 |
| Left to Right: Elaine Fraser, Andrea Grigg, Iola Goulton, Margie Lawson, Jeanette O'Hagan, Narelle Atkins, Nola Passmore. |
By Narelle Atkins
Wow. The 2017 Omega Writers Conference in Sydney last weekend was fabulous. Awesome. Brilliant. Inspiring. Around one hundred writers enjoyed the relaxed rural conference setting on the outskirts of Sydney. I feel blessed to belong to Omega Writers and the wider Christian writing community that encourages and supports writers in our part of the world.
Many thanks to Raewyn Elsegood and her conference team who worked hard behind the scenes. Jenny Glazebrook's new initiative to place attendees in host groups provided another avenue to build relationships and ensure first time conference attendees were welcomed into the Omega writing community.
The amazing Margie Lawson was our keynote speaker. We love Margie and love her teaching gift. Thank you Margie for blessing us by attending our conference.
Margie is pictured above with the six Margie Immersion Grads who were at conference. Elaine Fraser is a 3-time Immersion Grad: Melbourne in August 2015, Sydney in August 2016 and a solo Immersion with Margie in Colorado in May 2017. Andrea Grigg and Iola Goulton attended an August 2015 Melbourne Immersion with Elaine (hosted by 4-time Immersion Grad Dorothy Adamek). Jeanette O'Hagan and Nola Passmore attended a Brisbane Immersion in August 2016. I attended a Canberra Immersion in March 2017.
 |
Margie included quotes in her teaching points from Elaine Fraser's book Amazing Grace and Andrea Grigg's book All is Bright. It was exciting to see their excellent writing featured on the big screen.
Multi-published author Alex Marestaing from Southern California was our keynote speaker at the CALEB Awards. Yes, we really did have an international author who has worked with Disney attend our Aussie conference and teach our Young Adult and Middle Grade writers!
I had the pleasure of introducing the delightful Patricia Weerakoon and her much anticipated workshop 'Sex without Sleaze'. An informative and challenging workshop for fiction writers on how to write about sexuality and related issues in both the Christian market and general market from a Christian perspective.
Multi-published regency romance author Carolyn Miller presented a fun and engaging workshop for fiction writers. We celebrated with Carolyn as her third book, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, was released in the USA during the week prior to conference.
Omega Writers President Meredith Resce and Margie Lawson presented the certificates to the CALEB Award finalists. We live streamed the CALEB Awards via my Facebook Profile to Australasian Christian Writers and Christian Writers Downunder Facebook Groups. The video footage is in two parts and can be viewed at the links below.
Facebook Live Part 2 video includes Alex Marestaing's inspiring keynote address.
Facebook Live Part 2 video also includes Rachel Sweasey and Rochelle Manners from Rhiza Press and author Catriona McKeown (2016 CALEB Unpublished winner) discussing the upcoming release of YA novel The Boy in the Hoodie.
CALEB Awards co-ordinator Judy Rogers presented the CALEB Prize to the overall winner, Cecily Paterson.
2017 CALEB ~ Published Fiction
Winner:
Charlie Frank is A-OK - Cecily Anne Paterson (CALEB Prize Winner)
Charlie Frank is A-OK - Cecily Anne Paterson (CALEB Prize Winner)
Finalists:
Daystar: The Days are Numbered - Anne Hamilton
Daystar: The Days are Numbered - Anne Hamilton
Forgiving Sky - Jenny Glazebrook
Amazing Grace - Elaine Fraser
2017 CALEB ~ Children’s Picture Books
Winner:
Small and Big - Karen Collum illustrated by Ben Wood (CALEB Prize Runner Up)
Finalists:
The Mighty, Mighty King Christmas Book - Penny Morrison illustrated by Lisa Flanagan
My Imagination - written and illustrated by Ellen Wildig
Winner:
Burn My Letters: Tyranny to Refuge - Ruth Bonetti
Finalists:
Heaven Tempers the Wind - Hazel Barker
Becoming Me - Jo-Anne Berthelsen
2017 CALEB ~ Unpublished Manuscript
Winner:
Siren’s Fight - Kristen Young
Finalists:
In the Middle of the Whirlwind - Hannah Currie
The Gryphon Key - Elizabeth Klein
Holy War - Anthony Peterson
 |
| Karen Collum & Cecily Paterson |
 |
| Raewyn Elsegood & Margie Lawson |
 |
| Jo-Anne Berthelsen |
 |
| Rowena Beresford |
 |
| Rose Dee at the Registration Desk |
 |
| Katrina Roe |
 |
| James Cooper |
 |
| Penny Morrison |
Such a good summary of our conference experience, Narelle--thank you. And thanks too to Margaret Holahan for all those great photos! So glad Alex Marestaing's input was recorded too--I plan to listen to it again.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo-Anne, You're very welcome :) Yes, I'm also planning to listen in again to Alex's keynote address.
DeleteWonderful summary, Narelle. And great that Margaret was able to catch so much on camera.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian, Margaret 'saved' this blog post from being boring :) I didn't have time to take photos at conference - which is very unusual for me!
DeleteExcellent to see this! Thanks for the comprehensive summary Narelle, and thanks Margaret for the photos, and all the behind the scenes things you did, you legend!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn, Yes, Raewyn and her team who worked behind the scenes did an amazing job. :)
DeleteA fantastic round up Narelle. I look at all these lovely faces and touching moments and feel truly grateful I was able to attend Omega Conference again. Can’t wait for Adelaide. Thank you one and all for a brilliant experience. Xxx jay
ReplyDeleteHi Jay, I'm glad we have so many photos and it was hard to select only a small number from the collection for my blog post. :)
DeleteThanks for that round-up, Narelle. It was certainly a brilliant conference. So many great speakers on offer, it's a shame we couldn't go to them all. And thanks for mentioning that Alex's talk is on the Facebook stream. I didn't realise that. Very inspiring. And of course it was wonderful to see Margie again and be reminded of all those great tips I should be using - LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Nola, The program was fantastic and I'm glad the conference committee decided to create the different streams for fiction, non-fiction and YA/Children. :)
DeleteIt was a FABULOUS conference! (I'm still recovering, haha) Great overview, Narelle :)
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, I'm still recovering too, lol. All the late night conversations are too much fun to miss! :)
DeleteWell done, Narelle. You’ve written a comprehensive account of the highlights of the conference. In between those highlights were many memorable moments filled with faith, fun and friendship.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Margaret’s fabulous photos as well.
Hope to see you there next year! Xxx😀
Hi Elaine, We'll have great memories from this conference, for sure. I hope we will have an opportunity to catch up again in person next year :)
DeleteThanks for the succinct overview, Narelle. Great to see the photos and have the reminders of all the input and fun we enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, You're very welcome. Thank you for all the work you put into the conference as Omega President. :)
DeleteI only managed one day, but what a day! Margie, Patricia and Carolyn each gave me something to mull over for a long time to come. And as soon as i got home I began working on my new novel from What I'd learned. Great to see you all again and do some some catching up!
ReplyDeleteHi Rita, I'm glad I had an opportunity to catch up with you during lunch on Saturday. :)
DeleteMany thanks Narelle! These highlights and pics take me back to that weekend and remind me of all I learned - and not just in the workshops! Hope to make it to Adelaide next year!
ReplyDeleteHi Steph, It was a great weekend of learning for all of us. :)
ReplyDelete