Key West Sketches by Carey Winfrey

Announcing … Key West Sketches

We are thrilled to announce the publication of Key West Sketches: Writers at Mile Zero, a new anthology out today from Blair. Edited by Carey Winfrey, the former editor-in-chief of Smithsonian magazine and longtime KWLS board member, the 250-page volume tracks Key West’s extraordinary and eclectic literary history.

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Paul Lisicky and one of his workshops

Acclaimed writer Paul Lisicky to teach in Key West

Come work on memoir with Paul Lisicky in Key West: “A sustaining workshop is one in which everyone feels respected enough to take risks in their work.”

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Alumni Newsletter, Summer 2022 (vol. 10)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! We are happy to share this news with you about all the successes in our alumni community. Soon you’ll be hearing about some changes in the look and content of this newsletter, which we hope will make it easier to navigate.

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Announcing our 2023 Emerging Writer Award Winners

Each year, we present three prizes — the Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award, Scotti Merrill Award, and Marianne Russo Award — that recognize emerging writers who possess exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for lasting literary careers.


2023 Teacher & Librarian Scholarships

We are thrilled to once again recognize a group of individuals who are making positive impacts on readers in their communities. We are pleased to offer these talented educators and librarians full scholarships to our annual Seminar. We hope and believe that participation in our vibrant literary community inspires fresh engagement with literature in schools and libraries around the country.


Photo courtesy Florida Keys Public Libraries: Betty Suarez's third grade class, Reynolds Elementary School, 1965-66. Gift Lisa Suarez.

Alumni Newsletter, Spring 2022 (vol. 9)

Here is the latest news from our alumni community. As Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is contagious – pass it on.” We hope you’ll find this news as inspiring as we do.


Photo courtesy Florida Keys Public Libraries: Betty Suarez's third grade class, Reynolds Elementary School, 1965-66. Gift Lisa Suarez.

Alumni Newsletter, Fall 2021 (vol. 8)

As we settle into fall, we’re busy getting ready for the Seminar and Workshops this January. After the unexpected hiatus, we’re thrilled to be to reconnecting with our community in person to celebrate literature once more.

Meanwhile, our alumni community has been busy, too. It’s always inspiring to see what everyone has achieved–huge congratulations to all!


2022 Emerging Writer Award Winners

Announcing our 2022 Emerging Writer Award Winners

Each year, we present three prizes — the Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award, Scotti Merrill Award, and Marianne Russo Award — that recognize emerging writers who possess exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for lasting literary careers.


2022 Teacher & Librarian Scholarship Winners

2022 Teacher & Librarian Scholarships

We are thrilled to once again recognize a group of individuals who are making positive impacts on readers in their communities. We are pleased to offer these talented educators and librarians full scholarships to our annual Seminar. We hope and believe that participation in our vibrant literary community inspires fresh engagement with literature in schools and libraries around the country.


Photo courtesy Florida Keys Public Libraries: Betty Suarez's third grade class, Reynolds Elementary School, 1965-66. Gift Lisa Suarez.

Alumni Newsletter, Spring 2021 (vol.7)

Spring is here: mangoes are ripening on the trees, the temperature is rising, and our streets are a little calmer. Happily, we are back at work putting together the 2022 workshop & scholarship programs and look forward to seeing many of you in person again in the future.

Our alumni community has been busy; see below for some astonishing recent achievements. Many congratulations to all!


Announcing our 2021 Emerging Writer Award Winners

Each year, we present three prizes — the Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award, Scotti Merrill Award, and Marianne Russo Award — that recognize emerging writers who possess exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for lasting literary careers.