Newsletters

I can't believe it! CHRISTMAS IS AROUND THE CORNER. (For those of you who cringe at capital letters...yes, I'm shouting this.)

Christmas has just sneaked (snuck..depending on where you hail from) up, so I hope you are ready for this joyous holiday.  SOOOO, Merry Christmas. 

I know your emails have been sparse. That's because so many in the past didn't appreciate numerous emails, but buckle your seatbelts because seven weeks prior to the conference, you're going to get weekly emails. This is for two reasons. 1) We continue to have new conferees sign up, and they need the information you have. 2) We begin to send you weekly additional teaching. Little blog posts that offer you some added learning with things you can practice at home. We want you to get the most you can from this conference. We're small, but we like to think we're mighty.

You will see repeated information for the reason listed above, but that doesn't mean you don't read through the email for additional new information. We encourage you to read through. You can also begin to check the site www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com  to find our newsletter link. The link above is directed to the newsletter page. I recommend you check this page frequently beginning in January because these letters will be there and a week before the conference, we'll open up the page that has all your check-in instructions. We send these letters via email link via Mailerlite, and we post them on the site. You should not be in the dark about anything. If you are not getting the emails from me, you should check your spam or trash. Mark us a safe so your browser will not send us to your spam folder. All that to say, you should not be in the dark if you check one of those three things.

GOOD NEWS - All our on-campus housing is sold out. If someone cancels a reservation on campus, I will immediately forward that open room to you for first choice. If you'd like to be on campus, watch for any of those things changing. It's always an answered prayer when we sell out our on-campus rooms because that is a huge expense for us -- one we are financially responsible for if the rooms don't sell. You can see why I sweat a bit. 

Our on-campus housing is sold out and removed from the website. All that is showing on the website registration is off-campus registration. If you send a friend there, they will be registering for off-campus. What that means is that they secure their own room off-campus. We have three hotels listed right at the foot of the Cove (literally feet away - and that is a measurement, not Bob Hostetler's feet). Off-campus registration includes the conference fee and all meals at the Cove. That's Friday supper, three meals Saturday, and Sunday breakfast. Their room is something they must do themselves at a local hotel. Now, that doesn't mean you can call the Cove and try to book a room. They are not a hotel like the Holiday Inn. You must book through me and I make those reservations through our conference group. Don't call the Cove and try to get a room. They'll just send you to me.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE? - We have 30 off-campus slots available. Pass the word around to your friends, writers groups, and anyone else you think would love to come. Help us sell out this conference completely.

Selling out our conference is something that God does yearly. We have never NOT sold completely out. I don't doubt God's ability,y and I know He'll do what's within His plan for this year. What concerns me is what folks hear about our area and the devastation that still ravages us.  SO, don't be afraid, don't worry. Things at the Cove are great. Interstate 26 on the Tennessee side now has a lane in each direction where the interstate washed away, and Interstate 40 is being worked at a mad rate to provide the same. If you come I-40 from Knoxville, you may have to detour for a few miles, but you can now get to Asheville. Encourage folks to register and not be afraid of the past.

ABOUT THE DEVASTATION - Well, let me say this about that. If you travel by car, you will no doubt see tent cities along the way. You'll probably see piles of debris stacked roof-high. You'll probably see folks floundering, and now that the weather is dropping into the teens and snow comes from time to time, it's important you remember these displaced people. Don't judge them when you see them. They aren't dumb, they aren't lazy, they're not trashy. They have lost everything. Their homes literally lifted off the foundation and floated down the river breaking into splinters. Find it in your heart to stop and chat with them, pray with them. Our people are incredibly resilient, and we're the type of folks who don't wait around for officials to eventually decide to help us. We dig in and start work. That is what you will see. I beg you...please don't forget our mountain people who have lost everything. Remind your friends, churches and civic groups that we still need help. Then do something. Your love and help will move mountains...literally! These folks will put a shovel in your hand and say, start digging. It's important to know that throughout western North Carolina and upper East Tennessee, there are still over 500 individuals missing. OVER 500. Please do not forget these families.

MORE CONFERENCE INFORMATION - Our mentors are filling up. If you are interested in any of our mentors: Larry Leech, Edie Melson, Billy Wayne Arrington, Andrea Merrell, Terri Kelly, Linda Gilden, or Denise Loock, then be sure to drop Terri an email. You can visit the critique and mentoring page for her information and information on our mentors and critiques. This is money well spent.

The Schedule - At this point, our schedule of classes and times has not changed. Do not be surprised if it does. This is due to meals at the Cove. I have no control over these changes. But for now, we seem to be A-okay.

THE SPARROW CONTEST - ENTER, ENTER, ENTER! If you have a manuscript with a couple of chapters completed, enter.

That's all for now.

 The Noisy Stall

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 ESV

The older I get, the more allergic I grow to noise. I recall a year when my boys were small, that my sister-in-law gave them little metal ray guns. You pulled the trigger, and a little fan inside went whirr, whirr, whirr. They were outside playing with their guns, and the rays were flying while my sister-in-law was raking leaves. After a bit, I saw her lay her rake down, walk across the street to my boys, and rip the ray guns out of their hands. It was driving her insane. It's served as great fodder for years to come about how payback can be painful. She gave them the noise, and the payback was her last nerve.

That's me these days. Noise allergy. A few nights ago, my husband turned off the TV. "I'm going to bed. You coming?"

"Maybe in a bit. I just want to sit and look at the Christmas tree." He headed upstairs and flipped off the lights, leaving me in the dark to stare at the flickering Christmas tree. Our tree is on a rotator and so for me, I get to see the lights change colors and the tree slowly turn. It's the most peaceful thing. 

I watched as a tiny baby Jesus slowly turned past, and I thought for a moment there probably wasn't any peace and quiet for Mary and Joseph or Baby Jesus. I mean, a manger full of farm animals not only has its own aroma, but it's never quiet and peaceful. Yet, for these new parents, I'm sure they tuned out the noise to simply gaze at the true miracle that lay in front of them. The King. Emmanuel. Prince of Peace. The completion of a promise.

We know little of Jesus' childhood, but we do know about His last three years and they were anything but peaceful or quiet. Still, Jesus remained "at peace." Even knowing what was to come, He wasn't thrilled with what the future held, but He was "at peace."

This Christmas, take time to sit back and rest. Take in a deep breath and find peace. This is the perfect time of year to seek that little gift. And by the way, it is a gift. Sit alone and watch your Christmas lights and think on our Baby Jesus...sleeping in heavenly peace. 

Merry Christmas,

Cindy Sproles

Director

P.S. All typos are gremlins from the netherworld. I read that in a book! LOL