The view looking north from U.S.1. at dawn.
WHO WE ARE
The Key West Literary Seminar is a non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration of the written word and the support of American writers. Established in 1983, the Seminar explores a different literary theme each January, bringing acclaimed writers and readers from all over the world together in this historic island city. Four days of readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions, and parties add up to an event that is one of today's smartest and most high-spirited literary gatherings. Our Writers' Workshop Program is led by esteemed faculty and provides writers at all stages of development with various opportunities to explore the craft of writing. We present three annual awards to emerging writers, and we provide financial assistance to teachers, librarians, students, and writers who would not otherwise be able to attend. Our Audio Archives Project makes unique presentations by some of the world's most influential writers freely available online for use by educators, students, and readers worldwide.
Our programs are small and intimate: this is our delight, our charm, our joy, and the secret of our success. Attendance at the Seminar is limited to about 375 people: this is a full house in the theater of our home at the San Carlos Institute, one of Florida's most beautiful and historic landmarks. Our writers' workshops are limited to between 8 and 12 participants to ensure individual attention. They take place at various locations throughout Key West's unique old town neighborhood, never far from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, the library, and good places to eat, drink, or catch a movie.
An island of only five square miles, nearer to Havana than Miami, Key West has one of the most intriguing literary heritages of any place in America. Whether drawn by the climate or its famed anything-goes atmosphere, many of the greatest writers of the modern era have called Key West home. Ernest Hemingway wrote To Have and Have Not from his house here on Whitehead Street. Elizabeth Bishop worked on North and South from her place near the corner of White and Southard. Many of Wallace Stevens's poems from Harmonium and Ideas of Order were influenced by his stays at the Casa Marina hotel, where he walked on the beach with Robert Frost. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan Street and partied with Truman Capote. Richard Wilbur and James Merrill lived in old town just a few blocks from one another, and played a regular game of anagrams with John Hersey. And the list goes on: Ann Beattie, Judy Blume, Annie Dillard, and Robert Stone are just a handful of the writers who continue to make a home in Key West. It is a special place. We hope you will join us here soon.
For information about past seminars click here.
President: Lynn Kaufelt
Executive Director: Miles Frieden
Media Director: Arlo Haskell
2011 Program Chair: Nancy Klingener
2012 Program Chair: James Gleick
Seminar Officers
Lynn Kaufelt, President
Nancy Klingener, Vice President
Mary Grusin, Secretary
Diane Shelby, Treasurer
Board of Directors
Michael Blades, Judy Blume, Cynthia Crossen, Peyton Evans, Miles Frieden, Judith
Gaddis, James Gleick, Mary Grusin, Lynn Kaufelt, Nancy Klingener, Liz
Lear, Susan Mesker, Diane Shelby
Honorary Directors
Jimmy Buffett, Ross Claiborne, Annie Dillard, David Ethridge, Dan Gerber, Lynn Harding, Rosemary Jones, David Kaufelt (Founder), Mariane Lancaster, Trude Lash, Alison Lurie, Kevin McCarthy, Thomas McGuane, Bob Muens, Peg Murphree, Jane O'Reilly, Robert Richardson, Phyllis Rose, Frederick Ruffner, Robert Stone, Jean Trebbi, Richard Wilbur, Joy Williams, David Wolkowsky.
Administrative Assistant
Alan Kelly-Hamm
Website Design
Key West Literary Seminar • 718 Love Lane • Key West, Florida • 33040
Summer Administrative Office • 55 Glade Lane • Black Mountain, North Carolina • 28711
Telephone: 1-888-293-9291
E-mail: general inquiries: mail@kwls.org
For media or technical inquiries: arlo@kwls.org
The Key West Literary Seminar is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation run by a board of directors. Much of the work is accomplished through volunteer effort. We are grateful to Joyce Johnson, Peyton Evans and The Rodel Charitable Foundation-Florida, and The Dogwood Foundation for providing the endowments which support our awards and financial assistance program; and to Judy Blume's KIDS Fund for financial assistance to teachers and librarians. The Dogwood Foundation also provides substantial ongoing financial support. Many anonymous donations support the Seminar. The John Hersey Memorial Address is supported by a private donation. The Tourist Development Council of Monroe County provides financial assistance for advertising and publicity. Our Audio Archives Project is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.