Ken and I spent last week in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I have been teaching at writers conferences for over a dozen years now…long enough to know that each has its own special “flavor” and they are all special in their own way.
Ridgecrest Conference Center near Black Mountain, North Carolina, has to be one of the most special places I’ve ever spent a week. Last week was something like my fifteenth time there (including time at the Autumn in the Mountains conference, and the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, which used to be held at Ridgecrest).
But when this is your view from your room, it’s hard to beat! Add the wonderful Clouds Coffee Shop and a Lifeway Bookstore, and you’ve got a little piece of Heaven on Earth.
Of course, the very best part of any conference is the people! I had some wonderful writers in my classes, and got to spend time with some dear friends—both faculty and conferees I’ve gotten to know over the years. Here are just a few photos of our time there:
The last night is always the big awards banquet where the top writers receive awards for the manuscripts they’ve submitted.
Ken and I had a blast hanging out with faculty in Asheville one night at a great pizza place.
Genre Night gives attendees a chance to dress up as storybook characters. The beautiful Pepper Basham was celebrating the release of her first novel! (And the crazy Aaron Gansky was photobombing every chance he got! 😉 )
These sweet conferees gave me a “Blake Shelton” moment in the bookstore. Such fun to clown around and get to know new friends.
Attending a conference can be a mountaintop experience. The group worship twice a day brought tears to my eyes almost every time, and seeing new writers get excited about learning to use the gifts God has given them is so gratifying. It’s sometimes hard to come down from that “mountain,” but it was awfully good to sleep in our own bed again too.
Do you like to attend conferences? What kind, and where?
P.S. I can’t let this day go by without wishing a very happy THIRD anniversary to our youngest daughter and her hubby. Happy Anniversary, Tavia & Collin…and many more!
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Looks like a wonderful time, Deborah. You gave those writers a great gift of your time, experience and talents.
Thanks, Lynn. I always find I receive far more than I give. I just love writers conferences!
I’d love to go to Blue Ridge someday, and now all the more after reading this. Thanks, Deb!
You’d love it, Julie! And they’d love you, too! Nicest people ever, in one of the most beautiful settings I’ve ever known.
I volunteer in the Church Library and have for 36 years. I enjoy attending church library conferences but unfortunately they don’t have them anymore.
I’ve always wanted to go to Ridgecrest too.
Janet, if you ever have a chance to go to Ridgecrest, don’t miss it. You’ll simply love it there, no matter what the conference!
Thank you for all the wonderful photos! This post makes me want to seriously consider attending next year’s conference even though I live in Iowa! I have been to Ridgecrest Conference Center before, but not for this event. Looks like you had a fabulous group of people, both presenters and attendees. Thanks again!
You would love it, Jocelyn! I hope you WILL come!
I will have to start working on feasibility/plans! Thanks! 🙂