Last evening I attended the Missouri Writer’s Guild banquet at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Chesterfield, Missouri.
I made new acquaintances, ran into old friends, and met facebook buddies for the first time. The food was good, the conversation was lively, and I was in special company – the company of others that share my passion – writing.
Especially surprised and elated, I won two awards, and I told Marcia Gaye she was the good luck charm at our table (and a big award winner at last year’s gala.)
I received Third Place for Best Poem, sponsored by Mozark Press. My poem, Carolina Delight, reminisced about my love affair with Folly Beach, South Carolina and garnered publication in the Folly Current Newspaper at least two times in 2011. Little did I know there were over 600 poems submitted in this category, so I felt truly blessed.
I received 2nd Honorable Mention for Best Newspaper Article or Column, sponsored by the Missouri Press Association, for an article I penned for AOL/St. Charles Patch in 2011 on master gardener Anne Tansey of St. Charles. I swear, it had to be one of the hottest days of the year, and yet Anne kept her wonderful garden looking healthy and vibrant. And if those plants could’ve spoken, I am sure they would have said “I love you” for all the TLC she showed them. The article was entitled Garden Party: A Master Gardener’s Not-So-Secret Garden.
Sunday morning, I attended Christina Katz’s master class where I shared the company of ten energetic and exciting women writers. I had a blast.
Anyway, it was a pleasure to be in the company of such creative minds and hear about everyone’s projects, successes and even tribulations. Inspiration surrounded me.
And if anyone has pics from the conference, please send them to me.
As Ralph W
aldo Emerson once said –
Sheree's Warm Fuzzies 