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An excerpt from the Santa Barbara Writers Conference Scrapbook by Armando Nieto, Mary Conrad, and Matt Pallamary: In the aftermath of the Miramar closing and the transition and adjustment to the SBWC's new home at Westmont College, workshop leader Matt Pallamary wrote an article that Mary Conrad included in the welcome letter that went out to returning conferees and new attendees.
An excerpt from the upcoming book by Armando Nieto, Mary Conrad, and Matt Pallamary: By the time the 30th Annual Santa Barbara Writers Conference opened on June 21st in 2002, it felt as if it had always been at Westmont College. Because of the influx of new students due to regular attrition, hills too rigorous for some old-timers, and overall expanded enrollment because the Westmont College campus was bigger than the Miramar Hotel, the SBWC had the same air of a freshman’s first day at any university campus. It also helped that Mary Conrad doubled and at times tripled the number of Westmont College-student-staff-driven golf carts that criss-crossed the campus offering rides to any students challenged by the college’s hills.
Dorm accommodations enhanced this impression, where endless conversations filled the dorms with tales of the “old days” at the Miramar Hotel. The regularly scheduled meals in the campus cafeteria far exceeded the quality of the food at the Miramar and the new setup of dormitories and dining hall reminded workshop leader Matt Pallamary of his time in the Air Force, prompting him to nickname them the chow hall and barracks.
After the workshop leader introductions and business of logistics on Friday night, Saturday saw the familiar pattern of morning and afternoon workshops. Late Saturday afternoon, SBWC workshop leader Charles Champlin introduced two Hollywood legends, Eva Marie Saint and her husband and director/actor Jeff Hayden, in a reprise of their previous year’s reading of Willa Cather, On the Divide.
The converted for the conference gymnasium turned auditorium echoed with the words of Willa Cather from the sweeping plains of Nebraska as her work was read aloud by the consummate actors.
An excerpt from the upcoming book by Armando Nieto, Mary Conrad, and Matt Pallamary: In 2001, the 29th Santa Barbara Writers’ Conference found a new home at Westmont College in the hills behind Santa Barbara. The Miramar era was over, and the Westmont Campus was a dramatic change from the beachfront blue-roofed Miramar Hotel. With no ocean near the campus, Barnaby said, “There’s no beach to tempt the people away from their typewriters.” Duly noted. “They shouldn’t be on the beach; they should be writing!” he added laughing, in an interview with Santa Barbara News-Press reporter Ann Shields.
Tuesday night veteran newsman Sander Vanocur moderated a “Behind the Headlines” panel of journalists, including Ann Louise Bardach (Troubled Waters, Cuba, and others), Lou Canon (President Reagan — The Role of a Lifetime,) and Martha Smilgis (Time Magazine, People Magazine, and others).
In typical Barnaby style, he introduced Vanocur by saying “There has been altogether too much frivolity around this place,” so he read a piece by Dave Barry about the founding of America, with the hope of instilling some gravitas before hearing from the distinguished panel.
“Hundreds of years ago, America was different,” Barny read. “The only inhabitants were Indians who formed tribes and gave rivers hard to spell names. Meanwhile, in Italy, Christopher Columbus spent hours gazing out to sea and thinking, ‘someday I will be the cause of a holiday observed by millions of government workers.’ Columbus assembled a group of mariners and set out across the storm-tossed Atlantic in three tiny ships, the Ninja, the Piña Colada and the Heidi Ho.
"After numerous storm-tossed weeks they came to an island where Columbus had this conversation with the local chief.
"Columbus: You guys are Indians, right?
"Chief: Ramanona, jaway, which means, ‘No, we came over from Asia 20,000 years ago by the land mass bridge.’
"Columbus: Listen, we’ve spent weeks looking for India in these three storm-tossed ships and we have canons pointed at your wigwams, and we say that you’re Indians.
"Chief: Banama kawowi saki, which means ‘Welcome to India.’
"By the 17th Century the English had started a colony on an estuary and called it Jamestown. Their leader was John Smith, under whose direction Jamestown engaged in numerous activities primarily related to starving, then just when the colonists were about to give up, they discovered a vast untapped market for a product that consumers would set on fire and they’d inhale, gradually turning their lungs into malignant lumps of carbon.
"Meanwhile, the Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock. The new world was harsh and desolate and they would have starved, if not for a friendly native named Squanto. A year went by and the Puritans held their first Thanksgiving. They invited Squanto for turkey. ‘Next time,’ he advised, ‘try cooking it,’ then they watched the Lions/Bears game. Ultimately the Puritans built New England, part of it which can still be seen.
"Next came the revolution, the single most important historical event to occur in America with the exception of Super Bowl IV. Amid this climate the first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Its members realizing their actions could determine the fate of the new world, voted to give themselves a raise. The Continental Congress also knew that they would need an army and they knew just the man to lead it. A man who was respected and admired, a man who had experience, and the leadership needed to organize men and lead them into battle. That man, of course, was Dwight D. Eisenhower."
"None of this stuff,” Barny added, “has anything to do with Sander Vanocur, a man who you all recognize from television news. I give you Sander Vanocur."
February 5, 2017
Early Bird Registration
$575--full conference!
This price is good through February 15 Register here.
Improve your craft. Find your tribe.
Make lifelong connections.
Spend your conference week beachside at the charming Santa Barbara Hyatt. Take advantage of early bird pricing and register for the conference by February 15.
We're pleased to announce that our list of 2017 agents is complete, and you may register for an appointment with an agent and advanced submission of a 5-page manuscript to be read before your appointment on June 20. Register for an agent here.
If you wish to register for an appointment with an agent, you must already be registered for the conference.
We have a great group of agents to choose from:
Annie Bomke Annie Bomke in San Diego
Amy Cloughley Kimberley Cameron & Associates
Paul Fedorko N.S. Bienstock, Inc.
Julie Hill Julie Hill Literary Agency in Del Mar
Toni Lopopolo Lopopolo Literary Management
Eric Myers Dystel and Goderich Literary Management
Patricia Nelson Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
Angela Rinaldi The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency
BJ Robbins BJ Robbins Literary Agency in North Hollywood
Ken Sherman Ken Sherman & Associates
Over the past 45 years, SBWC has provided a learning environment that can transform beginners into bestselling authors ... well, that and a lot of hard work on the part of the authors.
One of the best things about the Santa Barbara Writers Conference is the faculty. Our 30 teachers cover a broad range of genres.
The 2.5-hour workshops allow time for learning craft, as well as getting individualized feedback on your work.
We have a special room rate at the Hyatt Santa Barbara:
For reservations call (888) 421-1442, or visit this reservation link: Santa Barbara Hyatt.
If you wish to register for an appointment with an agent, you must already be registered for the conference to signup.
Since its origins in 1972, SBWC has given writers an oasis of time, place and focus to hone craft and connect with mentors, agents and publishers.
The Santa Barbara Writers Conference Scrapbook, a history of the conference, written by founder Mary Conrad and longtime friends of SBWC, Y. Armando Nieto and Matthew J. Pallamary, is now available on Amazon.
For SBWC fans in the Santa Barbara area, there will be a book signing at Chaucer's bookstore on February 9 at 7PM. Meet all three authors.
There is a documentary film of the same title debuting June 18, 2017 at SBWC.
The film and the book are labors of love, and both reflect the special nature of this conference.
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore says: "I went into the Santa Barbara Writers Conference a foundering insurance man and came out a writer. I wouldn't have made it without the camaraderie and enthusiasm for the craft I found there."
We invite you to be a part of this ongoing literary legacy.
I hope to see you June 18-23, 2017.
Grace Rachow SBWC Director
An excerpt from the upcoming book by Armando Nieto, Mary Conrad, and Matt Pallamary:The Santa Barbara Writers Conference went on hiatus during the year 2000 due to the closing of the Miramar, thoughts of the Conference were never far from longtime attendees and staff. It was also the year that the conference lost Sparky.
Poetess and workshop leader Perie Longo captures the essence of the loss of the Miramar with the following poem.
Souvenir from the Miramar: Fall, 2000
by Perie Longo
They could be tears, these bougainvillea blossoms,
shed for the passing of the train we won’t hear
come June, we writers who collected at the Miramar
each year, recollected our lives best we could
in fog, sometimes fire, turned anguish
into something approachable and fine,
a keepsake until next time. Without notice
they closed it, restoration the reason,
everything for sale; lights and beds, dressers,
night-stands, a cache of ugly prints torn
from the wall, bolts still stuck in the center
of frame tops. I dragged through the lobby,
dining room, around the pool, peeked
into rooms where the air of years laid down
on tossed mattresses and sighed. Behind
the buildings I wound around yellow tapes
strung to keep us out, crossed the railroad tracks
and eased to the beach glad to see the sand
still there, the gulls, at least the sky’s blue roof.
And conversations about those who leave
this earth without asking our permission.
I save some bougainvillea petals
from the bush near the train tracks where
a gray parrot once mocked our words.
I wanted to gather a whole sprig,
but overnight they collapsed on the counter
like separate words to be rearranged
into something else, something to carry us on,
we weavers and bleeders of words,
something to bring us back.
September ‘00
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