Three ladies from Picayune attended the Southern Christian Writers Conference (SCWC) in Tuscaloosa, Ala., entered their writing contest and all won awards.

Sandy Lemoine won First place for her Picayune Item Writer’s Corner newspaper article, “Time;” Grace Booth won Second for her Picayune Item Writer’s Corner newspaper article, “Empty Nest Christmas;” Picayune writer Christine Collier won an Honorable Mention for her poetry published in the compilation book, “Bubble Bath Moments.”

Lemoine said, “The SCWC just celebrated their 20th year. The two day conference is made up of workshop sessions with outstanding speakers, published writers (some of whom are award winning). It was only my second year to attend, but how I wish I had heard of it and pursued my dream of writing years ago!

Booth, leader of Royal Writers at Resurrection Life Church, says, “Hundreds of writers attended the conference from nine different states. I have personally been attending this conference for 7 years. I have attended other conferences in several other states but the one in Ala. is my favorite because it offers such a strong spiritual impact and inspiration.”

With her first published entry winning First place, Lemoine, said, “I am excited, encouraged, and inspired as a result of being recognized at the SCWC with my Writer’s Corner article titled “Time.”

Lemoine was a hesitant participant in submitting her work to Writer’s Corner but had much encouragement from many around her, Booth included.

Lemoine said, “I’ll be 68 in August. I have always had the dream and desire to write but felt I didn’t have time. I was a full time working mother and on top of that, I have had no formal education in English.  I have been a widow for five years now, after 43 years of marriage, and two years ago I had to acknowledge my need to express myself and my desire to do it through written word.”

Booth said, “It was wonderful to be sitting at a table with high-placing winners that were all local people! I can’t wait for next year.”

 Collier agreed, “It was so wonderful that everyone of us at our table won something. I am thrilled to get recognition for my writing and be chosen from so many excellent writers from all over the United States!”

 “The conference is held every June, so I encourage all that have an interest in writing to get started and maybe by next year, you could be getting an award of your own,” said Lemoine.