INSPIRING PLACES, SPACES AND STORIES
DESIGN HOTELS™ LAUNCHES TWO BOOKS FOR 2011

Interesting personalities, creative minds and colorful life stories are just some of the qualities found in the hoteliers behind members of Design Hotels™. To celebrate their originality Design Hotels™ is releasing the new Design Hotels™ Made by Originals book containing backstories, surprising anecdotes, and inspiring moments of the driving forces and creative spirits behind the world’s most expressive hotels. The book is in addition to the annual publication The Design Hotels™ Book Edition 2011 which showcases 200 member hotels in 120 destinations across the globe. Both can be purchased through www.designhotels.com/shop.

INAUGURAL OXFORD AMERICAN SUMMIT FOR AMBITIOUS WRITERS SET FOR JUNE 2011

 

The first-ever Oxford American Summit for Ambitious Writers—a five-day, creatively intense workshop for writers seeking to enhance their literary skills—will take place June 21-26, 2011, atop picturesque Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas. The application process for the Summit begins Jan. 15.

 

The Summit, a collaboration between The Oxford American and Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, will offer participants the opportunity to improve their writing in a peaceful and stimulating environment.

 

"The inspiring mountaintop locale and substantive programming make the Summit ideal for writers who want to grow as artists, and is not simply for people who want to be published as is," said Marc Smirnoff, editor of The Oxford American and one of the lead organizers of the Summit.

 

During the Oxford American Summit for Ambitious Writers, literary professionals will challenge participants to sharpen and deepen their writing skills through daily writing classes, lecture sessions, and manuscript critiques. Distinguished faculty and guest lecturers will teach a number of workshop sessions that focus equally on short fiction and creative nonfiction. Publishing experts will lead innovative programming designed to hone the skills that increase a writer’s chance of being noticed by editors.

 

The Oxford American also promises a fun and unique experience featuring great Southern food and music presented by talented chefs and performers. Participants can enjoy the spectacular setting, including nature trails and recreational facilities at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and nearby Petit Jean State Park.

 

Confirmed faculty members include Wells Tower (recently named by the New Yorker as among the 20 best fiction writers under 40); Kevin Brockmeier (one of Granta magazine's Best Young American Novelists and winner of the O. Henry Award); Pico Iyer (praised by Time as "among the finest travel writers of his generation"); as well as Heidi Julavits, William Whitworth, Tom Franklin, Cristina Henríquez, Scott Huler, and Jay Jennings. Detailed biographical information about each faculty member is available online at summit.oxfordamerican.org.

 

Applications for admission to the Oxford American Summit for Ambitious Writers will be accepted through May 1. The admissions committee will notify participants as they are selected, so it is possible that all available student slots will be filled before May 1. Those interested are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible. Full application instructions and materials are available online at summit.oxfordamerican.org.

 

The tuition for the Summit is $1,000, and the room and board charges (including all meals) are $700 for single occupancy rooms and $550 for double occupancy rooms. Some partial and full scholarships are available, and every applicant will be considered for those scholarships.

 

The Los Angeles Times has already said, "...seem[s] like a pretty fantastic place to spend five days writing."

 

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GOLDEN STATE by David Prybil

A new book by David Prybil was featured at a book signing in Santa Barbara at the Book Den during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. David, a full of life character himself, gave interviews to the press and chatted with book buyers over tequilla shots.

For information visit: www.goldenstate.com

“Golden State” is the story of four people in Sacramento living their versions of the California dream.

This is what inspired him to write “Golden State.”

“It seems in general that California as a state attracts dreamers, people that are looking for more, whatever that may be. Whether it’s the Gold Rush that helped found Sacramento or coming to Hollywood to be discovered as a star, or Silicon Valley, people are thinking they are going to go out there and create the next Google.

“When I was following the recall election, it just seemed like that kind of encapsulated that better than just about anything. It was just so out-of-the-box bizarre. All of a sudden there’s 135 people running for governor.

“Schwarzenegger, there’s always been kind of an inkling that he might run for office at some point. He basically just went on the Jay Leno show and said, ‘I’m running.’ He showed up for one debate, where people just kind of fawned over him because he’s a big movie star. And he won.”

Prybil says his characters feed off this example of the California dream that Schwarzenegger exemplified in winning the recall election, it was an opportunity to write interesting characters.

“There are a lot people that spend their entire lives chasing unrealistic dreams, and that can be very tragic at times. What I found with my characters is that the dreams they sought, that they were chasing at the beginning of the story, aren't necessarily the ones that came true, but it led them ultimately to some kind of happiness. It’s like that Rolling Stones song: ‘You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need,” Prybil said.

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THE HOUSE OF SIX DOOR  by Patricia Selbert

Patricia Selbert's novel, The House of Six Doors, offers a profound and heartfelt perspective on Curaçao

Inspired by the author's odyssey from Curaçao to Hollywood, this captivating tale opens a door to wisdom, compassion and gratitude

On February 22, the highly anticipated debut novel by Patricia Selbert, The House of Six Doors, hit the international market. A native of the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, the author has written a novel in English that paints a vivid picture of the mixture of cultures that make up that very unique place. On October 10, 2010, Curaçao was declared an autonomous nation (previously part of the Netherlands Antilles).

Publishing by the Seas is pleased to partner with The Curaçao Tourist Board for the launch of The House of Six Doors.

“Inspired by what I remembered and driven by what I have learned during the course of my life, I set out to write. The result is my novel, The House of Six Doors. To see it published is, for me, a great source of satisfaction and a cause for celebration,” said Selbert. "I am honored and grateful to have the support of The Curaçao Tourist Board and the people of Curaçao. I am touched by the open hearted reception" Visit: www.publishingbytheseas.com.

Note: I loved this book. It is such a touching story of the powerful influence women have in the lives of their family and friends. It is a story about the kindness of strangers and the process of growing up, becoming your own person and the struggle to evolve as an independent woman.

Bravo to Patricia Selbert!  BC