UPPER LAKE — For five days this spring, from April 22 to 27, aspiring or published writers interested in writing memoirs, personal essays or travel articles based on personal experience will have the opportunity to focus and luxuriate in the writing process at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.
Entitled, “Life into Literature,” the retreat will be led by noted Bay Area author Laura Fraser and will feature additional workshops with San Francisco authors Peter Orner and Victoria Costello, as well as Stanford University instructor and novelist Tom Barbash.
Laura Fraser is the author, most recently, of “All Over the Map,” that Booklist called “a winning coming-of-middle-age memoir.”
Her previous book, “An Italian Affair,” was a New York Times best-selling travel memoir. She has taught writing at the University of California, Berkeley School of Journalism, San Francisco State University, and her other seminar sites include writers” workshops in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico. As a teacher, she encourages students to free write about topics they are passionate about; she then provides tools and expertise in clarity, research and audience. An avid reader, Fraser keeps an ever-expanding record of the books she has read since she was 13 years old.
Lake County was chosen for this retreat because of its relaxing atmosphere conducive to writing, as well as the enthusiasm expressed by Lake County writers and the Tallman Hotel owners.
Former Lake County Poet Laureate Mary McMillian will welcome retreat participants at the reception and dinner on the first night, and the final evening will feature a three-course dinner prepared by Blue Wing Executive Chef Nick Heidemann and paired with Writer”s Block wines produced by Quincy Steele at the Steele Winery in Kelseyville.
Members of Lake County literary groups are invited to meet retreat participants and faculty over dinner that night and afterward adjourn to hear short readings from retreat participants.
For information, visit the Tallman website at www.tallmanhotel.com/events or Laura Fraser”s website at www.LauraFraser.com.
Those interested in participating in the full five-day retreat or the Thursday night dinner, can contact the Tallman Hotel at 275-2244 ext. 0. For Lake County residents wishing to participate in the retreat without overnight accommodations, contact the hotel to be placed in a waiting list at a reduced rate.
