A Writer’s Meet-up
Many of the best moments in my life have happened spontaneously. Last weekend at Floyd Fest was no different.
Julie Hauserman, a Florida-based journalist and radio personality (pictured here), happened to be camping across the path from the Floyd Fest Poet Tree, a volunteer soap box stage for spoken word readings, located under an apple tree, and staffed by members of the Floyd Writers’ Circle, in particular, my friend Mara. When Julie wandered over early in the weekend and introduced herself, Mara asked if she might be inclined to do a reading at some point. But Julie wasn’t interested. She was on vacation, there to enjoy the music scene.
I fulfilled my volunteer hours in exchange for weekend tickets via my essay that was printed in the Floyd Fest program and by giving a poetry reading on Saturday. On Sunday, the last day of the festival, the reader’s line-up was slim because one of the scheduled readers had to cancel. I arranged to check in with Mara at 3:00 to see if she needed any help. It was then that I met Julie, who was sitting on stage talking to Mara, and Mara’s Poet Tree assistant, Leah.
What ensued for the next 45 minutes could only be described as an impromptu workshop, as Julie shared her life as a writer, gave us pointers, and answered our questions. It couldn’t have been a more perfect line-up. Julie is a regular essayist on NPR’s Weekend Edition. I’ve been reading my essays on our regional NPR radio station, and Mara wants to break into this medium.
You know how when you tune into a TV show that you barely ever watch and they’re airing a re-run of the one and only episode you’ve already seen?
“Did you do an essay recently about making a baked Alaska?” I asked Julie about 15 minutes into the group conversation. It might have been the first time I had heard a Weekend Edition essay.
“Yes!” she beamed. It was her.
My husband heard the essay first and played it for me from the NPR website. Always my cheerleader, he said, “Listen to this. She does what you do. Maybe it’s time you should submit your essays nationally.”
Julie is also an environmental activist and writer. By the time she was sharing her involvement with the Red Hills Writer Project, a poet named Brittnie, drawn by our dynamic conversation, wandered over and joined in.
The Red Hills Writers Project is a group of writers who produced the anthology “Between Two Rivers.” The book is a grassroots effort featuring a collection of essays about place, in this case the Aucilla River and the Apalachicola River, which define the Red Hills and Gulf coast regions of northern Florida.
With Julie describing the ins and outs of how the group enlisted well known writers (such as Wendell Berry), how they drew in local voices, did fundraising, and marketing, it wasn’t long before Mara and I were fantasizing about our own Writers Project for building an allegiance to our area.
Whether or not our fantasies will manifest, I enjoyed being inspired by the possibilities, and meeting Julie, a working writer, willing to share her writer’s journey.
Post note: Scroll down for more Floyd Fest photos.
August 5th, 2006 11:08 am
It sounds as if you have a great time at Floyd Fest, and the opportunities are great in many directions. I want to come even more!!
August 5th, 2006 2:18 pm
Julie sounds like a fantastic lady and your husband is right. Why not go national?
August 5th, 2006 2:45 pm
My husband tends to overestimate my capablitites and I underestimate them. According to Julie, it’s none too easy to break through the national scene and even when you do, they reject more than accept. Hope you’re having a fun weekend, Deana.
August 5th, 2006 3:54 pm
Sounds like you had a fabulous weekend! Let the inspiration from Julie and others and the encouragement from your husband nudge you to going where you want in your writing. And before I forget, Michele says hi.
August 5th, 2006 5:57 pm
Sounds like it was a fascinating and informative conversation.
Here’s wishing you all the best into the elusive world of writing nationally.
Your project sounds like it has great possibilities.
August 5th, 2006 11:09 pm
Colleen! How inspirational.
I’d feel the same if by chance I happened to fall into a conversation with Pearl McGown (early hooked rug forerunner) or Joan Moshimer, or anyone from some National Guild.
Great entry.
August 5th, 2006 11:48 pm
Floyd fest sounds great. We just got back from Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming and saw the most amazing fireworks tonight. I love small town festivals.
August 6th, 2006 10:25 am
Sounds like Floydfest was once again a time of special people and special happenings.
August 7th, 2006 12:02 pm
You sure do have a fertile region for the arts!
Are you going to submit your essays for national?
(& thanx for letting me know about the link typo)