October 6-8, 2017, Petoskey, Michigan
"Hemingway: The End of Youth"
After graduating from high school in Oak Park, Hemingway left the rich environment. of life in Oak Park and summers in Northern Michigan when he moved to Kansas City and became a journalist for the Kansas City Star. From there he joined the Red Cross as an ambulance driver in Italy during WWI and finally returned to Petoskey as a wounded and decorated war veteran. At that point, he was no longer just a young boy enjoying carefree summers.
Our keynote speaker this year will be Steve Paul, the author and editor of several books. His newest, Hemingway at Eighteen: The Pivotal Year that Launched an American Legend, will be published this fall. He recently retired from the editorial board of The Kansas City Star after 41 years of service there. Starting out on the city desk, he was a longtime arts and culture editor, book critic, special assignment writer, projects editor and writer, mentor and coach to young writers and teachers, and producer of high-profile feature stories on culture, music, architecture, books, people and the city, and co-owner of a bookstore. Today he writes and edits at will.
This year our conference headquarters will be The Terrace Inn in the Northern Michigan Chautauqua community of Bay View. Bay View was founded on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1875 and has maintained its historic buildings, homes and charm. Hemingway was very familiar with the Bay View community when he lived in Petoskey for that last time. We will tour some of the old Victorian buildings and cottages, exploring their architecture and learning the history of the community. There is a plan for a special event on Sunday afternoon with attendees re-creating an infamous party that Hemingway attended in one of the Bay View cottages.
All rooms at The Terrace Inn are blocked for our conference, so reservations must be made by calling 231-347-2410 or emailing info@theterraceinn.com, mentioning your reservation is for the Michigan Hemingway Society conference. Very reasonable room rates range from $129 to $189 (plus 5% hotel tax.) There is a special discounted rate of $99 for your room on the Thursday night prior to, or the Sunday night following, the conference. Call early to assure your reservation for one of the 38 quaint rooms available in this hotel that was built in 1910.
If you are not a member of the Michigan Hemingway Society for the 2017 calendar year you may join online now and your conference fee will be reduced by $40. Online conference registration will begin in June, so check back then for more details and to register for the conference.
We hope to see you Up North in October for an informative and enjoyable weekend with friends who share an interest in Hemingway and in the environment that so significantly influenced him and his writings.