FARMINGTON, ME (March 1, 2010)—Longfellow Mountains, a University of Maine at Farmington creative writing workshop for rising high school juniors and seniors, will premiere on the UMF campus this summer from Sunday, July 18 through Saturday, July 24, 2010. The only week-long young writers’ summer workshop in New England, Longfellow Mountains will provide talented high school writers with the opportunity to work with expert UMF faculty and published authors as students immerse themselves in the writing world.

Developed by the University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, the Longfellow Mountains experience will consist of small intensive workshops where students will write poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction in a collegial, supportive environment. Students will hear first-hand from professional authors and poets, see the inside workings of a successful small poetry press, share their work with fellow writers  and have time to relax and experience the best of Maine’s outdoor recreational opportunities.

Joining UMF’s creative writing faculty will be guest readers and lecturers from the dynamic local writing community, including:

• Wesley McNair—award-winning poet and UMF Writer in Residence
• Bill Roorbach—celebrated writer of short stories, memoir, essays, reviews and book length fiction, and recipient of the Flannery O’Connor Award for best short story
• Matt O’Donnell—noted poet and executive director of “From the Fishouse”— an online audio archive of emerging poets
• Sarah Thomson—author of twenty books for young readers, including the 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award winner

“What could be better for young authors of poetry, fiction and nonfiction than to learn about their craft from professionals, in the company of others with the same passion for writing,” said McNair. “This summer retreat of workshops, readings and social gatherings in the shelter of the mountains that bear the name of Maine’s best-known poet will transform its participants as writers.”

Student participants in the program will reside in a campus residence hall under the guidance of campus staff and senior creative writing students at UMF.  Cost of the week-long program is $700, which includes tuition, room/board and fees.

Applications for Longfellow Mountains can be found on the UMF website at http://creativewriting.umf.maine.edu/longfellow/ and must be postmarked by May 1, 2010. A limited number of full and partial merit-based scholarships to the workshop are available. To be considered for a scholarship, a five-page writing sample must be submitted with a completed program application and be postmarked no later than April 1, 2010.

All applications should be mailed to: Jeffrey Thomson, director; Longfellow Mountains Young Writers Workshop; 115 South Street – UMF; Farmington, ME  04938.

# # #

Media Contact: Jeffrey Thomson, director of Longfellow Mountains Young Writers Workshop, 207-778-7454, or jeffrey.thomson@maine.edu.