Cathy Schmitz is a writer, poet and photographer living in Poughkeepsie, New York.  Her photos have been appeared in regional exhibitions. Her essays and poems have been published in several regional and national magazines.  She is active in the revitalization efforts in the City of Poughkeepsie and maintains a focus on the visual aspects of the City and its architecture which has informed her photographic projects.  She is active in her community as Trustee of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District and Treasurer of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild.  She also manages Laughing Earth Lit and POKLIT by organizing and hosting author readings, community story telling nights, literary salons and group writing events occurring in and around the City of Poughkeepsie.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from Bard College.