Nedjelko Spaich

Nedjelko Spaich is a writer in Los Angeles, California. His fiction has been published in Jellyfish Review, Maudlin House, Tiny Molecules, MoonPark Review, Cagibi Literary Journal, Reflex Fiction, Darin Klein's Box of Books, and others. His non-fiction work appeared in LAist, LA Weekly, and Los Angeles Review of Books. He is a graduate of Bennington College, a reader for Pidgeonholes and Okay Donkey, and currently at work on his first novel.

Did the retreat meet your expectations?

It exceeded my expectations. It felt like a true gift - no obligations, no workshops, no craft talks. Just me, the pages, a room of my own, and, most importantly, time. Time to write, time to read, time to be in nature, time to be alone.

What was the most unexpected part of your stay?

The setting. I was expecting the vast vineyards of Napa Valley, but at Moshin - perfectly isolated between Guerneville and Healdsburg, it is truly in the heart of a redwood forest.

What was the most enjoyable aspect of your retreat?

The total solitude, complete darkness save for the blanket of stars, and the exquisite quiet of the vineyard. (I’m an insomniac but I slept extraordinarily well at Moshin every night!)

What did you work on during the retreat?

Completing the first draft of my novel, “The Pink Moment.” The novel is a comic thriller about Niko, an unreliable narrator and former child actor/now aspiring writer, who eagerly embarks on a workshop and retreat in the serene town of Ojai, California. It’s fire season and wildfire smoke permeates the air. Excitement soon turns to unease when strange occurrences make Niko question the true nature of the workshop. Whispers of hidden agendas and ominous secrets abound, fueling Niko’s growing suspicion that he has been lured there for nefarious reasons. As he delves deeper into the enigma, getting to know his peculiar fellow residents and what strange reasons may have brought them to this particular hillside at this specific moment in their lives, he unearths unsettling clues and uncovers dangerous omens that may leave not only the retreat on the hill, but the entire town itself, in flames.

No one can write 24 hours a day! What other activities did you do during the retreat—any napping, hiking, or exploring the local area?

Every day I would finish my day’s writing around 3pm and venture out to explore. I ran up and down Armstrong Woods Road in nearby Guerneville to get my daily miles in. I hiked several trails in the jaw-dropping Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. I drove to the Pacific to see the view from Jenner Beach, Shell Beach, Goat Rock Beach, and others. I dined out, solo, at Boon Eat & Drink, Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar, and had a couple of pints of Pliny the Elder poolside at R3, and at my new favorite bar in Healdsburg, Duke’s Spirited Cocktails. I also ruined a pair of shoes exploring the beautiful Russian River beaches that were just seconds from Moshin. All of this before 8pm when I would return to my room, review the day’s writing, and sleep like a log until sunrise the next day.

Any tips or advice you think might be helpful for future residency applicants?

1. Bring sweatpants. Stay as cozy and comfortable as possible. 2. Stock the fridge and pantry with snacks (there’s a fantastic small grocery store, Speer’s Market, in nearby Forestville). 3. Arrive with a page or word count goal, but know you have the permission to revise, reduce, or abandon that goal altogether.

Can you sum up your experience in eight to ten words?

Absolutely blissful.