	Sirenland Writers Conference
March 21-27, 2010

Sirenland Writers Conference Blog

Thursday, January 31, 2008

A very sunny day in New York is inspiring daydreams of Positano and so I'm resisting the urge to leaf yet again through the hotel and sightseeing booklets. Also blessing my good fortune and searching the (mental) archive for the location of Garcia Marquez's wonderful quotation about the best possible writing being the best form of writerly service. Somewhat relatedly, the blogger GalleyCat has some interesting thoughts on the topic of reading, writing and pleasure. Here's the link.

I'll be workshopping the first chapter of a novel-in-progress and look forward to meeting you all.

Till soon!

Liana

Liana 1 comments

I haven't been to Italy since 1995, when I spent a week in Rome, and I've been wanting to return ever since.

Parts of my first novel were published in PMS and Kalliope, and my second novel seems to be being passed from agent to agent in New York (I can't tell if each of them doesn't really want it but thinks someone else should, or if they're just sharing a laugh). I sent in the beginning of my third novel for the reading packet.

I live in Morrisville, Pennsylvania with my husband and our 21-month old daughter, Hannah Rose, and work for the state department of education in New Jersey. Since I'm usually the family photographer, I don't have any pictures of me to post, but I do carry lots of pictures of the baby at all times. I'm not a person you want to get stuck on the elevator with!

I liked Bridge of Sighs, too, and just finished The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell, which was wonderful. Check out John Burnham Schwartz's essay in Powells Book News on line. I can't wait to read The Commoner.

Is anybody else flying out of Philadelphia, by any chance?

Maria Casale 3 comments

My wife Karen and I are unbelievably excited about Sirenland. The last time we were in Italy was three years ago. It was our honeymoon and we packed in so much in two weeks that what was supposed to be a relaxing time ended up being highly stressful. It began in Venice and ended in Rome where we drove like maniacs trying to find the Hertz rental agency so we could return our car. It was a Saturday and we had something like a half an hour before it closed and we'd have to keep the car for an extra day and pay some outrageous sum.

Karen's an artist and designer for Martha Stewart. And I'm a writer finishing my memoir about my unhappy experiences growing up communist.

More later...

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh 1 comments

It's been great to read about some of you new Sirenlanders here on the blog. Get ready for an incredible week. Last year's inaugural workshop was amazing. The writing was absorbing to read and workshop; Dani and Hannah (smiling below) are astute and inspiring and Antonio's Le Sirenuse is a magical world unto its own. You will not want to leave. That's why so many of us are returning.

I am primarily a fiction writer (I work in politics) but am submitting a little memoir this time around. You can learn more about me than you could possibly want at my own blog, wishitwerefiction.blogspot.com. Don't be misled by the photo there -- it's from half a lifetime ago.

I don't have much advice, just come prepared for serious discussion bracketed by serious pleasure. Make sure your cell phones are Europe-ready, try to practice a few basic greetings in Italian (if you scroll down in the posts, the most wonderful Michael Maren had a link to a good language site), and BRING WALKING SHOES so you can explore the town's nooks and crannies (see above). Positano is not made for spike heels.

Looking forward to reading more about and by each of you, and seeing you soon.

Gail 1 comments

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Hi Sirenlanders-

I'm Cindy Martin. I grew up in Atlanta and now live in Columbus, Georgia, the home of Carson McCullers. This is my first time posting on a blog. So, small steps and no pictures...

I'm currently reading an older novel of Dani's, Fugitive Blue, as well as Rick Russo's latest, The Bridge of Sighs. He was in Columbus last weekend, and I was the lucky one who got to drive him the hour and a half back to the Atlanta airport.

My most recent rejection was two days ago from McSweeney's, which said that I rocked.

I've enjoyed reading the recent posts, and I would especially like to hear from anyone who attended the conference last year with tips about what to pack and any other suggestions you would be willing to share.

I look forward to meeting all of you in 39 days!
Cindy

cynthia 1 comments

Friday, January 25, 2008

Last July, we broke from a very rowdy family party--the best kind--to pose for the above photo on the beach at La Jolla. That's me in the back--the perfect face for radio.

Interesting coincidence: my son, Peter, immediately on my right, shares the same background as Michael Maren. In drilling down on Michael, I learned that he and Peter are former Peace Corps volunteers. Both earned masters degrees from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and both worked for USAID. My youngest son, Buck--seated on the far right--earned his bachelor's degree at Hartwick College--the same institution that granted Michael his bachelor's degree. I look forward to meeting Michael. And to meeting the rest of my fellow Sirenlanders, as well. I wouldn't be the least surprised to find I share similar experiences with them.

If you were anywhere near a TV set in the seventies and eighties, you probably switched off more of my TV commercials than you can possibly imagine. As a Madison Avenue advertising and marketing executive--the perfect background for writing fiction-- I planned dozens of DuPont TV specials and disrupted your viewing with many, many GE and P&G commercials .

:Later, I created and produced New York's first weekly TV program real estate: "All About Real Estate." My personally written, "Real Estae Made Easy," won Cable TV's Best Business TV Program Award. I also created and produced New York's first weekly radio program on the subject of mutual funds: "All About Mutual Funds."

I've written lyrics for TV and radio commercials. And my song, Deja Vu, was recorded on a gold single and gold album, Polydor label.

Since moving to Arizona, Tucson's Society of Southwestern Authors awarded my "J.D. Salinger's Tobacco Dependency." its 2003 prize for literary humor. In 2004, they gave"The Almost Perfect Crime" Special Mention.

Last year, "Hollywood Marines" was anthologized in "Duty, Honor, Valor." Professional articles have appeared in Real Estate Today.

I love living in Sedona, Arizona. If you've been there, you know that God made the Grand Canyon. But he has a condo in Sedona. This is my second visit to Positano. Last time we lodged at San Pietro. This visit will be unique, not only in staying at Sirenuse, but in meeting you. Can't wait.

Labels: HavingLife's L

ranacom 1 comments

Thursday, January 24, 2008

More planning for Sirenland 2008 took place in New York last night. Here are Antonio, Dani, Carla and Hannah walking along Madison Avenue after attending John Burnham Schwartz's book party for The Commoner.

Michael 0 comments

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Sirenland's John Burnham Schwartz got the (much deserved) star treatment in the New York Times today:

By most standards John Burnham Schwartz enjoyed a charmed start to his writing life. His first novel, “Bicycle Days,” about a young Yale graduate who goes to live in Japan, grew out of his senior thesis at Harvard and was published on his 24th birthday, to strong reviews and a shower of attention.

But in the aftermath of that early success in 1989, he stumbled. He moved to Paris and spent two years working on a novel that has yet to be published. He fell into the grips of depression and began taking medication for it. “There is something about getting exposed publicly before you know who you are,” the still-boyish-looking Mr. Schwartz, now 42, said recently, sitting in his garretlike study at the top of a brick town house in Brooklyn.

Read the rest of the article on the Times' site.

Michael 1 comments

Friday, January 11, 2008

I live in Dallas, Texas and write pretty much full time. When not writing I help out in a small gallery.

I've had one story published in Dogmatika called "Down Mexico Way."

My short essay on Alexander Trocchi's noir novel "Young Adam" appears at the current page of Dogmatika in the Features
column.

I expect to have a second story called "Looking for Goa" published in Dogmatika later this month.

Two of my stories have been accepted by Scarecrow. But because of it's erratic publishing schedule, I have no idea when they will appear.

Both Dogmatika and Scarecrow are on-line literary zines originating in Ireland and London, respectively.

Two years ago, I published an essay on Robert Stone's "Bay of Souls" and a novel excerpt called "Harry, Harry, Quite Contrary" at: Noir Originals #6 (May 2005).

My crime teleplay "The Hunted" was one of six finalists in the pilot category of the Acclaim Film & Television Spring/Summer 2007 TV Script Competition.

In 2005 I attended Bread Loaf and Sewanee.

In 2007 I attended the Zoetrope: All-Story Writers' Conference at Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize. The story I am workshopping called "Bad Juju" was inspired by my trip to Belize.

I've written 206 pages of short stories and half of a first draft of a novel in the last 12 months.

I've attached a picture. The good looking chick is my spouse, the painter Dahlia Woods. We have three children, one of whom is deceased, and two dogs.

Influences this month include: Robert Stone, Barry Gifford, E.A. Poe, J.G. Farrell, the Vermilion Sands stories of J.G. Ballard, Henry Miller, Patricia Highsmith, Ray Chandler, Ken Bruen, Alexander Trocchi, Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano", Paul Bowles and Jean Rhys.

Michael 1 comments

For those of you planning to fly direct to Rome and take the train to Naples, here is the link to buy the train ticket:

http://trenitalia.com/en/orari_biglietti/index.html

Hannah 1 comments

Dear 2008 Sirenlanders:

Welcome to our blog! We hope that you will use this space to talk about Sirenland 2008, as well as your own work and any questions or thoughts about books or writing in general. We're really looking forward to getting to know you in the coming months, and seeing you all in Positano!

Cheers,

Hannah, Dani & Michael

Hannah 0 comments

The Sirenland Writers Conference is happy to announce the winner of this year’s Sirenland Fellowship: Saïd Sayrafiezadeh.

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh's essays and short stories have appeared in Granta, The Paris Review, Columbia Journal of Literature and Art, Open City, and elsewhere. He is currently writing a memoir to be published by Dial Press about his experiences growing up communist in the United States. Saïd lives in New York City.

The Sirenland fellowship provides travel, room and board and fees for attending The Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy. It is given to a writer who is in the process of completing a project, but has not published a book before March, 2008. All entries were read blind and the winner was chosen by author Dani Shapiro. The fellowship is sponsored by Antonio Sersale, the owner and manager of Le Sirenuse.

Sirenland would like to thank the following nominators:

Nicole Aragi
The Dial Press
Ecco Press
Laura Furman
Grove/Atlantic
HarperCollins
New York University Graduate Creative Writing Program
One Story
The Paris Review
U.C. Irvine Graduate Creative Writing Program
William Morris Agency

Hannah 0 comments