Saturday, June 26th, 2010
OS Writers
Retreat
The final schedule, list of attendees, the noted authors and writers who will be holding formal readings, and costs, etc. Special new event: a writers' Tugboat ride on Sunday!SCHEDULE
Early AM: Arrival, enjoy grounds etc
(Fri. night guests: have breakfast early!)
9 AM: informal meet and greet in Meeting Room
9:30 AM: Morning writing session
11:45 AM: Break
Noon: Lunch
1:30: Afternoon writing session
4 PM: Afternoon Tea & Cookies
4:15 PM: Main Session resumes
5:00 PM: Workshop ends
(Break)
6:00 to 7:00 PM: Evening Reading, First
Hotel guests will be allowed in, so this is a public event, not a private workshop event. (Room TBD)
Nina Shengold (http://www.ninashengold.com/)
(Writers Guild award-winning screenwriter, author of "Clearcut")
Laura Shaine Cunningham(http://laurashainecunningham.com/)
(NY Times bestselling author, memoir writer; author of "Sleeping Arrangements" and "Beautiful Bodies")
7:15 PM: Dinner: We will reserve two adjacent 8 person tables.
Overnight guests (Saturday only, or Fri. + Sat.) have dinner cost included in their stay.
Day Event attendees have been allowed by Mohonk to purchase a meal, a la carte. (Your $105 for the event and $50 workshop fee does NOT include this cost. If you prefer to skip this meal but want to attend the Second Reading you can use the grounds, or enjoy the the Carriage Lounge)
8:30 - 10:30 PM: Evening Reading, Second
Hotel guests will be allowed in, so this is a public event, not a private workshop event. (Room TBD)
OS's Nikki Stern
Her notable new book, "Because I Say So" about moral authority.
She is an essayist and 9/11 widow.
http://www.nikkistern.com/
OS's Lea Lane
Noted Travel writer and essayist.
(http://www.sololady.com/, http://www.fodors.com/news/story_993.html, and Huffington Post pieces)
OS's Jeremiah Horrigan
Hudson Valley newspaper reporter for over two decades.
His new book is called “Get Me Outta Here! A Guy’s Guide to Surviving Hospital World.”
A few of us from Kate's group will have short works coming out in an anthology later this year, so we will read.
Attendees who want to read something from the day's work are welcome to do so. Time for these is limited.
(NOTE: each reader in this second session will have 15-20 minutes.
This gives us 8+ readings. 4-5 of these are filled, as noted above.
More writers will get to read if they offer shorter selections.
Informal readings among attendees can continue privately.
OPTIONAL
Sunday, June, 27th, 12 noon:
A ride on a real, historic, Tugboat
My best friend Alex sold his sailboat and bought an upscale tugboat. The cutest thing you ever saw. All teak and brass, a gourmet kitchen, but a real tugboat.
He will host, the following day, Sunday, a free tugboat cruise on the Hudson, for the writers. Up to 10+ people total, him included. It leaves from the foot of the Poughkeepsie bridge, so it returns there and is minutes from the train station, too.
Our working schedule is to embark around 12 or 1 pm (for 2 hrs on the Hudson River), depending on everyone's schedules. This gives everyone who stay at Mohonk a chance to swim Sunday morning at the hotel, have their magnificent brunch! etc.
Please PM me immediately if you want to do this, as room is limited.
What this is:-- A way for OS writers to get together and have fun
-- An opportunity to grow as a writer in a supportive workshop environment
-- A day or (optionally) two in the magic environment of Mohonk Mountain House
-- A beautiful excuse to have a spa day/gourmet meals/intense outdoor fun
What this isn't:-- A technique training
-- A critical workshop method; rather, this is writers supporting each other's experimental, personal writing within a safe environment
-- A place for flamers or in-person online wars, or anything other than lovingkindness, relaxation, and amazing fun
Kate's workshops website
COSTS
1. Day Event attendees ONLY:
Per person cost (Mohonk fee) is $105.
You enjoy a comfy meeting room from 9 to 5 with all attendees, the real Dining Room for Lunch (!), full use of the grounds, Afternoon Tea & Cookies at 4 pm. All tips, gratuities are included.
(But be a mensch and give a few bucks to the valet parkers, they work hard!)
Day attendees can join everyone at Diner (thanks, Mohonk!) or else order a limited menu dinner in the Carriage House Lounge. Whether you do this or join everyone in the dining room you'll pay for this meal on your own.
2. For overnight guests at Mohonk:
The $105 event cost is not "extra" if you book a one- or two-night stay at Mohonk! It is absorbed into your hotel bill.
The $105 event cost is not "extra" if you book a one- or two-night stay at Mohonk! It is absorbed into your hotel bill.
You can optionally stay at the Hotel Friday and Saturday night, or just Saturday night (sorry, one-nighters are limited to just Saturday).
The overnight rates for Mohonk are as follows:
Single, $319 per person, per night.
Double, $219 per person, per night.
Visit Mohonk Mountain House or call 1.800.772.6646 to make your reservations.
You MUST mention the "Writers Retreat" to get these discounted rates.
Overnight guests meal options:
If you stay all weekend you get all meals, all options.
If you stay the one night (Saturday) you get three meals, and Mohonk has agreed to let you shift your Sunday lunch to Saturday (thus you will get Saturday lunch, Saturday dining room dinner, and the fabulous gigantic Sunday Breakfast/brunch (but not Sunday lunch; my experience is after that brunch who can eat lunch?)
3. All Attendees You can also stay on grounds to hike, read, chat, etc. Plus we can go to the bar, sit as group(s) on one of the many beautiful porches, etc.
Your only other "extra" cost is to Kate, the workshop leader (see #5 below).
4. Spa
For overnight attendees, some Spa services like massages, horseback riding, etc are a la carte, and you must arrange on your own. Overnight guests do get to use the pool, spa evironment, and Dead Sea salt group jacuzzi.
5. Kate's workshop fee is $50 for the day, per person.
You'll pay her at the event.
6. Thus the grand total for day eventers is $155 per person. You can send the $105 Mohonk fee to me directly if you are a day event attendee.
Greg Correll
7 Elliotts Lane
Highland, NY 12528
7 Elliotts Lane
Highland, NY 12528
Checks payable to: Greg Correll
(If any of you must wait a few weeks to send this or even want to pay on arrival, we have enough early payers to cover my $250 out-of-pocket for the deposit)
Note:
Mohonk needed a commitment for the number, but will only take the full amount out of my credit card -- minus those who prepay or pay on arrival -- on the event day. I also have 3 days prior to advise them that the number is higher or lower. I will be liable for that final number. Yikes! So PLEASE advise ASAP if your plans change? and PM me if you have paid Mohonk for the day or an onvernight stay.
Questions? please comment or PM me. Just heard about this and want to come? PM me please.
MISC:
Mohonk will promote all our Notable Readers.
Jeremiah and I will organize some shuttling on Friday evening. and Mohonk has options for pick-up/drop-off to Stewart/New Paltz, etc., too. Please PM to tell me your schedule.
Also, there are several others arriving Fri. evening. So either Mohonk and/or me/Jeremiah/Molly will round folks up from stations, hang out a bit in New Paltz, to catch all stray attendees, then shepherd folks up the hill.
From NYC: Any train to Poughkeepsie (Amtrak or Metro North; Amtrak is more costly, comfortable and is express-ish).
Mohonk will promote all our Notable Readers.
Jeremiah and I will organize some shuttling on Friday evening. and Mohonk has options for pick-up/drop-off to Stewart/New Paltz, etc., too. Please PM to tell me your schedule.
Also, there are several others arriving Fri. evening. So either Mohonk and/or me/Jeremiah/Molly will round folks up from stations, hang out a bit in New Paltz, to catch all stray attendees, then shepherd folks up the hill.
From NYC: Any train to Poughkeepsie (Amtrak or Metro North; Amtrak is more costly, comfortable and is express-ish).
OS Writers Retreat CONFIRMED ATTENDEES
Leader:
Kate
Emcee de Valet a la Concierge ad astra per astra:
Greg
______________
Confirmed from Local Group:
Steve
Cody Collett
______________
Group Possibles:
Colleen
Catherine
(2 others)
______________
OS confirmed:
Lea Lane* (x2)
Nikki Stern*
Jeremiah Horrigan* (local)
Molly (local, she might be working@Mohonk that day)
Jonathan Wolfman** (x2)
Cranky Cuss
Gail Walter
Maria (local)
Molly Correll
maybe:
janesmithie?
aim? (semi-local)
Group Possibles:
Colleen
Catherine
(2 others)
______________
OS confirmed:
Lea Lane* (x2)
Nikki Stern*
Jeremiah Horrigan* (local)
Molly (local, she might be working@Mohonk that day)
Jonathan Wolfman** (x2)
Cranky Cuss
Gail Walter
Maria (local)
Molly Correll
maybe:
janesmithie?
aim? (semi-local)
______________
Wishes / Next time?
--many on OS (20+)
______________
*Promoted Authors/Readers
**Scheduled Readers
______________
Tug Ride
Alex (Captain)
Greg (Gilligan, but in the right light: Ginger)
Lea and Bob
Nikki
Jeremiah
Colleen and Lance
Steve and guest
janesmithie?
janesmithie?
New York City 90 minutes south of NewPaltz.
Star is Mohonk (15 mins out of town).
Besides Stewart Airport, Albany and Newark are feasible. Sort of.
Need alternative housing?
As posted and PM'd previously, there are some options. PM me.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Marilyn Sands
Linda Treiber
David McClain
koshersalaami
Patty Kane Horrigan
tg within
Salon.com
Comments
Anyway, have great time.
This sounds so fabulous!! What a lot of work to coordinate all those details, especially since you've been under so much stress. So, thanks for doing that. I WISH I could come this time, but I'll be in NYC the previous weekend and it's too much to come from Boston twice in one week. Waaahhh! Maybe a fellow New Englander and I can carpool if there's a fall gathering?! Would love to meet you and all the other OS luminaries, especially my American Idol, Ms. Lea.
*sniffle.*