The 39th Annual Pennwriters Conference — Lancaster, PA | May 15–17, 2026
There’s something about a roomful of writers that recharges me every time. The 39th Annual Pennwriters Conference, themed The Writer’s Path, brought a swarm of authors, poets, and storytellers to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for three days of workshops, craft conversations, and a Lord of the Rings costumed social 🧝♀️ 🎉
True Crime Uncovered — The Workshop
This year, I had the honor of presenting True Crime Uncovered: Writing with Purpose, Precision, Power, and Protection, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career as a writer. The room was engaged (with four Pennwriters board members, no less!), the questions were sharp, and the conversation that spilled into the Palm Court meant the world to me. Hearing your kind words about the content and the presentation, and knowing something landed, made it more than worthwhile.
🙏 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came, who challenged me, and who kept the conversation going afterward 😊
And a very special thank you to my friend and fellow Sisters in Crime, Delaware Valley Chapter member Dr. Christina VandePol, who introduced me with such warmth and generosity. I surprised Madam Coroner with a dedicated slide in my presentation in honor of her upcoming memoir, Madam Coroner: A Memoir of Death and Politics in Suburbia (McFarland, 2027). If you haven’t put her book on your radar yet, do it now 👏👏👏
Bumping Into Old Friends & Making New Ones
Conferences like Pennwriters are as much about the people as they are about the programming. I loved reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones—writers at every stage of their journey, all with something to say and something to learn.
Meeting Chuck Wendig (and Yes, I Got the Signature)
One of the genuine highlights of the weekend: meeting keynote speaker Chuck Wendig and getting my copy of Staircase in the Woods signed. (The inscription was, shall we say, enthusiastically Wendig.) He was warm, funny, and exactly the kind of keynote voice a conference like this deserves.
Signing My Own Books
There’s always something a little surreal and wonderful about sitting on the other side of the table. Following my Saturday workshop, I got to sign copies of my own book, Chained Birds, and every interaction reminded me why the author-reader connection is irreplaceable. At least three conference goers told me they had started the book last weekend—and one or two might even let me know their thoughts about it 🤔
Featured on the BookSpeak Network Podcast
I was thrilled to sit down with podcaster Tory Gates—author, broadcaster, and host of The Brown Posey Press Show on the BookSpeak Network—for a special Pennwriters edition of the podcast. Tory is a veteran of nearly four decades in broadcast radio, currently an anchor for NBC News Radio, and a producer of multiple shows across Central Pennsylvania. He’s also a Sunbury Press author whose work spans young adult fiction, time travel, and literary crossover … and he’s as easy to talk to as you’d hope someone with that much mic time would be 🎙️
The episode, The Voices of the Pennwriters Conference, Part 1, dropped yesterday and features a fantastic group of conference authors. (My segment begins at 13:50.)
🎙️ Listen to the podcast here:
Until Next Time
After my second year attending Pennwriters, the conference definitely felt like home. I’m grateful to the organizers, the volunteers, the attendees, and every writer who made The Writer’s Path worth walking. I look forward to coming back 🫶 🙌
Carla Conti is a journalist and the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir. Her next true crime book, The Jacklighter, is set for release in 2026. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who supports her true crime habit.
