Props to Interlochen literary symposium

Editor’s note: teacher and writer Jeremiah Chamberlin and his wife Natalie Bakopoulos were artists in residence at the Glen Arbor Art Association in early June. Look for an excerpt from Chamberlin’s historical novel set in the cherry orchards of northern Michigan in a future issue.

To the Glen Arbor Sun,
The last weekend of April I spent three days at Interlochen, my first visit to the academy. I attended the inaugural session of the “Between the Lakes” Literary Symposium, which I certainly hope will become an annual event, because I had a great time. It was organized primarily by Pete Colson and Anne-Marie Oomen, although I suspect a lot of other folks were involved in the arrangements too, including a faithful cadre of local volunteers. The symposium was geared towards “writers, readers and educators.”
I’m a lifelong reader, and also a writer, or at least I’m trying to be one, after a career with the Defense Department. I went mostly to meet folks and to hear some good writing, and the weekend delivered on both counts. Judith Minty, a former poet-in-residence at IAA, gave the opening keynote address, an insider’s history of the creative writing program there. Later she talked poetry and read some of her own, which brought both tears and laughter, often in quick succession. Robert Hass, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, gave a couple of wonderful talks and read some poems too. Nick Delbanco, a U of M-based novelist, read from his works and also talked quite movingly of his late friend, John Gardner, a favorite author of mine who lived large and died young. Doug Stanton read a just-written unpublished essay on “Fishing and Terrorism.” Unlikely prose partners, I know, but wow! Watch for this piece, folks. It is a small masterpiece about fishing, family, friendship, and — well, terrorism. He also talked about and read from his forthcoming book, “The Horse Soldiers.” Again, wow! I can’t wait for this book, post 9-11 history that reads like a novel. Traverse City, be proud. Liesel Litzenburger gave a wonderful talk about writing, publishing and favorite books, and read from her new novel, “The Widower,” which I’ve added to my “to read” list. Academy faculty members, Jack Driscoll and Mike Delp, affectionately kidded and praised each other and both read from their recent works. I’ve since read Driscoll’s newest novel, “How Like an Angel,” and enjoyed it immensely.
There were a raft of other writers on hand for the weekend, all of them talented, but one who stood out among the “emerging voices” was Jeremiah Chamberlin, who read a story and gave a seminar on “The Responsibility of Writing about History and Place,” which was SRO both sessions and even ran over its allotted times. This young man is a dynamic and exciting speaker, and he can write too. Remember that name. You’ll be hearing from him, I’m sure.
I loved Interlochen. I wonder if the students there realize how fortunate they are to have a place like that where their special talents can flourish and bloom. I got a personal guided tour of the campus by Barb Sandys from the president’s office and I couldn’t have found a more enthusiastic booster. Thanks for the whole weekend, Interlochen. I hope you do it again. I’ll try to be there.
Sincerely,
Tim Bazzett (author of ReedCityBoy and SoldierBoy)
Reed City, MI