I grew up in New Hampshire but wound up in Colorado, where I put myself through college, raised a son, and now live with two dogs, two cats, and one nice guy. I hike and road bike, and I’m a nutso backcountry skier. My literary short fiction and poetry appear in Phoebe, Cimarron Review, South Dakota Review, Adirondack Review, Roanoke Review, Literary Mama, MARGIE, Artful Dodge, and in many other journals. I taught writing at the University of Colorado-Boulder for several years and more recently I’ve somewhat despairingly tried to earn a living writing marketing copy and doing social media for Microsoft and other software companies. As the 2011-2012 George Bennett Fellow/Writer-in-Residence at Phillips Exeter Academy, I’ll be able to focus on finishing my novel, HEIST.
In the past I’ve also been honored with a Ragdale Foundation residency fellowship, and one of my manuscripts has placed first in its category at the Pike’s Peak Writers’ Conference. I’ve been a finalist in two Glimmer Train contests and a semi-finalist in a Tupelo Press book-length poetry contest. I’m looking forward to the coming year of writing and reflection at Exeter.
Hello Claudia, I just read your letter in The New Yorker in response to Paumgarten’s piece on skiing. Yes, I said, this woman knows skiing. Your closer rang especially true: “Sometimes this approach is as much a part of the activity as the skiing itself.” Bravo! Spoken like a true cultist. My own history goes way back to the 70′s, living on the rough side of Routt County (Oak Creek), skiing and living out of bounds. We had harsh attitudes of “Us and Them,” trying to stay pure in an unpure world. And look at Routt County now–Yikes! Anyway, after living many years in other places (but always dipping in and out, keeping in touch, skiing Hahn’s Peak once a year) I am set to return to live around Boulder come this summer. In the hierarchy of means I am still very Old School, only recently giving up my Kazama 205′s for a wider (not grossly) pair of Fischers. Still on 3-pins with lace-up boots. Love the telemark and the parallel turn. I am hoping to connect with like-minded skiers come next winter. Do you have any suggestions? Harold Brink
Thanks for checking out the site, Harold. Love skiing Hahn’s Peak. Still tour around on Kazamas, but have gone over to plastic boots and fat skis myself for tele. May cross over to the dark side and go AT as I get fatter and the joints get creakier. Most people think the Front Range is a bust for backcountry skiing–too much wind loading–but there are still plenty of good secrets. I’m not about to blab them here on the internet, but there’s a book called Powder Ghost Towns that’s spilled a few beans already and another called Front Range Descents. Enjoy!
Hi Miss Putnam!
Congratulations on your George Bennett Fellowship! I’m a new lower at Exeter interested in writing. Looking forward to meeting you next year!
Best,
Hansen