Aspiring authors of all ages, from diverse backgrounds receive fellowships to one-of-a-kind summer camp
For many authors, retreating to a writer's colony in a peaceful setting is an essential part of their "writing life." It's an opportunity to spend uninterrupted time on one's own work, to participate in workshops and conversations with other writers, and to be inspired by nature's beauty.
But for an unpublished writer, this same experience can be rare or expensive  or both.
That's why the National Book Foundation's Summer Writing Camp, the nation's only free summer writing camp for aspiring authors, is so special. The nine-day session, now in its 10th year, takes place this summer on the wooded campus of Vermont's Bennington College. All 48 participants  ranging in ages from 14 to 62 and representing a record 19 states  were selected based on financial need and a rigorous review of writing samples. All attend the Camp free of charge.
In its 10-year history, more than 300 writers of all ages have attended the Camp at its various locations over the years. A new anthology of poetry and prose by participants, The Electric Fire, has just been published by Black Classic Press for the Foundation. (Copies are available for free, excepting postage, by emailing the Foundation at national@nationalbook.org )
At the Camp, participants study with nationally renowned writers-in-residence in workshops, benefit from one-on-one critiques, read their work in front of an audience, and receive practical advice about getting their writing published.
A multi-generational program, the Camp also brings together writers from widely divergent backgrounds: a 37-year-old English teacher from Tucson, Arizona, returning for a second year: a grocery store clerk, 23, who lives on an American Indian Reservation in Montana; an Arab-American high school student from Atlanta; a young woman from Brooklyn who is headed to Brown University this fall; a 15-year-old from a Mississippi River town; a University of Wisconsin professor who wrote her first poem at the age of 50...writers who are also Asian American, African American, and Latino; who are parents, teachers, and students; some who are seasoned travelers and others who are making their very first trip away from home.
"When everyone gathers in New York City for the bus ride to Vermont, we look like a traveling delegation from the United Nations  with family members in tow," says Meg Kearney, director of the Camp since its inception and associate director of the National Book Foundation. "But when we sit down to work  teenagers, adults, renowned writers, and publishing luminaries together  it's with a singular and absolute commitment to experience the writing life firsthand, in all its varieties."
For many of participants  like the Tucson teacher  this year will not be their first at the Camp. In fact, 16 are alumni of previous camp sessions, who undergo the same evaluation process for this highly competitive fellowship.
Also returning are four writers-in-residence. Working with participants for the entire camp session are National Book Award Finalist Norma Fox Mazer, a native of Glens Falls, New York; award-winning poet, playwright, and National Book Award Finalist Cornelius Eady of Manhattan; Kimiko Hahn, Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize winner, of Brooklyn; and Coretta Scott King Award Winner and National Book Award Finalist Jacqueline Woodson of Brooklyn.
The four writers-in-residence will give a faculty reading on Wednesday, July 9, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Special guests at this year's Camp  who will conduct workshops and also give special presentations  will be Alice Gordon, writer, editor, and former director of the Writers in Performance series at the Manhattan Theatre Club; David Ravel, award-winning playwright, co-founder of Brooklyn Playworks, and professor of drama at Marquette University; and Kurtis Lamkin, a widely-published poet who has performed internationally and on National Public Radio, accompanying his poems on the kora, a 21-stringed African harp-lute.
Alice Gordon and David Ravel will read from their work on Saturday, July 12, 7-9 p.m. Kurtis Lamkin will perform on Sunday, July 13, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Brief biographies of the writers-in-residence and special guests follow the body of this release.
On Friday, July 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., Meg Kearney, will be joined by the four Counselor-Writers from the Camp  Ann Angel, Robin M. Caudell, Karma Mayet Johnson, and Lenard Moore  for a reading of their own work. Kearney's most recent volume of poetry, An Unkindness of Ravens, with a preface by Donald Hall, was published in October, 2001 by BOA Editions.
Finally, on Tuesday, July 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., an "all-Camp" reading will be held, with each participant reading a selection from his or her work.
All readings will be free and open to the public. All will take place in the Carriage Barn on the Bennington College Campus. For more information, call the College at 802-440-4418.
The Summer Writing Camp is just one of the many educational outreach programs offered year-round by the National Book Foundation, sponsor of our nation's most prestigious literary prize, the National Book Award. The Foundation sponsors a host of programs involving author residencies in New York City public schools, settlement houses, major urban libraries in the U.S., American Indian reservations, and other underserved communities across the country.
Leadership funding for the 2003 Summer Writing Camp is provided by the Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Perseus Books Group, and Borders Books & Music, with additional funding from the Educational Foundation of America, the New York Community Trust, the New York State Council on the Arts, Bruno Quinson, and Alberto & Gioietta Vitale.
Books and curriculum materials were donated by Atheneum, Avon, Barnes & Noble, Borders Books & Music, W.W. Norton, Penguin Putnam, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and the University of Georgia Press.
The National Book Awards 54th annual Ceremony and Gala, to be held this year on Wednesday, November 19 at the New York Marriott Marquis, is a Benefit for the Summer Writing Camp, as well as all of the Foundation's outreach programs. For additional information on the work of the National Book Foundation, visit www.nationalbook.org .
Bennington College, a nationally recognized, liberal arts college with enrollment of 750 students (600 undergraduate, 150 graduate), is located on 550 acres in the Green Mountains of southwestern Vermont. The College offers a full range of study, with programs in the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, social science, and visual and performing arts, as well as a five-year Bachelor's/Master's degree in teaching.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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