Tag Archives: larry schardt

After Action Report: Mindful Writers Retreat – Autumn 2024

After a year’s absence, it was pure joy to return to Ligonier, PA during the third week in October for the Mindful Writers Retreat nestled in the Laurel Highlands region of the Allegheny Mountains.

Everything about the Mindful Writers Retreat is magical, the gorgeous fall foliage that surrounds us, the amazing writers who have become my tribe since I began attending in 2018, the guided meditations we practice each day, the peaceful sunrise walks through the woods, and of course, the hours of quiet writing time each day.

All of these elements come together at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center, resulting in an extraordinary experience that keeps me coming back almost every autumn (I’ve missed only two since 2018).

My Home for the Week: Room 8 in Lamont Lodge
My Home for the Week: Room 8 in Lamont Lodge
Lamont Lodge

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, I took sunrise walks through the endless woods and trails of the Ligonier Camp. As always, these beautiful excursions bring enormous peace to the mind, heart, and soul and, of course, they’re excellent for the body as well.

I spent the first two and a half days editing works written by fellow members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. Every odd year, our group publishes a themed anthology of short stories, essays, and poems. I’ve been on the editing team for these anthologies since 2016.  We’re gearing up for our 2025 anthology, Writing a Wrong. I managed to finish all nine pieces that were assigned to me by Wednesday morning.

The latter half of the week was spent on a sequel to a novella that I’d published in 2018 called Like Mother, Like Daughters. As I did with my first two novels, Testing the Prisoner and By Your Side, I plan to reissue Like Mother, Like Daughters along with its sequel in one omnibus edition. That might happen in 2025, but more likely the year after.

On Wednesday afternoon, I ventured into town with another writer, Lilan Laishley, to ship some items I had sold on eBay the previous Friday. While there, we took the opportunity to cast our votes in the town’s scarecrow contest. It’s a Ligonier tradition that some of the local businesses set up scarecrows around the center of town. Residents and tourists are then afforded the opportunity to vote on their favorite.  In this case, there were about 25 scarecrows to choose from.

      

   

Afterwards, we stopped for ice cream at the Ligonier Creamery before heading back to the lodge for more writing time.

On Thursday afternoon, I walked down to the local creek where I meditated for a brief time and basked under the autumn sun.  Thursday is our last full day at the retreat and in what has become a tradition, most of us took a break from writing to gather around the hearth in the evening.

Thursday night by the fire.
Thursday night by the fire.

However, one of our longtime members, Lori Jones, had the brilliant idea to take a night walk through the camp to some of the cabins scattered about the property. This turned into a quasi-paranormal investigation that ended in a breathtaking star gazing event.

Night walk through the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center
Lori Jones checking out the Alexander House like Nancy Drew!
“Ghost hunting” in the Alexander House.
“Ghost hunting” in the Alexander House.
The Mindful Writers Paranormal Investigators. Any evidence we find can and will be used in a story.

This year’s Mindful Writers Retreat was the most magical one yet. The weather was gorgeous for the entire week (it usually is), our group participated in our usual hijinks and shenanigans,  and I managed to accomplish everything I’d planned for the week.

The only time I ever dislike a Friday is when I’m at the retreat because that is the day all of us part ways and return to reality. Deepest gratitude to Kathie Shoop and Larry Schardt for all they do to organize the Mindful Writers Retreat twice a year. I already look forward to next October!

Book Review: My Runaway Summer by Larry Schardt

My Runaway Summer by Larry SchardtEscaping his abusive father, fifteen-year-old Larry Schardt runs away from his Pittsburgh home in the summer of 1970 and hitchhikes with a friend to Ocean City where he finds love, kinship, and a sense of belonging all while sleeping on back porches and under boardwalks. Larry’s ultimate goal is to continue on his journey to freedom all the way to Haight-Ashbury, a hippie haven in San Francisco but it isn’t long before he learns that you cannot run away from your problems. All told, Dr. Schardt presents a fast-paced coming of age memory that carries the reader away on an adventure of peace, love, and rock ‘n roll!

After Action Report: Mindful Writers Retreat – Autumn 2022

As I write this, the sun is rising on the final morning of the 2022 Autumn Mindful Writers Retreat. As always, it was a magical week at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center nestled in the Laurel Highlands in western Pennsylvania.

Mother Nature blessed us with five days of clement weather and vivid fall colors.  I managed to finish three more chapters of my novella-in-progress and when I wasn’t writing, I hiked through the woods and joined my fellow scribes in afternoon meditation.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, I stole away from the retreat to participate in two Zoom sessions with fellow members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. The first was a discussion panel on Writing Genre Fiction with Dianna Sinovic, Michael Daigle, and Rachel Thompson. The second was an Author Dialogue with Dianna wherein we enjoyed an informal discussion about various aspects of writing. Both Zoom meetings will be included in the programming for the upcoming Easton Book Festival.

On our final evening of the retreat, the group gathered around the fire for a few hours of relaxation and socializing. Now, it’s nearly time for our final brunch together and then I’m on the road home with fond memories, some lessons learned about book marketing, and solid progress in my current project.

Deep gratitude to retreat organizers Kathie Shoop and Larry Schardt and to the staff at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center. I look forward to future retreats!

Mindful Writers Group

Sunset over Ligonier

Sunset over the Trees

Sunset over the Trees

Evening Social by the Fire

Evening Social by the Fire

Evening Social by the Fire

Blanket Flowers

Sunrise over Ligonier

Rifle Range at Sunrise

Bunk Beds
My home during the retreat.

Vibrant Rose

Macartney Lane
Macartney Lane

 

Mindful Writers Retreat Recap – Autumn 2021

To the disappointment of some of my fellow attendees at the Mindful Writers Retreat last week, summer weather made a final,  triumphant return. Daytime temperatures hovered between 73F and 79F with abundant sunshine in bucolic Ligonier, PA. Unlike last year, when the foliage was resplendent in autumn colors, most of the trees this time were only beginning to show signs of the season.

   

This was my third Mindful Writers Retreat since 2018 and I hope to see it become an annual autumn tradition for me. There are also winter and spring retreats in February and March, respectively, but I have conflicting events at those times of year.

The Ligonier Camp and Conference center, nestled in the Laurel Highlands region of the Allegheny Mountains, is the perfect location for hours of quiet, uninterrupted writing sessions, rejuvenating walks in the woods to stir the creative juices, and enjoying delicious meals and evening socials with a coterie of talented fellow writers.

This year’s retreat delivered the added bonus of a brief paranormal experience. It was shortly after 3AM on Tuesday, October 12 when, during a restless sleep, I heard the door to my room creak open and what sounded like a hand sliding along the vinyl covering on one of the neighboring bunk bed mattresses. It wasn’t entirely dark in the room as I had left a low wattage light on. Unable to move at first, I opened my eyes with great difficulty, but there was no one to be seen… except for the owls.

     

     

That could have been a simple case of sleep paralysis, but Ligonier has a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War.  Fort Ligonier is only minutes away from the lodge and just down the street is the Wilpen Rail Trail where, on July 5, 1912, a horrible train wreck occurred claiming 24 lives and injuring 38 others.

All told, it was a productive week for me as I finished the outline and first two chapters for what I hope will be my fourth paranormal mystery novel. I also submitted a short story to Space Opera Digest, a prestigious science fiction anthology, and made a few tweaks to my short story intended for next year’s Mindful Writers anthology.

I’ve so far contributed to two of the Mindful Writers charity anthologies beginning in September 2019 with Over the River and Through the Woods and in January 2021 with Love on the Edge.  Their first book, Into the Woods, was published in spring of 2018, a few months before I arrived on the scene. New editions of all three anthologies were released in June 2021.

Over the River and Through the Woods     Love on the Edge

The anthologies are made possible through the efforts of retreat co-organizer Kathie Shoop and editor/publisher Demi Stevens of Year of the Book Press. Larry Schardt, a fellow member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, is the other half of the retreat coordination team with Kathie.

Speaking of Kathie, she took time out of the retreat to interview each author about their published books and what they enjoy most about the retreats.

As usual, the week flew by much too quickly, but I left with memories  I’ll cherish forever, including an early morning walk in the fog. Already looking forward to next October!

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Rocks!

Over the River and Through the WoodsFellow writer Larry “Rock ‘n Roll” Schardt reveals the personal  inspiration behind his essay, “First Nativity” for Over the River and Through the Woods. This winter holiday anthology—published by Year of the Book Press—features stories, essays, and poems from the attendees of the Mindful Writers Retreat.

Christmas rocks! Through my life, Christmas has always been an exciting time. My mother taught us the joy in giving in the spirit of Jesus. As the oldest of nine, I learned the elation that goes with giving… picking out that special gift for each of my four brothers and three sisters. The manger of our nativity set was always the centerpiece of every holiday. When I moved out on my own it was critical that I got my own heirloom to have forever. My story is about carrying on that family tradition.” —Dr. Larry Schardt

Together with Kathleen Shoop, Larry serves as co-organizer of the Mindful Writers Retreat which takes places three times per year at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center in Ligonier, PA and nestled in the gorgeous Laurel Highlands.

Speaking of Kathleen, her delightful story for our anthology was adapted from a touching historical event.

“My story, “The Christmas Tree,” was inspired by the true story of Mark Carr, the first Christmas tree vendor to sell trees in Washington Market, New York City. I’d read about him over the years, as he’s mentioned in various Christmas books I own. So when coming up with an idea for a holiday story to submit to Over the River and Through the Woods, Carr’s story immediately came to mind. I changed the names and pieced together the facts I could find to make the fictionalized story feel “real.” I think I captured what must have been the wonder and joy the family felt when they realized they could share their abundance of trees with others and save their farm.” —Kathleen Shoop

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center. We thank you for your support!

 

Over the River and Through the Woods!

Over the River and Through the Woods Advance CopiesA beam of sunlight on an otherwise dreadful day. My two advance copies of the winter holiday anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods, featuring my story, “Limited Time Offer.” The book will debut on October 8! Whoo-hoo… or Ho-Ho-Ho… or something like that… 😄

The full roster of authors includes Lorraine Donohue Bonzelet, Jennifer Diamond, Abigail Drake, Phil Giunta, Kimberly Kurth Gray, N.J. Hammer, Hilary Hauck, Eileen Enwright Hodgetts, Lori M. Jones, Ramona DeFelice Long, Janet McClintock, MaryAlice Meli, Amy Morley, Sherren Elias Pensiero, Cara Reinard, James Robinson, Jr., Larry Schardt, Kathleen Shoop, Demi Stevens, Denise Weaver, and Michele Zirkle.  Edited by Demi Stevens.

All of the writers listed above are attendees of the Mindful Writers Retreat, which  occurs three times per year at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center in Ligonier, PA. I had the pleasure of attending my first retreat in October 2018 and it will not be my last!

Proceeds from the sale of the anthology benefit the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center. Stay tuned for more info!