Thurber House now accepting applications for 2010 Residence

“Being the Writer-in-Residence at Thurber House was an amazing experience. The opportunity to work on my manuscript without the bustle and constant interruptions of everyday life was invaluable, but the true gift was the opportunity to work with children." Hope Anita Smith, 2009 Resident

The Thurber House Residency in Children's Literature offfers talented, emerging writers a month-long retreat in a lovely, quiet living and working environment in James Thurber's boyhood home in Columbus, Ohio (click here for photos of the apartment). Besides having time to focus on his/her own writing project, the resident will teach writing-based activities to middlegrade children in a variety of community settings, including the Thurber Summer Writing Camp. The author selected for the residency will receive a stipend of $4,000.

If this sounds like a jem to you, click on the links below for guidelines and application form. The deadline is December 11, 2009.

Click here for the PDF of the Guidelines.
Click here for the PDF Application.
Click here for the PDF Fact sheet and fun quotes!

A Farewell to our 2009 Writer in Residence

Thurber House was delighted to host Hope Anita Smith, the 2009 Children’s Writer-in-Residence, in the cozy 3rd Floor Apartment through July. During her stay, Hope visited the zoo, taught classes at the writing camp, Northwest Library and the Homeless Families Foundation. She also enjoyed several walks to and from the main library with armloads of books! Hope left a few weeks ago, and the Thurber House family misses her sass and smiles. Hope plans to be back in the Columbus Area around October. For more information on Hope, visit her Web site, www.hopeanitasmith.com.

A Glimpse into Hope's stay at Thurber House:

Hope and Director of Children's Programming, Pat Shannon outside Cover to Cover with all of Hope's books!

Hope being inspired by the young writers at Thurber House Summer Writing Camp.

Hope giving the Thurber House running man a kiss farewell at the end of her stay.

Background of the Thurber Writer in Residency Program

Since 2001, the Thurber House has offered children's book writers a month-long retreat in the furnished third-floor apartment of Thurber House. Each resident spends up to ten hours per week teaching children the joys of writing in both a community-based agency and as part of the Thurber House Summer Writing Camp for children. He or she also receives a stipend and has plenty of time to write in the apartment where the bed fell on James Thurber's father. Past recipients are Deborah Wiles (01), Kathryn Hewitt (02), Natasha Tarpley (03), Laurie Miller Hornik (04), Shelley Pearsall (05), Sam Swope (06), Lisa Yee (07), Alan Silberberg (08).

2008 Recipient Alan Silberberg amuses Thurber Board President Louise Jones and former Board President Kitty Morton Epler at his welcoming reception. Lisa Yee, the 2007 recipient, gladly signs autographs for campers after her presentation at the Thurber Summer Writing Camp.

Thurber House would like to thank JP Morgan Chase for their continuous sponsorship of this program.