Linda Bierds

Poet Linda Bierds reads new work alongside poet Terrance Hayes and New York Times bestseller Garth Stein with new music by lit metal band, BloodHag, at Gods and Monsters on February 19, 7:30 p.m.

Get your tickets now at brownpapertickets.com!

For more about Gods and Monsters, visit our Hugo Literary Series page.

News & Announcements

Now that we have a new Web site, we’re continuing our ascent into the 21st century with the launch of the Hugo Blog. On the blog, you'll find new writing from our Literary Series authors, guest blogs from writers Ryan Boudinot and Waverly Fitzgerald, book club discussion (We're reading George Saunders' "The Braindead Megaphone." Participate in the discussion through comments each Friday afternoon...

Welcome to Richard Hugo House

Fay GartenbergI first came to Hugo House when I was eleven, as a participant in the after-school writing program. Every Wednesday I would spend several hours reciting poets like Langston Hughes, Denise Levertov and W.H. Auden, while learning to compose my own poems with a writing mentor and five classmates. My apprehensive after-school walks to the program quickly became brisk and eager ones. Along with building confidence in my writing, I learned how the various literary forms could be vehicles for articulating my own messages.  

Over the years I have had several opportunities to facilitate others’ connections to Hugo House. During high school, I helped run programs for youth that provided an accessible place for them to take the reins of their literary creativity. Once I began college, I volunteered to help maintain a space where adults could create new work both for themselves and for sharing with others.

As a staff receptionist, I had the opportunity to welcome newcomers to the House. Some first-timers were what I came to think of as “closeted” writers and/or readers. Just as I had once been, they were apprehensive at first…tentative. I would take them on tours of the House or just remain at the desk engaging in long conversations about their literary interests and aspirations. My favorite part about welcoming new faces was finding out what compelled them to step inside–and then exploring how Hugo House could be a consistent space for them to experience the boundlessness of writing and reading.

           Fay Gartenberg, former Scribes student, employee and volunteer