The Program Maestros
The Joy Farm Writer's Retreat was the brain child of Liza Mattison and a group of fellow writers who were enjoying a lively discussion one summer evening in Paris when they realized their impassioned conversation about vague desires to be part of an artist's salon was more than just a raucous drunken dream. Indeed the idea of a salon as a way to promote intellectual discussion and exchanges ideas between artists is not simply a cherished literary tradition, it is a wholly necessary institution. At least that's what we writers tell ourselves. We believe the ability to congregate and discuss the literary arts with a group of like-minded peers is a vital part of the creative process. Liza, reared on this property from the time she was a young pup just happened to know a spot where a literary salon of sorts might be formed. And so, as legend tells, and given how good artists are at figuring out the business side of things, the project was heaved off the ground and launched a mere 4 years later. (Liza, who holds her undergraduate in geology wants to point out that 4 years is beyond lightning quick, geologically speaking.) The Joy Farm Writer's Retreat is the result of that dream that took root that night. We want to invite you to be a part of it.
Program Director
Liza Mattison MFA
Liza is a writer, freelance artist, and dreamer. One of the things she has always loved about Joy Farm is the immediacy of literary history at her finger tips. Though generally a misanthrope, she wants nothing more than to be able to share Joy Farm with fellow writers.
Land Barons and Cook
Peter and Becky Mattison PhD
The owners of Joy Farm since 1975 and Liza's parents for almost as long, Becky and Peter are breathtakingly hyperactive in their talents. They performed all the restoration on the old house and did most of the work on the new. Their incomparable arsenal of skill keeps Joy Farm together at the seams.
In addition to her myriad other skills, Becky is enthusiastic about cooking and the general reception on the recieving ends of such efforts is too. At least so far.
Hackeny Driver
Anna Urquhart MFA
Should you find yourself in Manchester Airport with no ride up to Joy Farm, you'll realize you should have contacted Anna earlier about arranging for a pickup. She is exceptionally organized for an artist.
Behind the Scenes
Gina Shopiro Master of ed and household
For the constant support and occasional pushing to keep Liza on task when she'd much rather procrastinate or be fetal in a corner somewhere, Gina is the unseen superglue of JFWR. She's also unseen since she has to teach in MA and earn real money during the retreat.
