What a wonderfully rowdy, writerly weekend! So many stories told, so many stories yet to tell. And the level of writing, even from the two youngest conferees (ages 13 and 14), impressed far beyond words. Truly, SD26 will go down as one of our most memorable events, if not only for the terrific spirit of all the writers in the room, but for the disclosure of Sunday afternoon’s special guest speaker–none other than SCWC Director Wes Albers. While his debut novel, Black & White, isn’t out ’til March 20th, the good folks at ZOVA Books arrived with a couple big boxes of pre-publication editions and sold out almost immediately. New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds (The Book of Spies) hails Wes’ work, “Gritty and rewarding… A top-notch cop novel. Watch out, Joseph Wambaugh!” And hardcore noirist Gary Phillips (Underbelly) calls it, “Gripping, rugged, authentic.”
Another pre-book launch from ZOVA, Jessica Therrien’s Oppression arrived one year after they discovered her at our SD25 event. How cool is that? Now onto the awards…
SCWC*SD 26 Award Recipients:
OUTSTANDING FICTION
(title to be announced)
by Annoushka Lyvers of Yorba Linda, CA
OUTSTANDING LIFE STORY
Into The Night (read here)
by Joanne Wright Schulte of Santa Ana, CA
OUTSTANDING TOPIC
The Sanctuary (read here)
by Lacey Impellizeri of San Diego, CA
Congratulations to the honorees and to all the staff who helped make SD26 such a great ride. Dates for SD27 are Presidents’ Day Weekend, Feb. 15-18, 2013. Between now and then, join us in Newport Beach for LA10, Sept. 21-23, 2012, as well as anytime on our SCWC Facebook Page where you can share your good “muse” with like-minded members of our ever-growing writing community.
