$300 Full-Conference
(includes keynote, 2 lunches, and critique session)

$145 One-Day
(includes lunch)

$45 a la carte, per session

930 Greensboro Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024

(706) 485-7785

Call to reserve.
Rooms Available, Use Booking Code:

GWM23

75% off for photo session for GWM Retreat attendees

Retreat Welcome & Schedule

Welcome to Georgia Writers Museum’s 2nd Annual Writers Retreat!

We are excited to bring together budding and experienced authors for a weekend of workshops, networking, and an overall fun and informative experience. Working with advice and assistance from the Atlanta Writers Club, we are honored to welcome notable writers from across the state. Together, we are forming a creative and supportive environment for writers to work on their craft and gain tips for publishing from some of the best writers in the state. Convening in Eatonton, Georgia, your retreat is nestled in the center of Georgia’s literary heartland. Nine Georgia Writers Hall of Fame members lived, worked, and wrote within 30 miles of Georgia Writers Museum. As we say, there must be something in the water!

Looking forward to hosting you at GWM’s Writers Retreat!

Melissa Swindell,

GWM Executive Director

Osprey Foundation’s Anne River Siddons Memorial Keynote

Saturday, Feb 25

Moderator

Chris Negron, 57th Annual Georgia Author of the Year Finalist, Young Adult

Picture Books

Rosalind & Maggie Bunn, Mother-Daughter team of the ALL ABOARD! series

Primary Grades

Carmen Agra Deedy, Jane Addams Peace Prize (Honor Book) and Pura Belpre Medal Honor Book

Middle Grades

Kim Zachman, Books All Young Georgians Should Read (2022)

YA Author

Jackson Pearce, Books translated into 23 languages

Brian Panowich, 2020 Georgia Author of the Year and LA Times Book Prize Finalist

Patti & Jack Phillips, CEO and Chairman of ROI Institute

Beverly Armento, Professor Emerita at Georgia State University

Michael Lucker, Screenwriter for Paramount, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, Universal and more.

Mari Ann Stefanelli, Georgia Chapter Coordinator Editorial Freelancers Association

George Weinstein, Executive Director Atlanta Writers Club

Kim Conrey, Author of Stealing Ares

Kathy Nichols, Author of The Sometimes Sister

Sunday, Feb 26

World-Building in Fantasy & Science Fiction

Ben Meeks, Moderator and author of The Keeper Chronicles 

Milton Davis, Contributing author to Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda, published by Marvel and Titan Books

Kim Conrey, Author of Stealing Ares

Jessica Khoury, Author of The Mystwick School of Musicraft, a Top 20 Most Listened-To children’s books of all time

Brenda Sevcik, Co-author The Trigger Effect

Jeremy Logan, Co-author The Trigger Effect and author of the Disaster trilogy

Kathy Des Jardins, National Federation of Press Women Award-Winner

Mimi Herman, Kennedy Center teaching artist, Director of the United Arts Council Arts Integration Institute and Co-Director of Writeaways

Wanda Lloyd, Former Chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University

Peter Selgin, 2012 William Faulkner William Wisdom Prize and Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Georgia College

Moderator, University Press

Kristine Anderson, Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction

Traditional Press

Wanda Morris, 2022 Georgia Author of the Year for Best First Novel

Small Press

Milton Davis, Contributing author to Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda, published by Marvel and Titan Books

Independent Press

Mimi Herman, Kennedy Center teaching artist, Director of the United Arts Council Arts Integration Institute and Co-Director of Writeaways

Self-Publishing

Kathy Manos Penn, Readers’ Favorite Gold Award

Book Contracts

Matt Smith, Author of Twenty Mile

Thank you to our sponsors!

Early Registration

through Jan. 31, 2023

Amanda Vining photo

Amanda holds a BS in Biology from Georgia College & State University. She began her career as an educator with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. After leaving the DNR, Amanda became a formal educator with Baldwin County School System and Jasper County School System. Amanda began her museum career at the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MAS) in Macon, Georgia, where she served as Curator of Environmental Science
(2011-2020). While at MAS, Amanda developed a love for sharing the world around us with the many students who visited on school field trips. During her time as Curator of Environmental Science, Amanda launched a storytime
program for preschool children.

Since 2020, Amanda has been serving Georgia Writers Museum as a volunteer on the Education Committee. Amanda has brought her love of sharing stories with students by launching Peaches’ Reading Pasture. As Museum Manager, Amanda looks forward to serving the community and helping to inspire those within our community to put words to paper and share their stories.

Amanda was born and raised in nearby Shady Dale, Georgia. Her husband, Rodney, is a native of Eatonton, and they currently reside in Putnam County. They have three children.