The one writers conference I make a point to attend every year (not just because I’m the president) has ended and I am emerging from my post-conference coma. Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025 was difficult in some ways and absolutely amazing in others. We had some people with loved ones in hospice or who had lost loved ones in the time immediately before or during conference. They were such troopers and they found themselves surrounded by the love and support of 200+ peers even if those peers didn’t know what was going on because PPWC has something unique and amazing that you can’t get at any other conference. There is an open, friendly, and supportive atmosphere that permeates every corner of every space we occupy in the hotel.

As president, my primary goal is to shake the hand of every attendee and help them understand that we are there to help and no questions is silly. You know you’re fulfilling your mission when you get feedback like “The level of positive support from everyone is simply unreal – Kudos to you all!” and “I’ve never felt more seen and supported as a writer!”

The level of positive support from everyone is simply unreal–kudos to you all!
– PPWC2025 Attendee

“I’ve never felt more seen and supported as a writer!
– PPWC2025 Attendee

Our keynote speakers were simply fabulous. USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn put all the feels into her Friday welcome lunch keynote. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap reminded us that life is too short to squander the gift and talent we’ve been given in his Saturday night banquet dinner keynote. David R. Slayton gave a moving keynote at the farewell lunch about what it means to be a writer. In addition, all of our keynotes and our featured writers, Ricaro Fayette of Reedsy and the charming, award-winning kids and teen author Alexandra Diaz participated in a lively trivia game about one another during Saturday lunch in the Featured Authors versus Keynote Speakers game show. I had the change to have a meal each with Ricardo and Alexandra. Ricardo is one of the founders of Reedsy. He’s a calm and soft-spoken guy with an easygoing nature and deep marketing knowledge. Alexandra’s boundless love for writing colored most of our conversation and it was glorious.

Thank you to the amazing people who put together and presented a total of over 60 workshops at this year’s conference. These workshops are labors of love. No honorarium could cover that. The initial feedback has been overwhelmingly warm and positive. One of my own workshops garnered the attention of a college-level writing teacher who wants to add some of my material to his classes. You can’t see it, but my jaw just dropped again just writing about it. Especially because it was my first workshop given at conference to an unexpectedly standing-room-only room for a very niche topic.

There was a very dramatic moment where I misplaced my clicker and I briefly spun out. But I made myself go down for breakfast because I wanted to check on someone I knew was having a difficult time and that gave me the reset to go back to room and immediately find it right where I had put it but couldn’t see before. Has that ever happened to you?

Thanks to all the PPW staff that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Your ability to stay calm in the face of any degree of problem, remain professional, and to pivot to find the best answer in a flash is amazing! It was a privilege to watch you work. Thank you to the Author, Author bookstore who runs our conference bookstore.

The staff at the DoubleTree hotel in Colorado Springs worked hard to make sure everyone at our event got what they needed. Not a small feat. Special shoutout to the front desk, banquet staff, and bartenders (especially when 200+ people descend on the bar for barcon on Saturday night). Shoutout to Annie, Frank, Christina, Oznur, Jose, Angelica, Melissa, Natalie, Promise, Karla, Santana, Anthony, Kathena, Kacee, Genesis, Amanda S, Eric, Josselyn, Sambiri, Caden, JJ, Juliana, Chazlin, “Martini” and anyone else whose name we didn’t manage to capture. Thanks for looking after us.

Thank you to my amazing support group of one at home, my amazing husband, August, who brought me stuff I forgot; acted as chauffer, driving agents and editors back and forth from the airport, brought our dogs in for dog therapy on Saturday afternoon, and rearranged his tight schedule to help us out with a snafu at our storage unit. You are fantastic. I love you.

Next year’s conference is April 16-19. Saddle up and write with us! Keynote speakers include Mary Robinette Kowal, Marc Guggenheim, and Reavis Z. Wortham. Registration opens November 1, 2025! I’d love to see you there.

If you attended Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025, please tell me about your experience in the comments. Thanks!