December 5, Meet Mary Flynn

Join the Florida Writers Foundation Zoom Mini-Conference on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 7 PM for a celebration of poets and authors. You will hear Mary Flynn, Joyce Sweeney, and the six winning authors of our Colors of the Holidays short works contests as they read their poems and prose.

We want short upbeat pieces to chase away the blues. Mary Flynn is no newcomer to happily-ever after stories. Mary worked for both Hallmark and Disney. To quote her website, “Mary’s hilarious “Confessions of a Hallmark Greeting Card Writer” continues to enjoy rave reviews with audiences everywhere, as she shares the ins-and-outs along with the mishaps behind the scenes at Hallmark. She also presents a fun and quirky “Peek Behind the Magic,” based on her years with Disney.”

Joyce Sweeney is a prolific writer and literary agent with The Seymour Agency. She is also my mentor. More about Joyce in my previous blogs.

The Florida Writers Foundation invites you to submit 1) a short piece of prose [1,000 words max]    OR    2) a poem [maximum 40 lines]

Colors of the Holidays

Florida Writers Foundation is hosting a mini-writing competition and mini- Zoom conference to celebrate the holidays and raise funds to promote literacy. Entrants and donors will then receive a Zoom link to join us on Saturday, December 5, at 7 PM.

Our first speaker, Mary Flynn, a former full-time writer for Hallmark Cards, and retiree from Disney Institute, is an award-winning author of fiction and poetry [eight books] as well as an acclaimed international conference speaker and leadership program facilitator. She will share some tips and stories with us. Learn more at www.maryflynnwrites.com

Our second speaker, Joyce Sweeney, who is our 2021 Florida Writer of the Year, and an agent with the Seymour Agency, will make a guest appearance to share writing opportunities for poets. Before becoming an agent, she was a mentor to me and to many other writers, and is a published author of fourteen books. Her free publishing podcast helps writers understand the publishing industry. Learn more at www.sweeneywritingcoach.com

Your donation to Florida Writers Foundation helps us to raise funds to promote literacy. While a donation is not required for entry, it would be appreciated.

1) a short piece of prose [1,000 words maximum] OR    2) a poem [maximum 40 lines]

Submit your short prose or poem in the body of an email – no attachments. I challenge you to lift the spirits of those attending the virtual conference!

Help others celebrate the colors of whatever holiday you observe—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the secular Festivus. We all need upbeat moments.

Send to ColorsoftheHolidays@gmail.com beginning on November 1, 2020. Deadline for entries is November 30, 2020. Only entries with an email submission date prior to midnight on that date will be considered for the competition.

With your written consent, your picture and winning entry will appear on the FWF website. Consent forms will be sent out after winners are announced at the Colors of the Holidays fundraiser program.

Join the Florida Writers Foundation on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 7 PM for a celebration of poets and authors. Hear Mary Flynn and Joyce Sweeney…and…listen to the winning authors read the top three poems and the top three prose works.

We would appreciate a minimum donation of $10 to help us provide grants to support literacy.