New Retreat Invites Writers to ‘Drop Out on Orcas’

— from Drop Out on Orcas —

Five writers from all along the West Coast will come to Orcas this spring. Drop Out, a refuge for creatives, will bring writers and artists to Orcas to generate new work. All writers will give public readings and interact with the local community at readings and open mics. All readings will be held at Mia’s Cafe in Eastsound.

“A ‘drop out’ is a three-day stay at a cottage on the eastside of the island. Artists have the whole place—twenty-five acres and a really nice little house—to themselves just to concentrate on their work. There is no internet or cell service there, thus the name ‘drop out,’” director Jennifer Brennock said. “They do not bring partners or family with them. No other responsibilities. That way they can experience a real creative flow.”

Writers coming this spring will be traveling from Seattle, Portland, and southern California. There is no application process for Drop Out, but artists agree to contribute to the community in some way.

“One Drop Out artist finished her novel on Orcas the last time she was here. Now Rebecca is on tour with that book, The Amazing Adventures of Selma Caldron. I think it’s kind-of poignant to be returning here, to a place where she was so inspired in her work before,” Brennock said.

The first reading and open mic on Sunday, Feb 28 at 6:00 p.m. will feature poet and carpenter Rose Swartz. She will be reading from her most recent letterpress chapbook, Panhandle. Swartz is a writer and visual artist originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her other works include All Along the California Coast, a crown of sonnets (2014) and All The Old Things, a collection of photographs and prose poems (2016). Swartz will be joined by another Drop Out writer, Chelsea Werner-Jatzke of Seattle. Werner-Jatzke is the author of two chapbooks, Thunder Lizard (2016) and the forthcoming Adventures in Property Management. Werner-Jatzke is managing fiction editor at Pacifica Literary Review and editorial director at Conium Review.

“Orcas is such fertile ground for makers and creative people, but occasionally we do need to import artists from afar to stay connected to the wider world of culture, to the global discourse,” Brennock said. “I’m always excited to see what they bring. I always come away inspired myself.”

Future writers include Drew Dillhunt, who will read Sunday, March 20. Dillhunt is author of Leaf is All (2015), winner of the 2015 Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize, and finalist for the National Poetry Series. His writing has appeared in VOLT, Mudlark, Eclectica,Tarpaulin Sky, andJacket2. Dillhunt is also a musician with the bands Fighting Shy and Answering Machines. Dillhunt serves as the Associate Editor of Hummingbird Press. Also reading March 20 will be dramatist and filmmaker Donte Felder. Felder, who was diagnosed with disgraphia (a writing-related learning disability) as a child and spent five years in special education, won the W.E.A. Humanitarian Award for his play dealing with race relations and school integration, “First Day.” Born and raised in Seattle, Felder now teaches dramatic writing to middle school children in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. He has produced several short films and plays with his drama team, the Columbia City Youth Theater Group. His next play is titled “The Mis-Education of the Well-Meaning Liberal.”

On Sunday, April 10, the final reading of the spring series will feature Rebecca Villarreal, author of The Amazing Adventures of Selma Caldron. Amazon describes Villarreal’s debut novel as “a globetrotting magical mystery of courage, food, and friendship.” The novel is based in Chicago, but the main character and her friend, Hurley, travel to Orcas Island as well as Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Paris, and Granada. Selma’s travels help her unravel the mystery of her missing parents. This book is for all ages.

Featured Drop Out artists will be followed by a “five-minute mic.” Anyone may read original creative writing with a five-minute courtesy limit. Mia’s will be open for business and the event is free. More information call Brennock at 317-8464 or visit www.dropoutonorcas.com.