2nd Annual All Write Now! Conference

Saturday, July 11, 2015 was not just hot from the sun on the Campus of Southeast Missouri State University, but was sweltering with excitement from writers coming together for networking, pitching, and sharing knowledge and experience.

The conference was established and coordinated through Southeast Missouri Writing Guild of Cape Girardeau, Mo and Heartland Writers Guild of Jackson, Mo. SEMOWG President Donna Essner and HWB President Mary Rechenberg headed volunteers from both groups in coordinating a packed day of breakout sessions and speakers.

Keynote speaker was Dr. Susan Swartwout, professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University, with luncheon speaker New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox. Various other session presenters included, children's author Margo L. Dill; New York Times Bestselling author Eileen Dreyer (aka Kathleen Korbel); poet and editor of Crab Orchard Review Dr. Allison Joseph; Southeast Missourian Editor Bob Miller; author Catherine Rankovic; book designer Ellie Searl; 2012 Erma Bombeck Award winner Dona Volkenannt, and author and technology instructor Janet L. Cannon.

Pitches were heard by publishers: Brick Mantel Books, Amphorae Publishing Group, Deadly Writes, and Rocking Horse. The conference also included writing contests. The theme for the contests was 'second' in honor of the second year of the conference.

Winners of the flash fiction contest judged by George Sirios and sponsored by Deadly Writes Publishing were: Amie Heasley, first place for How to Imagine Knocking Off a Gas Station; Janice Fleming, second place for Now, Just Wait A Second, Jennifer Maritza McCauley, third place for Summer Love, On Sidewalks.

Winners of the poetry contest judged by Dr. Susan Swartwout, sponsored by Stan Crader were: Stephanee Walker, first place for Time Saunters By; Charlotte Beard, second place for Second Chances; Tara Pedroley, third place for Hidden Friendship.

Non-fiction contest judged by Lisa Miller, Walrus Publishing sponsored by John and Carol Fisher winners were; Katheryn Cureton, first place for One Man's Hot Tub Is Another Woman's Nightmare; Sarah L. Geringer, second place for Scar Tissue, Lisbeth Davidow, third place for Miss Baby Doll.

Short fiction contest judged by Jeremy Thompson, English Instructor, Southeast Missouri State University sponsored by Kolb Web Inc. were: Cynthia Graham, first place for The Ice Storm; Karen Uban, second place for Secondhand Cal; William Cureton, third place for The Passing of the Scythe; Jessica Baumgartner, Honorable Mention for No Second Chances.