Thursday, January 07, 2010

Do you really really really like to read books? And would you perhaps like to write a fairy tale retelling?

Do you like to read books? Would you like to read them in a canoe on a magnificent lake that looks like this?
Or maybe at the end of that dock? Or in a meadow, or in a beautiful cabin with light streaming in the window?

Reading reading reading, a juicy stack of wonderful books, and taking breaks for yummy meals prepared for you, in the company of other lovely kindred spirits who have also been living inside books all day?

Can you just imagine it? Elizabeth "blue poppy" MacCrellish has imagined it and made it a reality -- a Reader's Retreat at a gorgeous lakeside resort in New Hampshire. It's one of the latest of the wonderful Squam Arts Workshops (SAW) sessions, and I know it's not for everyone -- I tried describing it to a stranger recently when the subject of New Hampshire arose, and she was absolutely blank with incomprehension as to why people would go somewhere to read books. I mean, can't you do that at home? Yeah, you can. You can do it anywhere. It's a beautiful thing. But I feel pretty confident that if you're here, you get it, and would just love to escape with your to-be-read pile to a reading haven with like-minded folk.

It is happening September 1 -5, and I will be there glorying in reading (along with Jim and a sure-to-be-racing-around-by-then Clementine), and then in the evening, I'll help moderate discussions about reading. I can't WAIT! You can read more about it and look at enticing photos HERE.

And that's not all.

There's another Squam session, the week before, that I will also be at, and it's called The Pixie Session (August 29 - September 2), and it's a sort of "Squam Family Robinson" -- that is, it's a family arts retreat, with classes and fun activities offered for all ages. How awesome is that!? And I'm going to be teaching an all-day class there that I am super excited about:

Fairytale Redux
Spend the day writing a new version of a classic fairy tale of your choice. Fairy tales have great bone structure and provide the perfect story elements for you to adapt into your own tale.

Laini will take you through the process of breathing new life into an old tale and help you to develop captivating characters, compelling setting, time period and original details. There are many ways to work with fairy tales. We will explore several through a series of exercises that will get you writing and leave you with a strong working draft by the end of the day.

Expect a lotta magic as Laini will share many of the tricks she uses to get herself - and keep herself - writing.

Bring your imagination-- and be prepared to write and play! LEVEL: ages 10 yrs and up


* * *

Ooh, I am soooo excited!!!!! I hope some blog readers out there might make it to New Hampshire to take my class. There are other fabulous classes too, including Maskmaking, Printmaking, Storytelling, Illustration (taught by Illustration Friday's Penelope Dullaghan), most open to children, some just for the grownups. And for kids ages 6 - 12 there will be the marvelous-sounding "Loon Island Picnic" that is a "Rockywold-Deephaven tradition" (Rockywold-Deephaven is the name of the resort, and has been a family vacation resort since 1897.) Loon Island, doesn't that sound too magical?

Read all about upcoming SAW sessions here, including a new addition that will be taking place not at Squam but at the beach in North Carolina's Outer Banks -- ooh, I want to go to that one too!

Hope to see you there!

14 comments:

Jennifer Walkup said...

That looks heavenly. Seriously, a dream. But with two little ones at home, there's no way I'd get away. Sigh, enjoy.

Annie Jeffries said...

What a dream this would be. All of the above, Laini.

Marianne said...

I want so badly to be at this. But I suspect it is a little too far from New Zealand for that to be realistic. Who knows though, stranger things have happened.

lizardek said...

BP says Squam Sweden is next :D

You have NO idea how badly I want to go to this Reader's Retreat at SAW. It sounds HEAVENLY. You guys are going to have SUCH fun!

Megsie said...

I want to go too! I think your fairy tale class sounds so fun, and I cannot think of a better thing than to get away and read. And, having you as the facilitator for the discussions? **Swoon** I will be there in spirit--no $$$ :( But, I expect a FULL report on both!

Riley Roam said...

I wanna go! I wanna go! I wanna go! The reading retreat sounds like pure heaven (phooey to that lady who didn't get it)and your workshop sounds amazing. Um...do they need storytellers?

persnickety_jen said...

I am about to utter a phrase I never thought I would say:

I really, really want to go to New Hampshire!

Not only does the Reader's Retreat sound amazing, but your class sounds exactly like something I would LOVE to do. I am determined to focus more on reading/writing this year... and this would be an excellent time to do so. XD

Debbie Barr said...

Oh, they both sound so much fun! But alas, I am both very far away from New Hampshire and will probably be in school during those conferences. Maybe after college? :D

jaecy bells said...

Me! I'm above ten...by three years. Sigh. Laini, if I didn't live in Canada, or if I had Air Miles or a really fast bike, I would TOTALLY jet/bike out to New Hampshire to take your class. Blog about it! I bet it will be great!

Laini Taylor said...

Persnickety Jen, ooh, I hope you can make it. It would be great to meet you in person :-)

Myrna Foster said...

Yes, please blog about it. I would love to take your class with my eleven-year-old, but I don't think I can make it happen.

tone almhjell said...

That sounds absolutely lovely. I so long for time to read! Magnus keeps me busy most of the time, and when I finally have five minutes to sit down with a book, I feel like I should be making dinner or doing laundry. That pier would be just dreamy. On the other side: Magnus might LIKE it if I read. Last night he rewarded my Sunday Scribblings entry with five hours of uninterrupted sleep. Clever boy.

Stephanie Perkins said...

When will you teach the ADULT Fairy Tale class? I'd be there in a heartbeat! :)

This all sounds so dreamy and perfect...

I'm so happy for you!!

Elena said...

That sounds beautiful, Laini.