Poetry read by (L to R) Denise Duhamel, William Greenway, Joe the MC and local Sanibellian poet and Jeffrey Thompson. Wonderful way to end an awesome experience! thank you BIG ARTS and thank you FGCU 🙂
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Poetry read by (L to R) Denise Duhamel, William Greenway, Joe the MC and local Sanibellian poet and Jeffrey Thompson. Wonderful way to end an awesome experience! thank you BIG ARTS and thank you FGCU 🙂
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Great session about the brave new world of self-publishing at the Sanibel Writers Conference.
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We are creatures of habit – you find something that works, you stick with it!
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Keynote speaker Augusten Burroughs at the Sanibel Writers Conference
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Satire is his specialty 🙂
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I think he’s reading Robert Wilder, who is very funny and a GREAT teacher.
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President Bradshaw of FGCU presents Tom DeMarchi with a plaque to recognze him for his efforts to spearhead FGCU’s "premier event", the Sanibel Writers Conference.
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It’s very loud in here – glad I am a student, as I did not have to jockey for a seat. it was suggested tat they shut down the bar in order to get everyone to come inside 😉 It’s ver nearly a full house.
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As in, how many miles on the treadmill to work this off? Between 10 days at Disney and then these 4 days at the Sanibel Writers Conference, I’m afraid that I have some serious atonement ahead of me!
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Karen Tolchin introduces her parents Martin & Sue at the Sanibel Writers Conference.
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left to right – Erin Almond, Lynne Barrett, Jeffrey Thompson, Steve Almond. gonna stop blogging for the moment and pay attention!
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Last reader then lunch!
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Sanibel Writers Conference – Keith Lee Morris regales us with hilarious tales of college life.
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He seems tireless, this professor from FGCU and conference organizer extraordinnaire.
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Better living through anarchy and transgressive behavior :p
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First session was on memoir writing, with Debra Monroe. Took place in this weird little conference room at the Sanibel Library. Chilly walking around "campus" this morning!
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Guatemalan blend for this morning’s jolt. It’s definitely in the 50s temp wise. Jeans and sweatshirt getting a workout!
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Musician Kristin Hersh reads from her memoir "Rat Girl" – she’s going to play for us too.
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A truly funny individual – I can barely type this!
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Paste was a fine publication, but like lots of print media, it recently folded. Poor Nick, I kind of know what he’s going through. And I wish him bigger and better!
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We still have two readers and a musical guest on tap this evening!
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Grouper cakes with citrus chutney, fruit and cheese, mini spinach quiche and a chunk of "Oreo Dream". Oh and chardonnay.
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From left to right: Keith Lee Morris, Beth Ann Fennelly, fellow Queens girl Margo Rabb ("Lets Go Mets!"), Robert Wilder, Steve Almond
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Between sessions at the Sanibel Writers Conference – just had a panel full of memoirists talk about their genre and field questions – really stimulating and lively discussions. Looking forward to two more days of this 🙂
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Lisa Gallagher and Christopher Schelling answer questions at BIG ARTS during the Sanibel Writers Conference.
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First time trying Sanibel Bean coffee – loving it! So glad I went straight for thejeans this morning. It’s BRRR! Not sure how cold but feels like 60*F or less. looking forward to a funday of Sanibel Writers Conference conference sessions.
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It’s storming outside, loudly, and Sanibel has lost power twice while Walter Kirn has been reading from his memoir. He said, "let’s get this done and get the hell outta here!" LOL
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Walter Kirn, who wrote a book made into a movie starring George Clooney, reads from his memoir "Lost In The Meritcracy"
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It’s been a stimulating day and it’s not over yet! After this cocktail hour, there will be readings an a concert. Thoroughly enjoying this!
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This was a hit – and what you see in this photo is only HALF. I devoured the other half. The iced tea is unsweet- a plus in my book – and they gave me a free refill, saying, "Have a happy conference". It was $9 total and since I will get two meals out of it (it was just too much for me for a single sitting), well worth the price.
Fresh Planet Cafe is located in the Gulf Coast Towne Center in Fort Myers and I’m going to try and remember to eat there when I go to see Harry Potter on the 17th.
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I was happy to hear that there would be a lunch option on site at BIG ARTS during the conference. It means I don’t have to give up my excellent parking space to go in search of sustenance.
I had never heard of Fresh Planet and initially thought the announcement was "Fresh Market". That would have been awesome, but let’s see how these guys do…
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My second session was "Songwriting", and it was sort of disappointing. No theory or style was taught – we just sat around and rhymed things, creating a song that the facilitator will perform in concert this evening. Whereas I have 6 pages of notes from my first session, I’ve only got a couple of lines from the second.
Here’s a shot of the art adorning the other wall at the BIG ARTS performance hall. Love the primary colors used and how shiny they are in person. Sorry, the light in here isn’t the best.
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We got the obligatory tote bag complete with conference logo, plus a pen, loose leaf binder and a community relations/marketing magazine from FGCU. And the coffee’s pretty good 🙂
Oh, and there’s also a big, felt FGCU pennant, which I walked back to the car.
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I know there’s coffee here somewhere – I can smell it LOL
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It rained violently yesterday afternoon/evening – not complaining, as the region desperately needed it – and today the parking lot of Big Arts is all soft and squishy to walk on.
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The Sanibel Writers Conference starts today here at Big Arts on Sanibel Island in beautiful Southwest Florida. FGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University) is a partner in presenting this 4-day event, which includes workshops, panel discussions and readings.
Right now, folks are milling around, registering, picking up swag and drinking coffee. Will post some more as time permits.
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Got over the first span of the Sanibel Causeway bridge just in time to pull over on the "Isle du Kites" and capture the last shreds of a Sanibel sunset.
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