Comedy, romance the focus of February writers conference

Comedy, romance and new trends in publishing will be the topics of presentations and workshops during the Scribbler's Retreat Writers Conference, Feb. 11-13 at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island.

In keeping with its mission to provide "world-class authors, speakers and lecturers," the February conference will include these speakers:

Adam Davies - Keynote speaker for the conference, this former Random House editor is the author of three novels including "The Frog King," soon to be a major motion picture with script by Bret Easton Ellis; "Goodbye Lemon," a family drama; and "Mine All Mine," which was purchased for film with the author to write the screenplay. His nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times and he has made many appearances on radio and TV including NPR and "Breakfast With the Arts" on A&E.

Haywood Smith - This delightfully funny writer is author of "The Red Hat Club" and "The Red Hat Club Rides Again," both of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. The paperback version of her novel, "Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch" appeared on USA Today's and New York Times' bestseller lists. Other books include "Traditions of Magnificant Mothers-In-Law," "Wedding Belles," "Highland Princess," "Secret in Satin," "Ladies of the Lake" and, coming this fall, "Waking Up in Dixie."

Daniel Black - An associate professor at Clark Atlanta University, he is the author of "They Tell Me of a Home," "The Sacred Place" and his latest novel, "Perfect Peace." He is the founder of Ndugu-Nzinga, a group whose focus is to instill principle and character in the lives of African American youth. His talk is entitled, "Way, Way Down South: African American Storytelling as Literature."

Scribbler's Retreat hosts four conferences per year, with a focus on scholarship students as well as professional and budding writers who wish to hone their craft. Each two-day conference features ten speakers. Conferences begin with an opening banquet and feature an "Evening with the Author" cocktail reception on Saturday.

Conference cost ranges from $395 without accommodations to $795 with accommodations, and includes the Opening Ceremony Banquet, all ten workshop sessions, "Evening with the Author" Cocktail Reception & Hors d' oeuvres, and the Closing Ceremonies and announcement of the "Challenge" prize winners.

A special "Day Rate" is available for residents of Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call 800-996-2904. Or, visit Scribbler's Retreat online.

UPCOMING 2010 SCRIBBLERS RETREAT WRITERS CONFERENCES

• May 13-15: Journalism, Novels, Creative Non-Fiction
• Aug 12-14: Action Thrillers, Humor
• Nov 11-13: Historicals, Fantasy

Writers Workshops Provide Inspiration, Encouragement

Through the years, the abundant beauty of the Georgia coast has inspired artists of every stripe: painters, potters, jewelers, and writers among them.

In 1878, poet Sidney Lanier extolled the lush beauty of our coastal landscape, in his ode to "The Marshes of Glynn." Many others have written about coastal Georgia's towns and cities and their inhabitants. One of the best-known local authors was Eugenia Price, who wrote 14 historical novels about the Georgia and Florida coasts in the 1800s. During the 1930s, playwright Eugene O'Neill built a home and worked on Sea Island, where he wrote "Ah, Wilderness," his only comedy. Another writer of the period, Ben Ames Williams, also lived and wrote on Sea Island.

Contemporary writers can find similar inspiration - along with healthy doses of fellowship and professional guidance - during writers workshops conducted here in the Golden Isles.

Southeastern Writers Association Writers Workshop
The Southeastern Writers Association will conduct its 34th (yes, 34th) annual Writers Conference June 21-25 at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island. The annual conference draws professional and aspiring writers from throughout the country who gather to share knowledge and experience, hone their skills and promote themselves and their work.

This year's workshops are led by a team of nationally and internationally known writers including novelist Steve Berry, whose books have made the best-seller lists of the New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today. Other faculty include romance novelist and cookbook author Cheryl Norman; short fiction writer Jimmy Carl Harris; children's book author Jo Kittinger; freelance non-fiction writer Kristen Kemp; poet Dana Wildsmith; writer, editor and publisher Chuck Sambucino, and blogger and online marketing expert Charlotte Babb.

Workshops cover a range of topics including advanced fiction, fiction, short fiction, juvenile, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, blogging for writers, marketing and more.

In addition to the classroom sessions, workshop participants also can:

• Have up to three manuscript evaluations in personal conferences with instructors.
  
• Enter contests in Fiction, Poetry, Non-fiction, Inspiration, Humor, Science Fiction and Fantasy.
  
• Get to know agents, editors and instructors on a personal level.
  
• Sell their books at workshop bookstore.
  
• Sign their books at the Autograph Party.
  

Tuition for the full conference, including a one-year membership in the Southeastern Writers Association, is $395. Daily tuition also is available. Tuition does not include lodging accommodations or meals.

For more information about the workshop, please visit their website.

Scribblers Retreat Writers Conference
Scribblers Retreat will offer four writers conferences during 2009: Feb. 12-15, May 14-17, Aug. 13-16 and Nov. 12-15. Conferences take place at Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort on St. Simons Island. Each conference will focus on different aspects of writing, from History, Short Stories and Humor (February) to Novels and Journalism (November).

Workshop participants learn from the best authors, speakers, teachers and mentors, editors and publishers, during 10 one-hour sessions. Each day offers a leisurely lunch break, perfect for island exploration, walks along the beach or relaxation.

Workshops are open to published and non-published writers, and are dedicated to encouraging, educating and promoting writers of all ages to continue their craft and publish their works.

Conference packages are $795 and include three nights accommodations, daily breakfast buffet, a Thursday evening banquet and "Evening with Author" cocktail reception on Saturday. For information about the conference and registration, visit their website. 

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A Google search yielded many other novels set in coastal Georgia. These include: 

• "Palindrome" by Stuart Woods (set on Cumberland Island)
  
• "When Winter Comes" by Beverly Bird (Savannah)
  
• "Muskrat Courage" by Philip Lawson (Okefenokee Swamp)
  
• "Run Jane Run" by Maureen Tan (Savannah)
  
• "The Jekyll Island Club" by Patricia M. Clark (Jekyll Island)
  
• "Out of the Ruins" by Sally S. Wright (Cumberland Island)
  
• "Endangered Species" by Nevada Barr (Cumberland Island).
  

For additional information about Georgia writers, visit www.gabooks.com/authors.htm. 

For information about books that relate specifically to Brunswick & The Golden isles, visit our website.