Time to write
Authors take up summer residencies
In 2016, she moved here from the United
Kingdom to work in communication for an
Within a few hours of moving into the
international nonprofit. What was supposed
artist residency at Spotted Goat Cottage on
to be a couple-month stayed was extended
the Long Beach Peninsula, Sarah Buck-
after she fell in love with the area.
master said she was already looking at the
Buckmaster went home to U.K. for a
water and feeling the
while to care for family
inspiration.
because of the corona-
‘THERE IS A COMFORT virus pandemic. While
She is one of two
IN AN IMAGINARY
authors spending
there, she took evalu-
ated her priorities and
a week each in the
WORLD WHERE YOU
what she wanted. She
North Coast Writer’s
CAN
EXPLORE
AND
decided to slow down
Residency, which
JUST BE YOURSELF.’
a little on her work and
was developed col-
laboratively by the
take time to write her
Sarah Buckmaster
Astoria Writer’s
own personal projects.
Guild and Astoria
During her time at
Visual Arts, this summer. The authors will
the writer’s residency, she will be work-
ing on her first novel, which tells the story
use the isolation and inspiration of the resi-
dency on their respective writing projects.
of a dystopian future where depression is
Buckmaster is first. Following her is
believed to be contagious. In the novel,
Deborah L. Williams, who will stay at the
anyone who shows any signs of unhappi-
residency in August. Williams will read her ness is sent to a government camp, Buck-
master said.
work in progress at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at Asto-
ria Visual Arts.
Buckmaster is no stranger to the area.
See Page 7
BY BRIANA ALZOLA
Celebrate! July 4, 2021
Sarah Buckmaster
6 // COASTWEEKEND.COM