Nature writing isn't a new subject for Grumbling. He is chairperson of the Department of Literature and Environmental Studies at the University of New England, has been published on the subject of nature writing and has given presentations specifically on the topic. So why was he here?
"I'm an academic and I've been wanting to move onto more creative work," Grumbling said. He spotted the conference on the Internet and, without giving a thought to preregistering, flew across the country so he could attend. When Grumbling arrived, he was disappointed to discover the event was sold out. However, registration personnel suggested he plead his case before Carol Swartz, conference director. Expecting to be turned away, he had his arguments prepared, only to be pleasantly surprised.
"Carol was very gracious," he said. "She said this is Alaska, and made me feel very welcome."
Grumbling's interest in nature is evident in his experience in land conservation, and spurred on by what he sees happening in his state.
"Maine is developing at an accelerating rate," he said. For 20 years, Grumbling has been involved in setting up a land bank for acquiring ecologically significant land, preserving farmland, watersheds, creating greenbelts, giving people access to nature. Looking around Kachemak Bay, he pointed out numerous similarities between his home state and Alaska — the maritime connection, extensive miles of coastline, a backcountry significantly different from the shore, forest lands, effects of glaciation, mountain peaks, colors, meadows and homesteads.
"Maine is like if you shrink this," he said.
Attending the conference also was a way for Grumbling to visit friends in the area and to fulfill a dream of seeing this part of the country.
"I wanted to get to Alaska while it is still Alaska," he said.
Author and publisher Jackie Pels who was born in Seward, but now lives in Walnut Creek, Calif. was another of the 10 out-of-state conferees.
"I've taught classes and done seminars on publishing, but this is my first (writers) conference and I love it," said Pels, whose publishing company, Hardscratch Press, has produced 16 books, 12 of them about Alaska. Pels also has written three books and is currently at work on a fourth, a collaborative effort with Ray Hudson.
It was research for her and Hudson's book, "A History of Alaska's Jesse Lee Home," due to be completed in the fall of 2006, that brought Pels north. But it was a specific faculty member that attracted her to the conference.
"I'm here because Sherry Simpson is here. She's my hero," Pels said. Simpson wrote reviews of books written by Pels' father, Ralph Soberg, and published by Hardscratch Press. "It would be a pleasure to read her reviews even if she hated the book because she writes so well."
Pels, who has participated in numerous book festivals on the west and east coasts, said she was impressed by others at the conference.
"I am in awe of my fellow participants," she said. "Their comments are so wonderful."
National recognition is one of Swartz' goals for the Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference.
"This year we're obtaining that goal," Swartz said, referring to participants that came from Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado, Alabama and, in the case of Grumbling and Pels, Maine and California. Ads placed on Web sites and in writing journals, as well as the positive experiences of those who have attended in the past, are helping spread the conference's reputation. "We're starting to receive much more national recognition that Homer is one of the places where one goes for a literary conference."
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
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