0233701
SKI SWAP
Lane County Fairgrounds
October 28 and 29
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Q AM _ Q PM
Consign Equipment 9 AM _5 pM
SALE Tickets $1.00 Friday Only IS
Presented by Willamette Pass, Willamette Backcountry Patrol and Hoodoo Ski Patrol
Stuff your pie-hole with tasty wholesome foods like our Big Bulging
Burritos, Hot Heaping Bowls, Kickin' Quesadillas, Fresh Soups, Salads,
Salsas and Smoothies. While you're here enjoy the organic juice bar,
vegan-baked goodies, local microbrews, art, music and general mischief.
760 Blair Blvd., Eugene
541.868.0668
Vegetarian, Vegan, Omnivore-friendly menu
Quick non-surly Service & Take-out • Food Alliance Member
ASUO NOW
HIRING!
POSITION:
Student Senate Seat #2, PFC
023492
Make your voice heard and help
decide issues affecting students.
Get involved with student governmment.
Applications Available in ASUO Suite 4
Applications Due by 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 or until filled
Contact ASUO at 346-3724 (AA/EOE/ADA)
A horror writer’s haven
Workshop helps writers
hone their terror skills
amid a haunted scene
BYTREVOR DAVIS
PULSE REPORTER
Sitting at a corner table in the
kitchen on a Friday night, Bill Smee
makes himself comfortable.
Outside he sees a cool fog over
Siltcoos Lake with the moon reflect
ing on the water.
He hears a train rattle down the
tracks in the distance.
While he sips coffee and types on
his laptop, he understands that he'll
likely be up all night.
For a good reason: He's writing a
ghost story.
Smee is one of about 20 writers
who attend a writing workshop
at Siltcoos Lake near Florence
taught annually by Eugene writer
Elizabeth Engstrom through Lane
Community College.
The objective is to write a fictional
story with a ghostly element by the
end of the weekend.
"The whole idea is to have fun,"
Smee said in reference to the
workshop held on the Oregon Coast
every May.
After 10 years of the workshop,
"Dead on Demand: The Best of
Ghost Story Weekend" was
published in 2001 by Triple Tree Pub
lishing of Eugene. The book spent
time on the Library Journal's best
seller list.
"I was surprised how well it was
received," Engstrom said. "I thought
it would mostly sell to people in the
(workshop) group. That was good
enough for me."
The second book is the recently
released "Ghost atthe Coast: The
Best of Ghost Story Weekend, Vol
ume 2," another anthology of short
fictional ghost stories.
For most of the authors, Volume 1
The rural lake setting adds to the
ghostwriting mood. Smee describes
the area as wooded with few people
around. "A couple times a day, or at
night, the train goes by,"
Engstrom said.
was their
first time
being pub
lished. That
included
Smee, who
worked at
the Univer
sity for 26
years with
jobs in food
service,
custodial
work
and public
safety.
The
workshop
began in
the early
'90s when
Engstrom,
Courtesy
"It can
be quite
conducive
to writing
ghost sto
ries," Smee
added.
While
the focus is
on fun, En
gstrom
makes sure
the class
receives
plenty of in
structional
aid. Before
the group
arrives, she
organizes a
pre-trip
meeting
who has nine books published, was
teaching a fiction writing class at
Heceta Head Lighthouse north of
Florence.
"Everyone was talking about how
the lighthouse was haunted. 'Well', I
thought, 'this would be a great place
to write ghost stories.'"
Years later the workshop was
moved to Siltcoos Station and Re
search Center, an off-campus facili
ty owned by LCC. The former train
station and motel consists of four
cabins and a boathouse that was
once a dance hall.
"It's very cool. Its got a lot of histo
ry," Engstrom said.
p
Does asthma
make your life
a challenge?
We need volunteers age
12 and over who require
asthma medication or con
troller therapy to participate in
an asthma study. If you qualify,
you will receive the following at
no cost:
• Investigational medication
• Study related office visits
• Breathing tests
• Study-related physical exams
No referral required. Reimbursement for time and travel provided.
Call our research office now for details: (541) 868-2137.
KRAIG W. JACOBSON, M.D.
Allergy and Asthma Research Group
1488 Oak Street • Eugene
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER.
where she teaches the structure ot
short stories. Once the class arrives,
participants discuss the elements of
a short story and talk about what
scaresthem.
"I've thought about it, and it's not
so much the scaring part... it's the
sense of awe that one might some
times get when faced with the un
known," Smee said.
While writing, participants are
given freedom in the creative
process. Writers choose the topic,
voice and where they write. "It's en
tirely up to the author," Smee said.
"People write everywhere. A lot of
BOOK, page 8
VLT
— 77th SEASON —
The Very Little Theatre
presents
A farce by Ken Ludwig
Chris Pinto, director
Oct. 21-23*, 27-30*
Nov. 3-6*, 11-12
‘Sunday Matinees
Tickets: $12
Students $9 on Thursdays
Box office open 2:00-5:30
• Wed.-Sat., 2350 Hilyard St.
www.TheVLT.com
344-7751