Artist's rendering of Mill House at Glendower, the setting for new UK creative writing residency program.

Built more than 225 years ago, the Mill House at Glendower is a secluded, pastoral location to escape the bustle of daily life, a place to reflect, to create.

At least that’s what the University of Kentucky Department of English professors realized when they were surprised by an unexpected gift from UK alumni Joan and Greg Swanberg — a summertime four-week stay at the couple’s cottage at the Virginia retreat.

The generous gift allowed the department to create two new residency programs for aspiring authors — one two-week residency open to internal submissions from current UK students pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts in creative writing and a second two-week residency for external submissions from “emerging voices and debut writers.”

The first residency for current UK students includes a small food and travel stipend. There is no stipend for the external residency, but the successful applicant will be invited to read their work at the UK 2018-2019 Visiting Writers Series.

Applications are open to poetry, fiction and nonfiction. All applicants are to submit only one application per genre. External applicants must have published one book, but not more than two.

The deadline for all applications is Jan. 8, 2018.

Offering the new residency to both internal and external applicants is “a great way to promote the (MFA Program in Creative Writing) as well as strengthen the attractiveness of the program to potential applicants,” explained Hannah Pittard, associate professor of English and the director of UK’s MFA Program in Creative Writing.

“We’re incredibly proud of this residency, as there aren’t many like it associated with MFA programs elsewhere in the country. I think it puts us on the map in a totally unique and compelling way,” she added.

To apply, send a cover letter and two copies of the published book to:

Hannah Pittard Associate Professor Director, MFA Program in Creative Writing Department of English University of Kentucky 1269 Patterson Office Tower Lexington, KY 40506-0027

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue