CAW 2026 Writers Conference, March 14, 2026
Cartersville Area Writers is proud to present our 2026 Writers Conference! It will be held on March 14, 2026, from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Cartersville Civic Center ( 435 West Main Street, Cartersville, GA 30120). Scroll down to meet our speakers!
Click below or on the poster above to visit the CAW Store and purchase your tickets.
Award-Winning Author, Kimberly Brock
How Long Can You Keep This Up: Tales of a Writing Journey as Told from the Southern Vernacular
Kimberly Brock is the award-winning author of The Fabled Earth, featured as a Must Read in Fall of 2024 by Town & Country Magazine, and The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, which spent three weeks on the Southern Independent Booksellers Best Seller List. Both novels have been shortlisted for the prestigious Townsend Prize for Fiction. Her debut novel, The River Witch, was an Amazon bestseller, featured by both national and international book clubs, and included in multiple reading lists. Praised by RT Reviews and Huffington Post as a “solemn journey of redemption, enlightenment and love,” and evocative of “the stories of Flannery O’Connor and Carson McCullers,” her first novel was honored with the Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2013 by the Georgia Writers Association. A former actor and special needs educator, Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia in 1996. In 2014, Kimberly founded Tinderbox Writer’s Workshop, a transformative creative experience for women in the arts. Kimberly speaks widely on the creative life and Southern and historical fiction and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national groups, including The Women’s Fiction Writers annual conference and The Pat Conroy Literary Center. In 2023, she was featured on the History Channel’s ‘History’s Greatest Mysteries.’ A native of North Georgia, she now lives near Atlanta, where she is at work on her fourth novel.
Synopsis of her presentation:
Award-winning author Kimberly Brock will share her journey as a fledgling storyteller to today, and the challenges and doubts that she believes have taught her the key to enduring as a writer.
Artist and Poet, Rosemary Royston
Lyrical Lines: How Prose Writers Can Use Poetic Elements to Create More Engaging, Lyrical Writing
Rosemary Royston, artist and poet, is the author of Second Sight (2021, Kelsay Press) and Splitting the Soil (Finishing Line Press, 2014). She resides in the northeast Georgia mountains with her family. Her writing has been published in journals such as POEM, Split Rock Review, Southern Poetry Review, Poetry South, Appalachian Review, and Feels Blind Literary. Rosemary holds an AB in English from the University of Georgia ('91), and an MFA in Writing from Spalding University ('09). She is a former Assistant Professor of English, and currently serves as Main Street Director for the City of Young Harris.
Synopsis of her presentation:
Poetic elements such as rhythm, sound, diction, and sensory imagery are powerful tools that add power to prose. In this session, we will examine how prose writers can incorporate poetic elements into their work to add depth to their writing. While poets may rely on line breaks (lineation), prose writers have a similar tool through syntax and variation of sentence structure. Layering this with special attention to sound, word choice, and imagery will lead to engaging, lyrical prose. Examples of strong prose will be shared during the presentation, along with steps to take to your prose to its next level.
Award-Winning Author Mickey Dubrow
Revision As Inspiration
Mickey Dubrow is the author of The Magic Maker, Bulletproof, Always Agnes, Love and Lies at Martha's Hair Done Right, and American Judas. For over 30 years, he wrote television promos, marketing presentations, and scripts for clients, including Cartoon Network, TNT Latin America, and HGTV. His short stories and essays have appeared in Prime Number Magazine, The Good Men Project, and The Signal Mountain Review. His first novel, American Judas, won the 2024 American Legacy Book Award in the category of Science Fiction: Parallel Universe/Alternative History. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, author Jessica Handler. www.mickeydubrow.com
Synopsis of their workshop:
Revising your writing can be a joyful, inspirational experience. After all, the word “revision” means to “see again.” In this two-hour generative workshop, award-winning authors Mickey Dubrow and Jessica Handler will guide you through a variety of techniques for “revisioning” your prose, poetry, and lyrics. Please bring between five to ten pages of work in progress (digital or hard copy) and be prepared to enjoy hands-on writing and group discussion. Open to writers of all levels.
Award-Winning Author Jessica Handler
Revision As Inspiration
nynSJessica Handler is the author of the forthcoming novel, The World to See. Her novel The Magnetic Girl was awarded the 2020 Southern Book Prize. She’s the author of Invisible Sisters:A Memoir, one of the “25 Books All Georgians Should Read." Her craft guide Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss was praised in Vanity Fair magazine. Her work has appeared on NPR, in Tin House, Drunken Boat, The Bitter Southerner, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, Newsweek, Image, Five Points, The Washington Post, Oldster, and elsewhere. www.jessicahandler.com
Synopsis of their workshop:
Revising your writing can be a joyful, inspirational experience. After all, the word “revision” means to “see again.” In this two-hour generative workshop, award-winning authors Mickey Dubrow and Jessica Handler will guide you through a variety of techniques for “revisioning” your prose, poetry, and lyrics. Please bring between five to ten pages of work in progress (digital or hard copy) and be prepared to enjoy hands-on writing and group discussion. Open to writers of all levels.
Jessica Schmoll, LPC, CPCS
Understanding and Tackling Imposter Syndrome
Jessica Schmoll is a licensed therapist and certified therapist supervisor, with 20 years in the field. She holds two master's degrees in business and counseling and uses them to focus on professionals and leaders and the unique challenges they face, like work/life balance, boundary setting, and managing imposter syndrome. She presents to/trains organizations seeking to create and maintain a healthy culture where mental health is not expected to be left at the door. She runs a small group practice, Wiser Ground LLC, with 4 clinicians, which she launched in 2022. http://www.wisergroundllc.com/ .
Synopsis of her presentation:
We will review the meaning of the term "Imposter Syndrome" and learn about how it starts and works within us. We will learn about the mechanisms we have access to internally that can combat the toxic messaging we inadvertently perpetuate and that keep us stuck.
Lunch Catered by Southern Comforts Catering
Southern Comforts Catering: Providing Delicious Homemade Food with Great Customer Service!
Southern Comforts Catering is a locally owned, family-operated catering business dedicated to serving authentic Southern comfort food with genuine hospitality. Rooted in family traditions and time-honored recipes, they deliver homemade meals that reflect the heart of true Southern cooking. Their focus on quality ingredients, generous portions, and warm service creates memorable dining experiences at every event.
The company specializes in catering for parties, family gatherings, corporate events, and special celebrations, bringing the flavors of classic Southern cuisine to the table. Southern Comforts Catering aims to make everyone feel like family, offering food that is flavorful and made with care, just like it would be at home. Cartersville Area Writers is proud to have Southern Comforts Catering back at our writers conference!