As you are reading this, I am in Phoenix hugging the necks of a whole bunch of writer friends and feeling both sad to say goodbye, and filled to the brim with joy and inspiration because of the wonderful time of fellowship we had over this past weekend. We met at the beautiful Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ and the weather was just perfect!
I am an extrovert and I’m not sure I could have continued writing for 30-plus years if not for the wonderful friendship of other writers like these.
Many from this group used to get together every summer the same week the Christian Booksellers Association convention was held. We’ve met in New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando, Denver, and probably other places I’m forgetting. Things have changed in the publishing industry, and the convention no longer offers a set time and place for us to gather, but we find opportunities to meet up as we are able.
These dear friends are one of the very best parts of being a novelist, and I am beyond grateful for the inspiration, education, and camaraderie their friendship offers me. Even when we can’t be together in person, I interact with many of these writers daily or weekly online in various author groups.
Today, Ken and I are headed to California to camp and visit his brother’s and sister’s families who live there, but I’ll leave you with some photos of our time together with some writers I’m sure you know, including our own dear Cara and Robin!
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My first thought about the group of writers was “iron sharpening iron”. I’m so glad the fellowship of you writers is so uplifting!
Iron sharpening iron is the perfect description, Suzanne!
So fun! I was sorry I couldn’t be there. But it makes me so happy to see so many familiar faces together in your pictures!
It was truly wonderful. We’re hoping they’ll do it again next year.
LOVE this pic and love that so many of you got to be together. So many sweet faces and smiles, and so many wonderful relationships spanning the years for me, too. Happy travels, my friend, and I look forward to our paths crossing soon!
We missed you, Tammy, but yes, so many years of great memories with some of these writer friends. And got to know some writers I’d only met in passing before, and that was wonderful, too!
Hey, I know some of these people! Looks like a fabulous group and place.
It really was, Marilyn. Good to hear from you.