FWA Conference

The Rogues Gallery Writers represented themselves well at the Florida Writers Association Conference October 22-25. Jeff Swesky, Rebekah Hunter Scott and Michael Ray King each won prestigious awards for their writing.

Rebekah garnered the best short fiction out of hundreds of entries competing for publication in the book From Our Family to Yours. Her story Variations on Mr. Cornflake was voted the top story in the book. Rebekah autographed many books and looked natural in an author's seat.

Jeff scored a Second Place trophy in the RPLA's (Royal Palm Literary Award) for unpublished autobiography for the book Flight From Fear. Jeff had the only book-length work up for an award and his Second Place showing brings that much more credibility to our group. This book will be making some publicity noise in the near future.

Michael scored a First Place trophy in the Poetry category for his work Rendezvous from the recently published book Loves Lost and Found. The book is illustrated by fellow Rogue Tracy McDurmon. She interpreted Michael's poetry through acrylic paints. The poem lends the book more prestige with it's top award-winning notoriety.

All in all, the FWA Conference 2009 has been a success for the Rogues Gallery Writers. Yes, we would have loved to have scored trophies in the RPLA's short fiction categories. We had five - yes five - finalist manuscripts in the category, but we were shut out. We will come out of this more determined to reach the pinnacle in 2010.

Congratulations to all the Rogues! We all emerged winners! Was there ever any doubt?