River of Words

by Nina Shengold and photographs by Jennifer May, August 27, 2010

Seven years ago, I sent a personal essay about swimming to a Chronogram contest and got a phone call from editor Brian Mahoney, who (after gently informing me the contest was for fiction), asked whether I’d like to write profiles. My first assignment was New Yorker cartoonist Danny Shanahan, such a treat that I couldn’t believe I was going to get paid.

Soon after, Chronogram invited me to become its books editor. It’s been my privilege to profile more than 50 area writers, often working with photographer Jennifer May. While crossing the Hudson on one of many scenic drives to an interview, we started to dream about collaborating on a book. SUNY Press enthusiastically accepted our proposal for River of Words: Portraits of Hudson Valley Writers, and the real work began.

The Hudson Valley is home to thousands of writers, and choosing our 76 subjects was a daunting task. Jen and I wanted to offer a glimpse of the region’s astonishing literary diversity, including writers of all genres, of various ages and backgrounds, living in different parts of the river’s long watershed. She wanted great faces; I wanted great stories. At some point we realized we could include more people by interspersing the magazine-length profiles with single-page “minis.” Here is a selection of these shorter pieces and Jen’s eloquent portraits. Consider them amuse-bouches, a tasting sampler not only from River of Words but also from the magnificent bounty of the Hudson Valley’s literary feast.