Official Web Site of Laura Treacy Bentley

This year, for the first time, there will be a fall retreat for writers at Aurora, West Virginia, from November 5-8, 2009. 

This one is special: in addition to time and good company and fabulous food, the participants will get to spend an evening with Irene McKinney, West Virginia's poet laureate.

Join your peers for a long weekend of creativity in the tranquil atmosphere of Cathedral State Park and Aurora, West Virginia. The Aurora Project Writers' Retreats provide quiet time to focus on your own writing, the good company of your fellow writers, all of your meals and, in the evenings, poetry, literature and essay readings. You also have the opportunity to share in the vision of the Aurora Project, West Virginia's first and only full-time multidisciplinary artists' residency program.

This fall's retreat promises a very special event, a private dinner followed by an intimate poetry reading by West Virginia's poet laureate, Irene McKinney. The retreat begins with a reception Thursday evening, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. and ends Sunday morning, November 8 after breakfast. The cost of $250 includes lodging and seven meals.

Shared accommodations will be available at Brookside Inn or nearby guesthouses and a limited number of private rooms will be available for an additional $75 fee. All meals and events will take place at Brookside Inn. You are invited to take part in readings on Friday evening; aside from mealtimes and evenings, your time will be your own. This is a retreat weekend, not a workshop, and you will be requested to respect the privacy of other writers who are working.

While you do not have to be a published writer to participate, the retreat is intended for serious writers and not for students. Additional programs will be hosted in the future for those wishing instruction. The retreat is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, and lodging assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. A very limited number of scholarships are available; the criteria will be emailed with the applications.

For a registration form and scholarship criteria please email Michele Moure-Reeves at the Aurora Project auroraproject@frontiernet.net).

Insert "AP Retreat" into the subject line of your email.

Registration forms and scholarship applications will be available August 22. The postmark or email deadline is Friday, September 25, 2009. Notification of scholarships will be sent via email on October 2. A waiting list will be maintained for cancellations.

If you still have questions after reviewing the application and criteria, email or leave a message at 304-735-3620.

If you want to know more about Aurora and the Aurora Project, I urge you to read Colleen Anderson's article for Wonderful West Virginia, which is archived here:

http://www.wonderfulwv.com/archives/sub.cfm?month=jun09&fea=2