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| Jenny Craig at the Ymir Retreat |
Where Ladies of the Night once snapped garters and tapped heels, a collection of writers tapped keyboards during the 2nd annual Ymir Palace Retreat October 22, 23, and 24th.
Set in a former brothel—now backpacker’s hostel—from silver rush days, sixteen wordsmiths gathered to write, eat, walk, think, soak in the hot tub, and raise a glass to the craft. Meals were communally prepared in the kitchen and consumed at the massive dining room table, later the site for a cutthroat game of scrabble and an impromptu singalong of Word War II favourites.
Ymir (pop. 200), near Nelson BC, offered a distraction-free atmosphere, with a country store and a restaurant-pub complete with greasy fries and bluegrass band for the Friday night inaugural dinner.
All reports point to a successful event: not only were many words written, $400 in profits were split between the Fed and the literary community, resulting in a Fed-sponsored student bursary and two subsidies for future Ymir Retreat participants facing financial barriers.
The retreat was organized by Fed member Anne DeGrace with support from Southeast Rep Jennifer Craig. Organizers are considering a spring retreat in addition to the annual fall event.
Thanks for this, Craig and Susan! I'd like to add that if anyone is interested in a spring retreat, or would like more info about cost etc. I can be contacted directly at degraceanne@shaw.ca. We'll go ahead if it feels like there's enough interest.
ReplyDeleteAnne DeGrace
This is Craig, Anne. You're welcome. Looks like you and your fellow writers had a great time. Great food, great company and a great setting must have made for some very interesting writing. Do you share readings at these retreats. An outline of how they are structured might be useful for other Fed members. Regards.
ReplyDeleteStructure is all but nil. It's a writing retreat, period. We don't organize anything else, beyond meals, which turn into the most wonderful blatherfests, as indicated above. Happily, there was lots of interest so we're having another Ymir retreat in April, 2011!
ReplyDelete