My author career launched at The Florida Christian Writers Conference almost 20 years ago, and going there became an annual event. After about eight years, the director decided I was ready to become a teacher, so I began teaching classes ten years ago, including guiding the teen track.
I had amazing, wonderful times with those groups and watched some skillful and passionate writers grow in the craft. To say that I love many of them would be an understatement. They became like sons and daughters to me, and some of them, now attending college, getting married, having children, are like brothers and sisters. I thank God for every one of them and for the opportunity to share precious time with them.
This year’s conference was my last, at least for a while, but that won’t be the end of teen track. My daughter, Amanda L. Davis, will take the teaching reins beginning in 2016. She is the award-winning author of three novels and has attended nearly every teen track since the beginning, so she has a lot of experience.
In order to memorialize my years at FCWC, I am posting photos from teen tracks old and new. They are not in chronological order.
If any teen trackers want me to include their photos, please contact me. Also, feel free to share your memories.
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Categories: Miscellaneous
Aw… That’s sad. The two people I wanted most to see at the FCWC aren’t going any more.
Which two?
You and Jessi L. Roberts. Not that it matters… I don’t have the funds to go there, anyway. 😛
FCWC was my first Writer’s Conference, so it was guaranteed to be interesting! I don’t think it would have been the same without Teen Track, though. I know that much of what I learned has carried through into my writing today — and most of all, Teen Track showed me the benefit and need for group critique and feedback. We really can develop blinders to problems in our writing and stories, and a fresh pair of eyes is always necessary.
Teen Track was also a ridiculous amount of fun — and it’s wonderful to see how it’s thrived over the past eight years! I will never forget the abundance of displaced eyeballs in my critique session. Or cheering (annoying) the rest of the conference goers with our rousing rendition of “They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard!” in the elevator!
Looks like a blast!
I wish they had that here in Canada.
I agree! Florida feels far away.
What an amazing legacy these photos share!
I was disappointed when I heard that you weren’t going to reach there anymore, but at least Amanda is taking over.
Wow, those photos bring back some memories!
Thank you for your wonderful guidance, amazing author. You are my great inspiration.
You’re welcome. And thank you for being an inspiration to me.
So many amazing memories. ^ ^ I wouldn’t be the same person or have many of my friends without this conference. Love you all!
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A totally awesome labor of love to our Lord.