quarterly for a variety of genres and levels, cultivate an on-going literary community among individuals interested in writing.
• Link to Conference pageMWS Columbia Gorge Writers Conference will have its inaugural conference in June 2009.
• MWS at Wordstock