Stegner “Sense of Place” Weekend Guest Speakers

Our weekend guests include Northeast Kingdom native Natalie Kinsey Warnock, whose young adult and picture books tell the stories of growing up and coming of age in the Northeast Kingdom, from the earliest settler days to today. She has published 20 books, including her first book, an ALA Notable book, The Canada Geese Quilt. Her book , As Long as There are Mountains was selected by the Vermont Humanities Council as a state-wide Vermont Reads story in 2006. Natalie regularly presents to school groups about the importance of capturing stories; she is an inspiration to all who hear her.

Leland Kinsey, Natalie’s brother, also joins us. Author of six books of poetry, Lee’s brilliant, evocative poems powerfully reflect his experience growing up on a family farm here, where h is ancestors settled in the early 1800s. His poetry transcends singular experience to reflect the universal experiences of love, loss, and living. Several of his poems have been featured on National Public Radio’s “Writer’s Almanac” with Garrison Keillor. Most recently, Leland gave the commencement address at Sterling College in May, where he was awarded an honorary degree. He has conducted writing workshops for the Vermont Arts Council and the Children’s Literacy Foundation at over 100 schools in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Charlie Morrissey, oral history expert, editor, and writer joins us also. Former director of the Vermont Historical Society, and author of Vermont: A History, a book in the States and the Nation series. Charlie is an authoritative voice on living and writing in Vermont. With his weekly radio broadcast, “Life in Vermont,” on Vermont’s WDEV, he continuously engages listeners with our fascinating history.

Jay Craven, award-winning film director, screen writer, and producer is also a professor of film studies at Marlboro College. For decades he has served our region as impresario of the arts. In 1981 he founded regional arts organization Catamount Arts. With his company Kingdom County Productions, co-founded with partner Bess O’ Brien, Jay has made seven feature films; three of these are of NEK author Howard Frank Mosher’s novels. His work is the ultimate “sense of place” mission—to capture the characters, lives and spirit of the people in our region and to bridge community and culture with the arts here, where we live.
During our weekend, artist Deborah Holmes’ gorgeous water colors will adorn our walls. After several years of feeling at home in the Kingdom, Deborah has relocated here and continues to paint landscapes and intimate glimpses of life in northern Vermont. Her art gives us a window into the many moods and seasons of our beautiful region.

Suggested “Sense of Place” reading for our weekend: Natalie Kinsey Warnock’s As Long as There are Mountains, and From Dawn to Dusk; Leland Kinsey’s Family Drives and Northern Almanac; Charlie Morrisey’s Vermont: A History, Lynn Stegner’s Pipers at the Gates of Dawn; Wallace Stegner’s Crossing to Safety, his Collected Stories, and his article in Country Journal, August 1979 “Northeast Kingdom;” Jay Craven’s commentaries on working with Howard Frank Mosher and Kris Kristofferson(see www.fledgling films.com)

Beginning in 2005 at Highland Lodge, Tara Jon Manning’s Mindful Knitting Retreat has attracted knitters from all over the country, and beyond! A wonderful melding of knitting, instruction, relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, and of course—Highland Lodge’s comfy accommodations and splendid meals, this extended weekend occurs on the final weekend of the Lodge winter Season. While the Lodge is closed to other guests, the ski trails are open through the weekend for those who want to add outdoor ventures to their retreat experience.
Author and designer Tara Jon Manning has created a haven of a retreat that restores and inspires. Tara’s titles include: Mindful Knitting, Compassionate Knitting, Men in Knits, The Gift Knitter, and Nature Babies. For information on the Mindful Knitting Retreat,click here.

By Anne Molleur Hanson

It’s hard to believe that our long-awaited Wallace Stegner Centennial is now a month behind us, but the warmth of the event is still with us here at the Lodge. David Smith, innkeeper, declared it one of our best weekends ever! Our local newspapers noted the weekend  received highest accolades from attendees, who were effusive with their enthusiasm for the event and for our invited guests: Stegner bi ographer and author Philip Fradkin; Stegner literary agent and friend, Carl Brandt; and our neighbor, Clive Gray, whose parents Peg and Phil gray were portrayed in Crossing to Safety as Sid and Charity Lang.

 
Our Invited Guests include: Philip Fradkin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, environmental historian and author of Wallace Stegner and the American West…
Carl Brandt of Brandt & Hochman (Mr.Brandt was Wallace Stegner’s literary agent)…
Clive Gray, second son of Peg & Phil Gray….Marion Stegner, who will join us for Friday and Saturday activities.
 
Hosts: Anne Hanson, event coordinator and Willie & David Smith, innkeepers at Highland Lodge.
 
We welcome you to participate via our Residential Rate (staying at Highland Lodge): $275/per person for the weekend, tax additional. Residential Reduced Rate: If you are willing to share a cottage with another party, please tell us. We will reduce your rate by 10%.
 
If you don’t need accommodations at Highland Lodge, and wish to participate, please consider our two Non-Residential Options:
Non-Residential All Meals & Events Rate: ($109, includes tax, prepayment only) Limited Space—please sign up for this and pre-pay by September 10.
*Non-Residential A la Carte Rate: See rates below. Please sign up and prepay for a la carte rate events/meals by September 17th

Join quilter and author Judy B. Dales for top-notch instruction, good company, great food, and gorgeous quilts at Quilt Inn 2009. The next Quilt Inn Seminar will be held here again Friday, September 11 to Wednesday, September 16, 2009 . Quilt Inn includes all meals, workshop, tax, service. QI is a wonderful opportunity to get inspired by your co-students' creativity, and instruction from one of the country's most accomplished quilters.

Single occupancy $885.50, double occupancy 858.00. Non quilter double occupancy is $638.00. Deposit of 50%, 3 months' cancellation notice is required.

For more information on the September 2009 workshop, contact us or Judy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it