It was more than a week ago, but I’m still feeling the “afterglow” from the annual Mid-Winter Writers Conference. Attendance was a little less this year, but attendees made up for it with their enthusiasm. As in past years, the conference was sponsored by Pell City’s own Writers Anonymous and the Pell City Library.

Friday’s “Meet & Greet,” hosted by Susan Mann and the Pell City Library, included some brief readings from poets and authors. It also included heavy appetizers and some of Susan’s “famous” brownies. Finally, we were able to enjoy author and songwriter Cabot Barden playing the guitar and singing some of his original songs.

Following the continental breakfast supplied by WA members, the conference started with Margie Littleton’s “ice breaker.” If you’ve never seen 65 adults playing “musical hats” as they march around a room, you’ve missed something amazing. At times it was hilarious as these adults tried to grab a hat when the music stopped.

My own keynote, “How Do You Know You Can’t If You Have Never Even Tried?” was well received. After encouraging those hopeful and aspiring writers to give their “all” and try, they were released to workshops. All the workshop presenters offered something to inform and encourage attendees.

Workshops included fiction, non-fiction, blogging, writing for a cause and poetry as genres and included practical “nuts and bolts” sessions on grammar, editing, revising and promoting and marketing your books. Each presenter was highly qualified to address their topic and be of assistance to attendees. Presenters included publishers, editors, successful authors and authorities in their particular field.

Our delicious lunch was catered by Butts to Go, and Wade Reich did an amazing job as he always does. Both Wade and author Verna Gates were delighted to meet one another as Butts to Go is one of the places featured in Gates’ book, 100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die.

After lunch, we were privileged to hear David Bennett’s keynote, “Coming Up Short.” Bennett is the editor of HomeLife magazine, the flagship publication of LifeWay and the Southern Baptist Convention. His keynote was both amusing and challenging, and attendees were impressed with this humble man who, despite his position, has a servant’s heart and tried to encourage writers.

Several presenters and published attendees had book tables with their books available for sale. Seeing the interaction between aspiring writers and published authors is my favorite part of the conference, and time was allotted for networking and visiting the book tables. 

Some presenters stayed at our Pell City Hampton Inn, and some of them stayed with us at the “Shack on the Lake.” Attendees went home saying good things about Pell City from the warm welcome they received to the quality of the workshops and the conference overall. And how could they not fall in love with our wonderful Pell City? They fell under its magical spell just as my husband Harry and I did 12 years ago. You can be assured they will want to come back