In Memoria: Mourning the Passing of Tina McElroy Ansa

Ms. Ansa, scheduled to be one of the writing retreat speakers, passed away on September 10, 2024. Her friend and colleague Wanda Lloyd will pay tribute to Ms. Ansa as part of her November 7th talk.

Wanda Lloyd (speaking on November 7, 9:00 am-10:00 am)

PRESENTING: “ Journey to Memoir.” In this presentation, the author will address some of the most common questions asked about how to write memoirs and other nonfiction – how to tell your own stories. The author will lead a discussion on how she got started, how she organized personal information and papers, created dialogue from long-ago conversations and how she used personal relationships to get her book published and marketed.

Wanda Lloyd, a retired newspaper editor, podcaster and frequent lecturer on issues of diversity and culture, is the author of COMING FULL CIRCLE: From Jim Crow to Journalism, a self-reflective exploration of the author’s life growing up in the legally segregated Deep South and becoming a trailblazing editor at seven daily newspapers. Her journey was marked by lack of mentors at a time when there were few women or people of color in the industry. The foreword to COMING FULL CIRCLE was written by the late novelist Tina McElroy Ansa, who first met Wanda when they were assigned as freshman-year roommates at Spelman College.

COMING FULL CIRCLE was listed by bookauthority.org as one of the “25 Best Journalism Books to Read in 2020.” Kirkus Reviews calls the memoir “Inspiring reading for aspiring journalists and students of civil rights.” Despite publishing the memoir in early 2020, just before the nation shut down for COVID, Wanda has participated in several book festivals, including Greensboro Bound book festival in North Carolina, the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, the Schomberg Center Literary Festival in New York, and the Authors Showcase for the National Association of Black Journalists. She has shared the story of writing this memoir virtually and in person on university campuses, museums, faith groups and with book clubs, corporate leadership teams and via podcasts.

Wanda released two books in 2020. She is co-editor (with Ms. Ansa) of MEETING AT THE TABLE: African-American Women Write on Race, Culture and Community, an anthology of essays from diverse perspectives. Lloyd and Ansa also co-hosted three seasons of the podcast, “2 Old Chicks Who Know a Lot of Sh*t!^TM.” The episodes can be found on YouTube and all popular podcast platforms. Wanda is also a TEDx speaker in Savannah. A self-described "word nerd," in 2022 she presented and performed on the topic "Words Matter."

For the past six years she has been a member of The Focused Writers, an online group of women who learn new ways of writing and publishing. In 2022, this group published On Womanhood: Connecting and Thriving in Every Season, an anthology of essays, for which Wanda was a writer and she edited the book. This exercise was a learning experience -- from conception to writing, editing, publishing and marketing. 

Wanda has been an editor at seven daily newspapers, including The Washington Post and USA Today. She retired in 2013 from her last newsroom as executive editor of  the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama. That's when she returned to her hometown to accept the position as chair and associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University. She is also the founding executive director of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University, where she launched a school to teach journalism to second-career people of color. She has been a four-time juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. In Savannah she has been an opinion page columnist for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. 

Wanda has been honored nationally for career achievement, including being Inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, the Ida B. Wells Award for Media Diversity, and she holds an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from her alma mater, Spelman College.

Wanda is currently an Ambassador member of the AARP Georgia Executive Council based in Atlanta, and she is an advisory board member of The Learning Center/Senior Citizens, Inc., in Savannah, where she also serves as a lecturer and discussion moderator. She has been a member of the Georgia Writers Association Board of Directors.

Wanda resides in Savannah with her husband, Willie Lloyd. They have a daughter, Shelby Cotton. These days Wanda enjoys consulting with emerging writers who are finding a way through their journey of writing their own stories and getting them published. 

For the past couple of years Wanda has been refining an outline for a sequel to her memoir, and she is waiting for the inspiration–and time–to start writing the book. 

 Celestial Holmes aka Mbinguni  (speaking on November 7, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm)

PRESENTING:  “The First-Time Author's Survival Guide: Lessons Learned.”

Celestial Holmes, known by the pseudonym Mbinguni, is a renowned author and multifaceted professional. With a background in computer programming and 15 years of experience as an Instructional Designer, Celestial has seamlessly transitioned into the realm of writing. Under the banner of NEW Reads Publications, her debut novel, Looking for Hope, captivated readers worldwide and has earned a prestigious 5-star rating on Amazon and GoodReads. Celestial's talent and dedication have been acknowledged through distinguished fellowships, including the 2022 Hurston Wright Screenwriting Fellowship, the 2023 and 2024 Kimbilio Fellowship, and the 2024 Community of Writers Workshop.

In addition to her work as an author, Celestial is also a celebrated freelance writer and celebrity interviewer for BlackGirlNerds.com, where she shares her unique perspectives on diverse topics. Furthermore, Celestial is widely recognized as a co-host on the immensely popular "Watch Dem Thrones" podcast, affiliated with the esteemed platform Black with No Chaser.

 Driven by a thirst for knowledge and adventure, Celestial pursues various hobbies, including archery, horseback riding, and scuba diving. Born and raised in Fernandina Beach, FL, she attributes her passion for storytelling to her grandparents, whose love for reading, film, and television inspired her from an early age.

Paths to Publication Panel Discussion on November 8, 8:00 am-9:00 am

Kim Conrey is the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year in the romance category. She is the author of the Ares Ascending sci-fi romance series, the Wayward Saviors urban fantasy series, and a memoir. She has published traditionally and self-published.

Laura Kelly Robb is the author of two novels, a mystery and historical fiction, and short stories.

George Weinstein is the Executive Director of the Atlanta Writers Club and the award-winning author of eight novels that range from Southern historical fiction and mystery to contemporary fiction and satirical sci-fi. He has published  traditionally and self-published. 

Melinda Farris (moderator) is the founder of the St. Simons Island Writers Group and the author of the award-winning novel, The Fourth Degree.

Jonathan Rabb (speaking on November 8, 9:30 am-10:30 am)

PRESENTING: “How to Find the Story…and How to Understand Where Your Voice Will Take You: Thoughts on Research, Structure, and the Discovery of a Novel.”

Jonathan Rabb is the author of the novels Among the Living (a finalist for the 2018 Townsend Prize for Fiction), The Second Son, Shadow and Light, Rosa (winner of the Director’s Prize at Semana Negra, 2006), The Book of Q and The Overseer. He has published short fiction and non-fiction in a number of magazines and journals, including The Oxford American, The Strand, Lit Hub, Opera News and the Journal for Interdisciplinary History. He originated the role of Fermat in the Off-Broadway production of Fermat’s Last Tango, and has soloed with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, the Albany Symphony, and the Harrisburg Symphony, among others. He has taught at NYU, Columbia and is currently a Professor of Writing at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). He has a BA in political science from Yale and an MA and MPhil in political theory from Columbia. He is currently at work on his next novel, which takes place in Venice 1607.

Marketing Tips Panel Discussion on November 8, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm

Kim Conrey is the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year in the romance category. She is the author of the Ares Ascending sci-fi romance series, the Wayward Saviors urban fantasy series, and a memoir. She has published traditionally and self-published.

Melinda Farris is the founder of the St. Simons Island Writers Group and the author of the award-winning novel, The Fourth Degree.

Erika Patoni O’Brien is the manager of Righton Books, one of the independent bookstores on St. Simons Island. She has experience creating author websites and with Bookstagram and other social media platforms.

George Weinstein (moderator) is the Executive Director of the Atlanta Writers Club and the award-winning author of eight novels that range from Southern historical fiction and mystery to contemporary fiction and satirical sci-fi. He has published  traditionally and self-published.

Suggested Lodging Options

Ocean Inn & Suites (Across the street from AW Jones Heritage Center on one side and Porch restaurant on the other! Limited room block available - to claim a room, go to https://oceaninnandsuites.com and use group code SLG)

Hotel Simone

The Inn By Sea Island

Hampton Inn 

Saint Simons Inn by the Lighthouse

Best Western Plus St. Simons

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Sea Palms Resort

Village Inn and Pub

Queens Court Inn

Strachan Carriage House 

Vrbo Vacation Rentals

Airbnb Vacation Rentals

Lilmar Properties

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