Scott Bauer sent us a construction timeline:

Storyknife Timeline

Before full funding is acquired:

Septic test holes and design
-before breakup ~ April 2013
Extend borough road (Ridge Circle) to lot 9
-after breakup – June 2013
Improve drainage between lots 9 and 10
-after breakup – June 2013

After full funding is acquired:

HEA power extension
Drill well
Driveway to cabins
Cabin foundations
Main house foundation
Septic system install
Water lines to cabins
Construct main house
Construct cabins
Landscape

The project can be completed in one 6 month building season. The main focus would be to get the structures enclosed during the summer weather with interior finishes in the fall/winter.

Dana adds, “This is predicated on the hope that we get enough funding for construction in the next three months. If we don’t, the timeline gets pushed back a year.”

Dana Stabenow – Founder
Dana is the author of twenty-nine novels, fifty columns and many feature articles for Alaska magazine, many short stories and essays, and blog posts too numerous to mention. She lives in Homer, Alaska.

Nathan Havey – Communications Director
Nathan is the Founder and CEO of Thrive Consulting Group, Inc.  He specializes in creating effective communications and press outreach strategies for small and medium sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and political campaigns.

Scott Gere – Online Director
Scott is the Account Director of Gere Donovan Press. He has managed award-winning interactive and print projects for 15 years. English major, newspaper editor, programmer, commercial fisherman, father of four girls… firearms enthusiast. Because of the “father of four girls” bit.

Scott Bauer – Builder Scott is a licensed, bonded general contractor with a Residential Endorsement who has been building in the Homer area since 1988. Projects include 36 single-family homes, an art gallery, a fishing lodge, a racquetball court, a dental clinic, and numerous renovations and additions.

Before you ask:

A storyknife is the English translation for the Yupik word yaaruin.  Traditionally, young Yupik girls would use yaaruin, made from wood or bone or antler or ivory, to carve stories in snow and in river banks to amuse their younger siblings. The stories were usually teaching stories, which featured children who disobeyed their parents and who were then killed and eaten by monsters.

Dana says, “I came across mention of storyknives in one of the early explorer diaries (I think it was Dall), and I couldn’t rest until I knew more. Since then I have featured storyknives in the Kate Shugak series and the Liam Cambell series and even in the Star Svensdotter series. As a traditional Alaska Native vehicle for storytelling, it is the perfect metaphor for what we hope to accomplish at Storyknife.”

This is the storyknife made by Alaskan artist Rick Lonsdale and given to Dana by her best friend Kathy just before they went downstairs to attend the Edgar awards ceremony in New York City.

Dana was wearing it when she won her Edgar for A Cold Day for Murder.

And it is now the logo for Storyknife Writers Retreat.

Our Non-Profit 501(c)(3) application was filed in mid-January, 2013.  The average time for applicants to hear back from the IRS is 3-6 months.  Any donations we receive before we are awarded non-profit status are not guaranteed to be tax deductible.  IF our 501(c)(3) status is awarded before the end of the year (which is likely) the ‘effective date’ will probably be the filing date (mid January).

Assuming that happens, donations given now should be tax exempt, but we know sometimes stuff happens, and it might not be.  We are trying to be transparent in all things as we go through this process so we will keep you informed of our progress.

If you are interested in supporting Storyknife, you can either sign up to be notified when we have received our 501(c)(3) status and your donations will be tax deductible, or you can give now if you either don’t care about or are willing to take a small chance that your donation may not be tax deductible.

See our sponsorship levels here.