Iceland review - 2017, Síða 22

20 ICELAND REVIEW
know anybody, you can’t get behind
the façade,” she elaborates. Claudia led
workshops on the process of writing and
research. Prior to the retreat, she had
traveled around the country with her
husband. On a visit to Bjarnarhöfn Shark
Museum on Snæfellsnes peninsula, West
Iceland, she bought small containers with
fermented shark. “I asked my students
to imagine what it would taste like and
write about it. Then, they got to taste
the shark, swallowing it down with some
Scotch—at 10:30 in the morning!—and
again I asked them to write about it.”
Afterwards, Claudia showed her students
pictures and told them what she had
learned at the museum, including that
the Greenland shark can live to be 400
years old and that a parasite makes its
eyes glow. For the third time, she asked
them to write about eating shark. “This
way, I could demonstrate how research
enriches writing.”
Icelandic historical novelist Vilborg
Davíðsdóttir, who has also published a
memoir, first participated in the Iceland
Writers Retreat at a book reading in
2016. This year, she was invited to lead
workshops on historical fiction and
writing memoirs—the creative force of
pain. “I enjoyed it very much and I was
impressed by the quality of the partic-
ipants’ writing, how good they were
at expressing themselves and provid-
ing constructive criticism,” she remarks.
“Some were amazing. After one of the
readings, no one said anything; we all just
started applauding.” It was a mixed group
of people, Vilborg says. “Some were
working on their books; others hadn’t
written before. But they were all con-
nected through their dream of writing.”
SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Eliza states that incorporating feedback
and reviewing the program from year
to year is important to her and Erica.
After each retreat, they ask participants
to rate their experience. Feedback has
been overwhelmingly positive. “They say
that they would recommend it to a friend
and that it’s either excellent or very
good value for money. The key to that is
that we foster a welcoming and friendly
atmosphere.” In addition, they provide a
unique setting, she says, and try to man-
age people’s expectations, “so that they
don’t expect to have much solitary time
for writing or the chance to pitch their
book to an editor.” Eliza stresses that
this is a very Nordic and quite “egalitar-
ian” event, where featured authors don’t
just “sweep in to give a talk.” A sense
of community is embraced between the
students and faculty members. “This
blend of experience works. It’s inspiring
to be in a new environment and among
like-minded people.” For two years now,
aspiring authors have been given the
opportunity to win scholarships for the
Iceland Writers Retreat, something Eliza
is especially proud of.
Eliza and Erica will continue running
and improving their retreat; the fifth
event will take place April 11-15, 2018,
and registration will open this sum-
mer. After Eliza’s husband Guðni Th.
Jóhannesson took office as president of
Iceland in August 2016, she has stated
that she didn’t want to give up her job
just because her husband got a new job.
“This is my professional baby,” she says.
“I enjoy the work, having created some-
thing from nothing. I’ve met so many
fantastic and wonderful people and made
friendships for life.” u
L I T E R AT U R E
At the 2017 Iceland Writers Retreat. Clockwise from left: books by faculty members; Nadifa Mohamed leading a workshop; from the pub night;
from the reception at the Whales of Iceland museum; the panel, from left: Chris Cleave, Nadifa Mohamed, Vilborg Davíðsdóttir, Paula McLain
and Paul Murray; during a Q&A session with the featured authors.