NEWSLETTER
At Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Saturday, February 7, 1-4pm
Staatsburgh, N.Y. (1/27/26) - Staatsburgh’s Gilded Age mansion—filled with its original furniture, art and décor—is not only a historic gem but a fabulous setting for inspired writing. As we approach Valentine’s Day, the site will present a 3-hour, romance-writing workshop with seasoned author and editor, Alisa Kwitney. Participants will be guided through the process of writing an historical romance scene that reflects their desired perspective, using Staatsburgh and its compelling characters as inspiration.
A focused tour of the mansion, written prompts, site-specific settings, and some of the most popular tropes or scenarios from historical romance fiction are just some of the tools that will enable writers of all levels to create a written scene, leave with a better understanding of the mansion and of historical romance, and with the inspiration for writing their own historical romance stories. Light refreshments are included. Tickets are available at: https://writinghistoricalromance.eventbrite.com Cost: $25 for FOMAS members; $25 plus Eventbrite fee for not-yet-members. The mansion at Staatsburgh is accessible on two of its levels; please contact the site for details at: StaatsburghSHS@parks.ny.gov
Alisa Kwitney is the critically acclaimed author of numerous historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance novels, including The Dominant Blonde, excerpted by Cosmopolitan Magazine and listed as one of Dear Author’s 100 Best Romance Novels of All Time. Alisa has taught writing at Fordham University, Manhattanville University and McDaniel College’s MFA Romance Writing Program. She has an MFA from Columbia University’s Fiction Writing program. Her latest YA steampunk romance novels, Cadaver & Queen and Corpse & Crown, are published by Harlequin Teen Books.
Staatsburgh’s 79-room mansion overlooking the Hudson River is in the hamlet of Staatsburg, between Hyde Park and Rhinebeck. A time capsule of the Gilded Age, Staatsburgh retains its original furnishings and opulent décor. The historic estate grounds surrounding the mansion, now Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park, offer scenic walking paths as well as woodland trails.
Staatsburgh State Historic Site is open for guided mansion tours by reservation; to attend a mansion tour, please make advance reservations on www.Bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS ; admission is charged upon arrival. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
###