Interlochen Writer’s Retreat
One of my favorite roles at Artistic Director is
getting to introduce authors I most respect. Tonight, I’ll be introducing Patricia Ann McNair (Temple of Air) and Anne-Marie Oomen (An American Map). Of the first, I can tell you that hers is one of the few books of fiction I’ve read more than once–and if that isn’t a testament to the stellar, breathtaking work of this author, I don’t know what is. Hers is truly worthwhile and moving writing. Of Anne-Marie, I can say her prose makes the earth come to life. She evokes the natural world through the senses and she does this so thoroughly, so pervasively, it’s difficult to experience one’s surroundings in the same way afterwards. Especially for those interested in memories of rural childhood, I recommend her work, which spans memoir, essay, poetry, and plays.
But more than anything else, this week I relish the opportunity to live with these 4 faculty members in a lakeside lodge overlooking Duck Lake. The first thing I do upon arrival is thrust open the windows and doors and let that rolling, lake-air fill the house. For the rest of the week, I’m aware of its tempos and moods, ready for my daily dive at any moment. I love living in the mountains–I mean, I love it…and it’s hard to imagine settling down without ridgelines around me. But Lake Country is also something special, and the healing power of living so close to water is something I’ve always felt enamored with. Here’s this morning’s view after a rain cloud burst: