Notes from the 2006 Santa Barbara Writers Conference
“Here I am 86 years old and I haven't changed a bit.
I still have the same zest, love, passion. It's all there.“
Ray Bradbury
 SBWC founder Barnaby Conrad greets writers, and introduces Ray Bradbury. Displayed in the foreground, Conrad's painting of Bradbury--donated as a raffle item to benefit the SBWC Scholarship Fund. |
 Ray Bradbury opens the conference imploring writers to “Find out what you love, and do it for a long period of time....Write all the lousy stuff out of you.” What should guide you is the question: “What do I love with all my heart?” He urges writers seek the treasure buried within. “I want each of you to go back to when you were three and five and nine and uncover all these things that you were in love with.” |
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John Grogan’s Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog proves Bradbury’s advice. Marley and Me remains atop the best seller lists since its publication in 2005. Of Marley, Grogan says, “As we were trying to shape him, he was shaping us. He taught us a lot about unconditional love.” The conference dogs below offer their wagging memorial to Marley. |
 Conference Charmer, Cookie Finnegan. |
 Pirate Dog, Sally Lowenkopf, with her best friend and Pirate Workshop leader Shelly Lowenkopf. |
Ella Ryan Hyde attends the closing luncheon with best friend Catherine. |
Anonymous Pirate Workshop Corgi awaits, of all things, a carrot! |
 Author Erica Jong at the signing of her newest book, Seducing the Demon: Writing for My Life.“With every book I've ever written, I’ve pretended no one would read it.” Nevertheless, Jong’s signing line was lengthy! |
 Author T. C. Boyle addresses writers and introduces his latest work, Talk, Talk—about a deaf woman who suffers the trauma of identity theft—to be published July 2007 by Viking. |
 Exectutive Director Marcia Meier moderates the closing ceremony. |
Poet Lisa Meckel toasts the Santa Barbara Writers Conference (and hides from photographer) with friends Gloria McMillan and Anita Alan. |
