Heather Treseler, professor of English at Worcester State University, has received the 2025 Massachusetts Book Award for Poetry for her collection, Auguries & Divinations.
The annual award recognizes the “best of the best” books by current Massachusetts residents in six literary categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel, children’s literature, and translation.
Treseler and the cover of her award-winning book
Treseler’s book, published by Bauhan, is a debut collection that explores a young woman’s coming-of-age, the friendships between artists, and love in its many forms. It is also a nostos, or a story of returning home after years of wandering and seeing it more clearly.
The award will be presented during a public ceremony at the State House on Tuesday, October 7, at 1 p.m. in the Great Hall. Award winners will be recognized by a state legislator, a previous recipient, or a member of the Massachusetts Center for the Book’s Board of Directors. This year, the Massachusetts Center for the Book, the state affiliate of the U. S. Library of Congress’s Center for the Book, is celebrating its 25th year, so award winners (and other honorees) from previous years have also been invited to attend.
“This award is a testament to Heather Treseler’s unwavering dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with readers through her poetic voice,” Worcester State President Barry Maloney said. “The entire Worcester State community is thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved honor with her.”
In addition to her success as a published poet, Treseler is an esteemed professor at Worcester State, where she teaches poetry writing among other English courses. Her students benefit from her expertise and guidance as they hone their own creative writing skills.
The Massachusetts Book Award marks another significant accomplishment for Treseler’s first full-length book. Auguries & Divinations previously received the May Sarton Poetry Prize and the Sheila Margaret Motton Book Award. Five poems within the book have also been recognized with national awards including the prestigious Pushcart Prize for the poem “Purpura” and the W.B. Yeats Prize for “Wildlife.”
Treseler expressed gratitude for the recognition her writing has received, saying: “A writer works quietly, in the dark, hoping that what she makes might eventually have resonance for others, but there’s never any guarantee. Previous recipients of this prize include three of the poets I most admire—James Tate, Martín Espada, and Louise Glück. So, the award is a tremendous honor and a great encouragement.”
Top photo by Rick Bern
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