writing conference

[Guest guest]

My sister is Maribeth Fischer. look below for what she is pulling together in honor of my kids. I am so touched. For those of you who live in land, Delaware, NJ, PA, etc. please pass the word on. Annewww.caringbridge.org/wi/zachsamAward-winning authors to participate in Writers at the Beach conferenceThe fact that there are four independent bookstores between Lewes and Bethany, not to mention the annual Milton Poetry Weekend in Milton, dozens of book clubs, writing groups and a history of well-attended bookstore-sponsored readings, attests to the fact that Rehoboth Beach and its surrounding communities is an environment that fosters the literary arts. Yet there has never been one area-wide event, similar to the Film Festival or Jazz Festival – to bring together writers and readers of various genres. Writers at the Beach: Pure Sea Glass, a day-long writing conference, will take place March 5 at Crabber’s Cove in Dewey Beach.The first of what will be an annual event, Writers at the Beach has already attracted a number of nationally known and award winning authors, including Carolyn Parkhurst, whose novel, “Dogs of Babel” was featured as a “Today Show” Book Club pick, and Sheri Reynolds, author of “The Rapture of Canaan,” an Oprah book selection.The conference, organized by the newly formed nonprofit Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild, will include writing workshops, informal discussions with authors, author readings and children’s story hours. To date, the slate of authors scheduled to be in attendance at the conference includes the following individuals. • Brad Barkley, whom “Book” magazine calls “one of the breakthrough authors you need to know.” Barkley is the author of two novels, “Money Love,” named one of the best books of 2000 by the “Washington Post,” and “’s Automotive Repair Manual,” a Book Sense 76 selection.• Liam Callanan, author of the novel “Cloud Atlas,” is also a frequent contributor to “Slate,” “Forbes,” “The New York Times Book Review,” “The Washington Post” magazine and other periodicals.• Lamotte is the author of “Pure Sea Glass,” featured this summer in “Coastal Living,” and the inspiration for the conference’s theme.• is the author of the poetry collection, “Science of Desire.” Her second collection, “Too Much of This World,” which has already received the Picioni Poetry Prize,” is forthcoming in 2005. She is also the winner of the 2003 National Writers Union Poetry Award.• O’Sullivan is a features editor at the “Washingtonian” magazine. He has published personal essays and commentaries in “The New York Times,” “Newsday,” “National Geographic Traveler,” “The Washington Post” and the “North American Review” among others. • Pietrzyk is the author of two “Pears on a Willow Tree” and most recently, “A Year and a Day.” Pietrzyk has also been published in a number of literary magazines.• Terry Plowman is the editor and publisher of “Delaware Beach Life.”• Debra Puglisi Sharp, author of “Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence,” has appeared on “Oprah,” “20/20,” the “ Walsh Show” and other national and regional talk shows. She is a nurse at Beebe Medical Center and lives in Milton.“We’re still waiting to hear from a few more poets and memoirists, but to already have a lineup of such prominent authors is incredibly exciting,” said Maribeth Fischer, the conference’s founder. “Even more amazing is that every one of these authors is participating as a volunteer. Their generosity is overwhelming and wonderful.” In addition, Lamotte and Celia Pearson, the photographer of “Pure Sea Glass,” have donated photographs of their book to be used for publicity, and Rehoboth.com has already signed on as a sponsor by creating and maintaining a website for the newly founded organization.One hundred percent of the proceeds from Writers at the Beach: Pure Sea Glass will be donated to charity, in this case, the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF). Mitochondrial disease isn’t something most people have heard of, but it has hit close to home for Fischer, whose sister has four children, all of whom are afflicted with this disease. Mitochondrial disease, which disrupts the normal conversion of food into energy, results in a gradual but deadly deterioration of life-sustaining organs. Fischer’s nephews, Sam, 7, and Zachary, 12, are severely afflicted, and the money raised will be donated to UMDF in their honor. Although this won’t affect Fischer’s nephews, it will benefit UMDF research and the many families this organization helps.Although the impetus for the conference began with Fischer’s desire to do something on behalf of her nephews, the longterm goal is to have the conference evolve into a weekend-long festival. Fischer, who has participated in a number of national writing conferences and festivals, is enthusiastic about Writers at the Beach evolving into a yearlong festival. “I don’t see how this can’t be a win-win situation for our community,” Fischer said, “for the writers and participants who attend the conference and for the charity we simultaneously raise money for.”Writers at the Beach: Pure Sea Glass is seeking community donors and sponsors to help fund the event. Fischer hopes the writers’ generosity will inspire others, because they “need just about everything, from the printing of brochures to money to pay for stamps and copying costs. There’s no such thing as a donation that’s too small,” she said.For more information on the conference or about becoming a donor or sponsor, visit www.writersatthebeach.com, email mbfischer@..., call or write Writers at the Beach: Pure Sea Glass, P.O. Box 1326, Rehoboth Beach DE 19971.