Calling all Christian writers.

Christian author Marilyn Turk and the Emerald Coast Christian Writers will hold the first ever Christian Writers Retreat next month at Blue Lake Camp.

Turk makes her home in the Florida Panhandle and has been published in Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine, The Upper Room, Guideposts Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul and Coastal Christian Family magazine. Her short story, “A Stranger’s Visit to the Lighthouse,” was published in A Cup of Christmas Cheer.

Turk has also published Lighthouse Devotions and The Gilded Curse.

Turk said the reason for the Christian writers’ retreat is that she’s been to many Christian writing conferences but Covington County, like the Panhandle, is far from the locations of these conferences.

“The closest drive for me is to Central Florida and that’s a six to eight hour drive,” she said. “And they are very expensive. There’s one in North Carolina and it’s expensive. There’s also one in California, but it’s a long way away.”

Turk said she wanted to offer the kind of experience and information that writers can get from going to larger conferences without the cost and the distance.

“I’m calling it a retreat because it’s in the Conecuh National Forest,” she said. “But it will have the same elements as a conference.”

Turk said the retreat is for everyone.

“Whether you’re a beginning ore experienced writer, interested in fiction or nonfiction, our faculty of seasoned professionals can teach you how to improve your writing skills, market your work and get published,” she said. “Anyone who feels like God is saying you need to write.”

The retreat is three nights and three days.

“It will include praise and worship and room and board,” she said.

Paricipants can choose from three different morning continuing classes and 12 afternoon workshops, which offer a range of information about various aspects of writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Subject areas also include articles, devotions, self-publishing, marketing and more.

“The faculty are outstanding,” she said. “I have three men and five women on the faculty.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the faculty one-on-one and discuss writing goals.

The retreat is set for March 22 through March 25.

Costs of the retreat are as follows:

• The Linwood Single option: $475. This rate includes a private room with a private bathroom in the Linwood section of Oakwood Lodge. Meals are included from Wednesday’s supper through to Saturday’s lunch. The conference fee is included.
• The Linwood Double option: $395. This rate includes a double room with a private bathroom in the Linwood section of Oakwood Lodge. This rate is per person. It also includes your meals from Wednesday’s supper through Saturday’s lunch. (Two people are required for a double room. Contact Blue Lake if you are having trouble finding a roommate).

There are also commuter rates available.

“I know that people from Andalusia might want to do that instead,” she said.

Commuter options are:

• The Commuter full conference option: $225. The rate is for conferees who would like to commute from home or nearby. This rate does not include meals, but covers the conference fee.
• The Commuter two-day option: $150. This rate is for conferees who would like to attend two full days. This rate does not include meals.
• The Commuter one-day option: $75. This rate is for conferees who would like to come for one day. It does not include meals.

There are meal package options for commuters.

• Full meal package: $50; includes dinner Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday;
• One-day commute meal package: $17 and includes lunch and dinner one day.
• Lunch only meal package: $24 and includes lunch Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
• One-day lunch option: $8; and,
• One-day breakfast option: $6.50.

To register, visit bluelakecwr.com or call 850-225-2466.