Award-winning Southern Author Robert Gwaltney
Keynote Address - Finding our Voices. Finding our Way
Robert Gwaltney, a recipient of the 2022 Pat Conroy Writers Residency, is the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year for his debut novel, The Cicada Tree. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is an active member of the Atlanta literary community, serving as a board member for Broadleaf Writers Association. Robert’s work has appeared in such publications as Southbound Magazine, Southern Literary Review, The Blue Mountain Review, and The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. His forthcoming novel, Sing Down The Moon, will be published by Mercer University Press in the Spring of 2026. To learn more about Robert Gwaltney, click below.
CAW 2025 Third Annual Writers' Conference
CAW 2025 Writer's Conference at the Historic Legion Theatre
Join us on May 17th, 2025, for a memorable day at CAW's third annual writers' conference, held at the historic Legion Theatre in downtown Cartersville, Georgia.
We’re honored to welcome acclaimed Southern writer Robert Gwaltney as our keynote speaker, whose insights will inspire your creative journey.
Participate in engaging workshops led by talented authors Ann Hite, Richard Fierce, Tenesha Curtis, and Vickie McEntire.
Don’t miss our beloved silent auction, where you can bid on unique treasures, all while enjoying breakfast and lunch with fellow writers.
Free parking is available behind the theatre and across the street in the new parking deck on Main Street.
Scroll down to learn more about our speaker and workshops. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Our Workshop Leaders
Award-Winning Author - Ann Hite
Author and Instructor - Tenesha L. Curtis
Author and Instructor - Tenesha L. Curtis
Workshop Title - Learning to Use History and Haints in Our Fiction
Ann Hite has written six novels and two nonfiction books. Her short story collection, Haints On Black Mountain, won bronze in the 2022 Foreword Indies Book Award. She has been shortlisted for the Townsend Prize and nominated for the Pushcart. Her passion for history and Appalachia heavily influences her writing. Her forthcoming book is I Am A Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 1888-1957, published by Mercer University Press, and will be released September 2, 2025.
Click below for more information about Ann Hite.
Author and Instructor - Tenesha L. Curtis
Author and Instructor - Tenesha L. Curtis
Author and Instructor - Tenesha L. Curtis
Workshop Title - Write a Book This Year
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Tenesha L. Curtis has been a lover of the dark, disturbing, and deviant since childhood. Her fascination with the human psyche led her to earn a master's degree in chemical addiction treatment and work in the mental health world for over a decade before turning her life over to literature completely. She uses this training and experience to influence straightforward books on writing made especially for newbie authors, and thrilling works of fiction in various genres. Connect with her at ReadTenesha.com.
Author and CEO of Dragonfire Press - Richard Fierce
Workshop Title - World Building
Richard Fierce is a fantasy author whose passion for storytelling dates back to his childhood. He first ventured into publishing in 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. His books are filled with dragons, adventure, and epic journeys that transport readers to new worlds. Richard lives in Northwest Georgia with his family and a lively mix of pets, including four dogs (huskies!). He often jokes that his house feels like a zoo, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. To keep up to date with his new releases, please join his mailing list here.
Colorful Crow Publishing - Vickie McEntire
Workshop Title - Metadata
Vickie McEntire is a 2018 Georgia Author of the Year Award winner for her second children's book, Little Bird and Myrtle Turtle. She was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Georgia. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Georgia Writers Association. Her work has been published in Telling Stories: a Calhoun Area Writers Anthology, Lady Literary Magazine, and she is a five-time published author in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She has written several articles for Calhoun Magazine. She is the owner and editor-in-chief at Colorful Crow Publishing. Click below to learn more about Vickie McEntire.
