Famous Nigerian author Chinua Achebe is among the 76 writers reflecting on the literary life, the craft of writing, and the beauty of the Hudson Valley in a great collection, River of Words: Portraits of Hudson Valley Writers.

"May has assembled an astonishing collection of portraits. What's particularly cool is that they are truly story-telling--they grab you and compel you to actually want to read the work of the writers she photographed--this is no small thing in a busy world saturated with imagery. This book gives us not only a revealing visual record of just how rich the Hudson Valley is in talent, but also a treasure map to a lifetime's worth of great works." --Doug Menuez, photographer

"A book of great beauty and emotion, at once revealing and painfully intimate. Nina Shengold's deceptively easy conversational tone, coupled with the powerful black and white photos by Jennifer May, provides an instant connection--you feel you are in the same room with their subject while the interview is taking place." --Frank Juliano, Executive Director, The Hudson Valley Writers' Center and Slapering Hol Press