Hello!

Phillip and I were both very busy last year working on various writing projects, but we're planning on hosting three retreats this year. Topics have not been decided yet, but if you're interested in receiving information on upcoming retreats, please let me know.
NOTE: A major computer crash last year wiped out my hard drive. Unfortunately, my list of prospective participants disappeared and was not recoverable. So if you've attended a retreat or have  at some time given me your email information, please email me again so I can put you on our list.

My Mother's Daughter

Have you missed me? It's been a long time since I posted. I've been busy revising a textbook which was published in 2007--but now that task is almost done, and I'm soon to be FREE! to seriously work on my fiction again.

I just finished a revision of my as-of-yet unpublished novel My Mother's Daughter, which is set in 19th Century Natchez. When I visited Natchez several years ago, I was intrigued to learn about all the "mail order brides" who traveled from places like Philadelphia all the way down the Mississippi to marry men they had never met. I couldn't stop wondering what would cause a 19th Century woman to do such a thing, and from that wondering came my character Eugenia Meier. My Mother's Daughter follows Eugenia's and her children's stories to the end of the Civil War.

I'm hoping to see My Mother's Daughter published by fall. Once I can realistically expect publication, I'll post the first three chapters. I think you'll like it!

The labyrinth is almost finished. Nothing like a bit of walking meditation to spark a writer's creativity!

Interested in attending our Narrative Structure retreat June 10-11, but missed the registration deadline? You're still in luck! We have a couple of places left. Call or email, and I will be happy to send you the information you need.

Our rustic labyrinth in progress. . on schedule to be ready by June 10!

A message from Phillip:

Our focus for the June Retreat will be both instructive and challenging.  As with our prior workshops on characterization, point of view, and mechanics, we will initially focus on one fictional technique—in this case, how the overall organization of the story or essay can help to advance its message.  We’ll review traditional plot structures (chronological, framed, cinematic) in both short forms and novel-length works and then experiment with other possibilities (weaving, narrative leaps, juxtaposition, omission).  In other words, we’ll test the boundries of narrative structure.   As with our other retreats, we intend our exercises to be generative, our critiques to be helpful (and comprehensive, not limited to the retreat’s focus), the camaraderie amiable, and the food delicious.          

 

All writers and writer wanna-bees--only four more days to take advantage of the 10% discount for our June retreat on Narrative Structure. Hope to see you here!