Writers Conference 2026
ACFW held its most recent writing conference in Memphis, and the city and event didn’t disappoint. I’ve been a member for almost ten years, and it's been great. You get to interact with so many writers, some of whom have published dozens of (some more than a hundred) books. That’s the great thing about book culture—there are so many niches and genres that there’s a place for all kinds of readers to go. That’s being said, up until last month, I’d only met my fellow writers online. Now it was time to go to the big show.
The City of Memphis
The city was Memphis, Tennessee. I’ve been a big fan of the Volunteer state for a couple of decades, but had only ventured to western edge a couple of times. My memory and mental picture of the city was foggy. Luckily, there was no fog on the banks of the Mississippi this August (yes, it was very hot).
The Peabody Hotel
The hotel was the legendary Peabody. Now if you’re a traveler, you’ve probably heard that the Peabody is the hotel with the ducks. I had, but little had prepared me for the grandeur of this gem of the south. The inside of the grand old hotel features a two-story lobby, with a fountain at the center. The interior finishings are well preserved, and the grand piano--with musicians nightly--was a great touch. But it was the feathered friends who were the stars of the hotel.
It’s not just that ducks march in and out of the hotel, but there’s an ceremony, twice daily, with a professional handler. And the ducks travel by elevator. You’ve really got to see it to understand. Very fun.
ACFW Conference 2026
The conference was all that I could have wanted and more. ACFW is a great community, but moreso I’ve always been impressed with the level of knowledge among its writers, editors, and agents--with so many willing to share. I was looking forward to sessions with writers like the magnificent Angela Hunt, as well as Steven James, Cara Putman, and literary agent Donald Maass. Plus, so many more. One writer we met the first time at dinner later received a Carol award for his first book. Very cool.
I can’t end without saying how impressed I was with Memphis. If you’re a traveler, you're likely skeptical of the typical tourist draws. We took a quick look (fine to visit Beale Street, of course), but chose to venture further. The way to learn about a city is to talk to people from there and in just a couple of days, we got advice that sent us deep into the city’s neighborhoods, where we discovered all kinds of gems. One thing we learned: the music scene is alive and thriving in Memphis. Another is this: why doesn’t every city have a place like the Memphis Listening Lab? I guess only Memphis is that cool (check it out, you won’t be disappointed if you like music).
Sure, it was a long drive back across the mid-south to get up to the Great Lakes again. But so worth it.
