Homer
is beginning to green up, the light pouring in over the mountains and across
the bay. It seems early to be thinking about September, but as every
Alaskan knows, summer flies by without a glance over its shoulder.
is beginning to green up, the light pouring in over the mountains and across
the bay. It seems early to be thinking about September, but as every
Alaskan knows, summer flies by without a glance over its shoulder.
With that in mind, early registration for the Tutka Bay
Writers Retreat is happening until May 1st at which time, you’ll
have to pony up a little more money. This year’s retreat leader is Debra Magpie
Earling. She is the author of The Lost Journals of Sacajewea and Perma
Red, a recipient of the American Book Award and the Western Writers
Association Spur Award, among many others. In 2007, she was awarded a
Guggenheim fellowship. Her stories have been published in Ploughshares, The
Last Best Place, and Talking Leaves: Contemporary Native American
Short Stories. Debra teaches in the MFA Program at the University of
Montana, and is currently at work on a new novel.
Writers Retreat is happening until May 1st at which time, you’ll
have to pony up a little more money. This year’s retreat leader is Debra Magpie
Earling. She is the author of The Lost Journals of Sacajewea and Perma
Red, a recipient of the American Book Award and the Western Writers
Association Spur Award, among many others. In 2007, she was awarded a
Guggenheim fellowship. Her stories have been published in Ploughshares, The
Last Best Place, and Talking Leaves: Contemporary Native American
Short Stories. Debra teaches in the MFA Program at the University of
Montana, and is currently at work on a new novel.
The retreat begins on Friday, September 9, from Homer with a
jaunt across Kachemak Bay to the Tutka Bay Lodge. Tutka Bay Lodge has been
designated one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, an
incredible honor so richly deserved for its gracious accommodations, culinary
excellence, and amazing staff.
jaunt across Kachemak Bay to the Tutka Bay Lodge. Tutka Bay Lodge has been
designated one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, an
incredible honor so richly deserved for its gracious accommodations, culinary
excellence, and amazing staff.
Each day during the retreat, participants will
meet together with Debra Magpie Earling in the Widgeon, a historic crabbing
boat, to learn more about writing fiction. On Sunday, September 11,
participants depart at 2pm. A draft of the entire schedule is posted below (subject to change). To learn more
about the lodge and the retreat and to register, please see our website.
Each year, participants in the Tutka Bay Writers Retreat
return to their writing practice refreshed and with new tools to explore
throughout the year. Registration numbers are limited to enhance the
experience, so you might want to register soon!
return to their writing practice refreshed and with new tools to explore
throughout the year. Registration numbers are limited to enhance the
experience, so you might want to register soon!
…..
Friday, September 9
1:00 PM – Gather at Mako’s Water Taxi* for travel Homer-Tutka Bay Lodge
2:00 PM – Arrive at Tutka Bay
3:00 PM – Welcome, introductions, orientation
4:00 PM – Free time until dinner: Hiking, hot tub, sauna
5:30 PM – Dinner at Lodge
7:00 PM – Instructional session with Debra Magpie Earling
8:30 PM – Rest, relaxation (hot tub, spa), and writing time
Saturday, September 10
8:30 AM – Breakfast at Lodge
9:30 AM – Instructional session with Debra Magpie Earling
11:00 AM – Optional activities and writing time
12:00 PM – Lunch on Widgeon
1:00 PM – Instructional session with Debra Magpie Earling
2:30 PM – Optional activities/writing time
5:30 PM – Dinner at Lodge
7:00 PM – Reading with Debra Magpie Earling
8:00 PM – Participant readings, sharing, discussion
9:00 PM – Rest, relaxation (hot tub, spa), and writing time
Sunday, September 11
8:30 AM – Breakfast at Lodge
9:30 AM – Instructional session with Debra Magpie Earling (1.5 hours)
11:00 AM – Evaluation: the retreat experience
12:00 PM – Lunch on Widgeon
2:00 PM – Depart Tutka Bay for Homer via Mako’s Water Taxi