Catamaran Writing Conference at Pebble Beach August 12-16, 2015

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Workshop Courses

Drama (Meet each morning, Thursday to Sunday, (9:30—12:30)

Octavio Solis (Playwriting)

Daily Craft Talks

Enjoy two optional daily guest lectures open to all registered participants. Topics include fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction giving attendees a chance to experience craft lectures outside of their workshop.. Craft talks are optional from 2:00 to 3:00 and 3:30 to 4:30 daily in the Rosen main lecture room. Craft talks will be given by Sarah Michas-Martin, Alfredo Vea, Jane Vandenburgh, Jan Straley, Peggy Townsend, Wallace Baine, Candace Calsoyas, Michael Larsen, Nina Amir, Heather Lazare, Edith Paroff, and Wallace J. Nichols (at the Rickett's Lab on Cannery Row).

Evening Guest Lectures and Readings

Special guest lectures will be held nightly on a variety of topics related to the craft of literary writing and poetry. On Wednesday night we will feature a poetry reading by Ellen Bass and Jericho Brown. Join us Thursday evening in the Stevenson chapel for a conversation with Karen Joy Fowler, winner of the 2014 Pen/Faulkner Award and a 2014 Man Booker Prize Finalist as she shares her experiences and lends advice to writers. On Friday engage with our literary publishing panel led by moderator and Catamaran editor Thomas Christensen. Tom will give a talk on literary publishing and open the discussion to our panel of publishers and agents including Jack Shoemaker (Founder and Publisher Counterpoint Press), Mark Allen Cunningham (Founder and Publisher Atelier26 Books), Syed Haider (Founder and Publisher Chicago Quarterly Review), Michael Larsen (Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agency), Heather Lazare (Editorial and Publishing Consultant). On Saturday evening join us in the Keck Auditorium on the Stevenson campus as your prose workshop instructors Elizabeth McKenzie, Christian Kiefer, Scott Hutchins, John Straley, Frances Lefkowitz, Robin Hemley, and Octavio Solis take the stage to read from their books. The faculty reading will be followed by an open mic reading from participants who sign up for the volunteer student readings. All evening presentations are preceded by a hosted reception and followed by book signings.

Nightly Spoken Word Workshop

Gather around an open fire outside Rosen Hall to learn techniques and practice for spoken word in a supportive group setting. The workshop is led by Kevin DeVaney who hosts a weekly Spoken Word Open Mic at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz. The workshop is open to registered participants and meets from 9:30-10:30. Performance is encouraged!

Make the Experience Your Own

John Steinbeck tour:

Visit Cannery Row and the author's residence in Pacific Grove. Experience a reading by Wallace J. Nichols at the historically preserved Ricketts Lab on Cannery Row where Ed Ricketts and Steinbeck met to create The Log of the Sea of Cortez. The lab is not open to the public, and a special opportunity for our conference attendees. After a tour and special guest reading by Blue Mind author Wallace J. Nichols, and Jan Straley author of an upcoming book on Doc Ricketts, enjoy exploring Cannery Row. The tour bus will depart from Stevenson school on Thursday, August 13th at 2:00 and return to campus at 4:30. The tour is open to all registered participants.

Robinson Jeffers tour:

Visit Tor House, the poet’s home and stone tower at Carmel Point. The tour bus will depart from Stevenson school on Friday, August 14th at 2:00 and return to campus at 4:30. The tour is open to all registered participants.

Robert Louis Stevenson tour:

Hike the physical site that was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island at Point Lobos. Experience the beautiful vistas that inspired writing and art along the central coast. Choose between a relaxing stroll to the China Cove, or a more rigorous hike up the Bird Island Trail up to Pelican Point. The tour bus will depart from Stevenson school on Saturday, August 15th at 2:00 and return to campus at 4:30.

Amenities

• Olympic swimming pool

• Fitness Center

• Nature trails to local beaches along 17 Mile Drive