ink & peat

Kim Stafford is a writer in Oregon who uses writing as a means to raise the human spirit. He has done so through the creation of a vast collection of poems, books, classes, workshops, and readings around Oregon and the globe. The Northwest Writing Institute and Fishtrap Writers Gathering were inspired by and created through Kim's commitment to the craft of writing as an essential part of human experience. He was honored in 2018 as Oregon's 9th Poet Laureate in recognition of his contributions, and for the encouragement and invitation he extends to each of us to write.

Kim talks with us in ink and peat episode 19 about Eloquent Listening -- a concept he explores in his 2003 book, The Muses Among Us. Now, as then, Kim suggests that listening is an essential component of writing and that through eloquent listening and the writing that results, we can open ourselves to greater understanding, healing, and appreciation of being.

To read more of Kim Stafford's work, visit kimstaffordpoet.com

Dr. Quinton Morris, master violinist, tireless teacher, and advocate for underserved youth, talks with us in ink & peat episode 18 about listening to his inner voice. Through hard work, resilience, and unwavering perseverance, Dr. Morris overcame extraordinary odds to become a world-renowned violinist. 

He has performed three sold-out solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, has been featured with full orchestras and chamber groups around the globe, created the innovative Young Eight Octet, and directed 11 successful seasons. He is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and recipient of numerous awards and accolades including being named one of Musical America's Top 30 Movers and Shapers. 

Upon completion of his short film, BREAKTHROUGH, that documents the music and life of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Dr. Morris was inspired to create Key to Change, a non-profit whose mission is to provide underserved youth in his community the opportunity to study violin and viola and develop creativity and leadership skills. 

Based in his native Seattle, WA, Dr. Morris feels his work with Key to Change makes him a better musician, as well as satisfies his desire to give back to his community.

Photograph by Jean-Marcus Strole

William Kenower is a prolific writer, a writer's writer. Author of two books for writers, novelist, essayist, writer's life coach, teacher, editor-in-chief of Author Magazine, podcast host of Author to Author, Bill has lived and examined all sides of the writer's life. In his thoughtful book Fearless Writing, Bill explains to both beginning writers and seasoned pros the benefits of--and the need for--writing fearlessly, and offers his views on how "it's about more than the writing". 

In episode 17 of ink & peat, Bill shares his experience with, and enthusiasm for, turning the three-dimensional world and our relationship to the five senses into the written word.

As a young boy, Niall De Burca heard stories told by an elder Irishman and knew at that moment he was meant to be a traditional Irish storyteller. Later, as a young Irish emigrant in New Zealand, his vision began to take shape ~ upon the urging of his friends, Niall took his storytelling to the stage and has never looked back. In ink & peat Episode 16, we talk with Niall about the power of story, what drew him to become a master storyteller, and of how the common threads of human experience are shared through story around the globe.

Sharing stories can shorten the social distance between humans, no matter how far apart.

Listening to writers read their work before the hearth in Cottage 4 calls us to the Memoir Tours retreat as much as anything. Think Open-Mic with a peat fire ablaze, cup of tea or glass of wine in hand, listening to stories. Stories of how we got here, what we learned along the way, and maybe what we left behind. The stories are as diverse as the people that bring them, though each is a celebration of the human spirit, of what it means to be present and accounted for.

To give you a sampling of a Memoir Tours evening before the hearth, we created ink & peat Episode 15, in which Barb reads a lovely account of her father and how his passion for raising flowers transformed her life, and Craig recounts one of his more memorable teaching moments.

Storyteller Marianne McShane chats with us on ink & peat episode 14, and gives us a taste of remembering what it was to be a wee child. A native of Bangor, County Down on the northeast coast of Ireland, Marianne developed an appreciation for stories early on. She fondly remembers many evenings before the hearth listening to her Granda fill her imagination with stories, wonder tales, and legends. Her fascination with story deepened over the course of her work as a children’s librarian. Known for her traditional Irish stories, she has performed in Ireland and the US and has twice won gold medals for her storytelling at the Mid Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil. Marianne’s debut picture book, Rónán and the Mermaid, will be published in June 2020. 

In this episode, we talk with author and teacher Marion Roach Smith about her approach to writing memoir. Author of The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life, Marion has developed a formula for writing memoir that opens the writer to take a deep dive into the waters of self-examination. Writing with intent is the goal she sets for herself and her students as they sift through experiences for the gems that define a life well-lived.

Our guest on this episode of ink & peat is Barbara O’Neil, teacher, writer, facilitator, and -- perhaps the most coveted title of all -- a former elementary school librarian. Barbara teaches mixed-age groups in the Boston area helping students develop their writing voices. In addition, twice a month she writes with elders, a practice that brings her great pleasure. She also holds an annual retreat in Taos, NM where writers of all ages and experience come together to explore and develop their writing practices. 

Author, teacher, mentor and writing muse, Drew Lamm inspires writers to mine their life's stories. For over twenty years, students in Drew's Taste Life Twice Writing course have found their voices and their stories through her gentle and effective writing instruction. Her students call her teaching technique 'enchanting, affirming, supportive, on target, brilliant.'

We talk with Drew about the creative process, writing and not holding back. 

Una Morris chats with us on this ink & peat episode about how the pursuit of art has shaped her life, both as a creative outlet and as a vehicle or an opportunity to extract meaning from memory ~ real or imagined.