Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance

Founded in 1975 by a group of writers and publishers, the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance (MWPA) works to enrich the literary life and culture of Maine. We bring together Maine writers, editors, publishers, booksellers, and literary professionals at all stages of their careers to sharpen craft, create community, and celebrate great writing. The MWPA fosters a greater awareness and readership of Maine writers; builds networks of writers, readers, and publishers; creates opportunities for writers to improve their craft; and acts as the foremost authority on Maine literary news, keeping our members and the public alike engaged and informed. The MWPA has an active, growing membership of more than 1,600 writers, readers, and literary professionals from all sixteen counties of the state. Throughout the year, we offer statewide writing workshops, bring free workshops to under-resourced communities, and connect writers with opportunities and scholarships. We host free literary events, like the biennial Maine Lit Fest, and facilitate the annual Maine Literary Awards. It was early June 1975 when seven Maine writers signed the incorporation papers that founded the MWPA: Agnes Bushell, Miriam Dyak, David Empfield, Bruce Holsapple, Peter Kilgore, Lee Sharkey, and Lynn Siefert. On the occasion of the MWPA’s 20th anniversary, co-founder Agnes Bushell (of Littoral Books) recounted the organization’s early years in a piece entitled [“MWPA: Looking Back.”](https://www.mainewriters.org/s/MWPA-Looking-Back-essay.pdf) In October 2010, the MWPA received PEN New England’s prestigious Friend to Writers Award, which is given annually to just one individual and one organization. Thanks to the continued support of the University of the Southern Maine, the MWPA’s offices are housed within the [Glickman Family Library](http://usm.maine.edu/library/office-hours) on USM’s Portland Campus. The MWPA is committed to being a literary organization for all of Maine. The space we live and work in is unceded Wabanaki territory.