Authors Gather at Jeff Bezos' Super Secret Campfire Event

Posted on September 20, 2014

Wondering where your favorite writers are this weekend? You won't hear about it on Twitter or Instagram, but the word has finally gotten out. The movers and shakers are at the fabulous, 450 acre Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort and Spa located north of Santa Fe, New Mexico at Jeff Bezos' super secret annual retreat called Campfire.

So why haven't you heard about this exclusive gathering for influential authors, directors, activists, musicians, scientists and artists? Because, the first rule about Campfire is: You Don't Talk About Campfire. The New York Times reports that for the first time there is trouble at Campfire. Because of the Hachette dispute and some very vocal anti-Amazon statements made by some pretty big authors, some people who were expecting an invitation to the exclusive event didn't get one. James Patterson didn't get invited this year. He told The New York Times, "I wasn't invited again, and I wouldn't have gone if I had been....I would feel very odd being there." When pressed, he admitted that the prior years' events have been "terrific."

Terrific is a good adjective. The invitation is for an all expenses paid three day weekend. You can fly by private jet to the resort. Everything is comped. There are fabulous dinners, interesting speakers and live music performances. Bezos doesn't make anyone sign a nondisclosure agreement, he just tells guest the entire weekend is "off the record."

The Times confirmed at least one other author who signed the infamous Authors United letter who didn't get invited this year. National Medal of the Arts recipient and open letter signatory Maxine Hong Kingston has attended Campfire before, but this year she was not invited which is not surprising. Why would Bezos invite authors who are disparaging his company and his business model? Kingston refused to comment further, as did everyone else that The Times spoke to. Everyone seemed pretty freaked out by the subject matter and did not want to speak on the record.

There is amazing swag: down vests, other clothing, books, you name it. Guests get free luggage to cart home the swag. Prior events have included a discussion with Neil Armstrong under the stars, a Moby concert and lectures on literary and scientific topics. The conference brings to mind another secretive conference of world leaders: Bilderberg. Bezos has been a guest of Bilderberg and it seems that he has created his own literary Bilderberg, which is a pretty amazing concept. Apparently he invites activists on both sides of subjects to debate and have discussions: it's not a partisan conference.

There are guards at the gates of the resort and no one is allowed in who isn't on the list. The Times said that if you call the resort and ask for someone by name, they will not put you through to the room or even take a message. We're guessing The Times tried quite a few ways to get past the front desk, but it just wasn't happening.

George R.R. Martin and Margaret Atwood have attended in the past. On Sunday Martin will be at the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe for an evening of singing and storytelling with Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer. Coincidence? You decide.