Women authors flock to annual writers' retreat

Guests at The St. George Island Writers' Retreat began trickling home Sunday afternoon. Nov. 15, with the last exiting Monday morning.

They had come from as far away as Tampa, The Villages, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Bessemer, Ala. Others came from nearby Apalachicola and Panacea. Although from different regions and from divergent backgrounds, the group was united by a love of writing, the need to tell a story and the desire to learn more.

Our mentor, Adrian Fogelin, two-time winner of the Florida Book Award, whose novels have won places on numerous state reading lists, won our admiration as she deftly led us to stronger writing and more engaging tale-telling. From the least to the most experienced among the 10 women participating, we progressed on our projects and took home new tools with which to continue the job.

We loved our time on St. George Island, and our day in Apalachicola - the Writers' Workshop Day at Trinity Episcopal Church and Authors' Night at Downtown Books.  

Workshops were taught by Fogelin, Dawn Evans Radford and Mary Lois Sanders. Fogelin taught "There's Someone I'd like You to Meet - A novel approach to building believable characters;" Radford taught "Writing What You Know;" and Sanders taught "Manuscript Nuts & Bolts: Preparing Your MS for Publication.” Lunch was served by Mrs. Cheryl Creek’s Franklin County High School Culinary Operations class.

The evening readings featured these three authors as well as Susan Womble, this year's Florida Book Award winner for “Newt’s World,” Eastpoint’s Richard Edward Noble, who authored "Hobo-ing America," “Summer with Charlie,” and “The East Pointer,” Wanda Tucker Goodwin, co-author of “The Last Roll Call;” and myself. Works by all of the retreat authors are available at Downtown Books.

The readings were highlighted by reading from, and the launching of, Joan Harrell's memoir "A Bridge to France." Joan was working on her memoir the two years she attended the St. George Island Retreat, and intended to return this year. Last winter she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and she opted to forego treatment and spend the time she had enjoying her family.

During her illness three members of the past retreat and Joan's daughters hatched a plan to get Joan's memoir into print - hopefully before her death. We didn't make it, but a few days before her death she was thrilled to hear the last two chapters read to her, and to know that her dream of publication was going to be implemented by her children. The daughters are finalizing the manuscript now for submission to a publisher.

All that, coupled with Hurricane Ida's decision to leave the Panhandle the day before the Fiction Among Friends gang convened, made for an experience to be savored. It was hard to tear ourselves away, but we consoled ourselves with promises to return to your beautiful and hospitable region next November, again the week of Veterans' Day.

Persis Granger is the organizer of the St. George Island Writers' Retreat, held Nov. 12 to 15. For more information, visit www.PersisGranger.com or persisgranger.blogspot.com