2023 ECR Press Release

Sixty-five area writers and artists will be featured in the upcoming publication of the Emerald Coast Review, Vol. XXII. The anthology, published biennially since 1989, features quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, contemporary, emerging, and experimental works along with the best of art, graphic design and photography from area writers and artists living along coastal Florida and Alabama.

Managing editor of the Emerald Coast Review Jessica Temple says, “We had an impressive selection in terms of volume, variety, and caliber. It was a pleasure to read and review all of the submissions, and we editors had some tough decisions to make.”

According to Tom Roberts, president of Emerald Coast Writers, the more than 175 submissions were judged on merit by a team of experienced readers and artists. Along with works from seasoned writers and artists, this year’s book will include work by two middle school students as well as work from students from University of West Florida and professors from Northwest Florida State and Pensacola State. He points out that two parent and child groups are also included in the book, “personifying the organization’s mission of encouraging young writers.”

The book, due out in October, includes works by the following artists and writers: Chloe Allen, Beulah; Josh Argentine, Gulf Breeze; Charline Barger, Pace; Terri Barlotta, Fort Walton Beach; Steve Biersdorf, Gulf Breeze; Allyson Bitely, Pace; Pat Black-Gould, Pensacola; Sage Burns, Pensacola; Alanna Grayce Campbell, Niceville; Tonya Dalhaus, Beulah; Patty Damm, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Juliet DeMarko, Pensacola; Kathleen Duthu, Mobile, Ala; Autry Dye, Cantonment; Stefanie Marks Evert, Mobile, Ala.; Patricia Edmisten, Pensacola; Lana Fernandez, Pensacola; Mandy Fernandez, Pensacola; Keira Finelli; Gulf  Breeze; Scott Finelli, Gulf Breeze; Lee Gosselin, Fairhope, Ala.; Mary Gutierrez, Pensacola; Amy Hadley, Bay Minette, Ala.; Steve Hardiman, Lilian, Ala.; Betty Hassler, Pace; Terry Henry, Pensacola; Mike Herndon, Mobile, Ala.; Mariela Hidalgo, Pensacola; Richard Craig Hurt, Pensacola; Tony Judnich, Crestview; Kimi Kuniyoshi, Pensacola; Christina Larson, Shalimar; Samuel Lee, Beulah; James Long, Gulf Breeze; Gregory Mabry, Cantonment; Robyn Martins, Santa Rosa Beach; Claire Massey, Navarre; Pamela Mathison-Levitt, Rockville, Md.; Randall Evan McClellan, Pace; Ethan McGuire, Pensacola; Heather Mitchell, Pensacola; Karen McAferty Morris, Pensacola; Katherine Nelson-Born, Pensacola; Lisa Joy Newcomb, Pensacola; Lori O’Gara, Milton; William Polley, Santa Rosa Beach; Jennifer Aicher Powell, Pensacola; Katie Rankin, Pensacola; Mike Roberts, Pensacola; Mladen Rudman, Fort Walton Beach; Diane Skelton, Gulf Breeze; Sara Smith, Pensacola; Jack Stevenson, Pensacola; Debra Stogner, Pensacola; Courtney Swanson; Jessica Temple, Fort Walton Beach; Brenda Thornton, Lilian, Ala.; Carolyn Tokson, Pensacola; Bobby Touchton, Milton; Mike Turner, Fairhope, Ala.; Claudia Van Gee, Cantonment; Peter Veltigian, Milton; Lucie Watson Wade, Pensacola; Andrea Jones Walker, Pensacola; and Lori Zavada, Pensacola.      

Emerald Coast Writers, Inc. (formerly WFLF) began in 1986 when a group of literary-minded residents worked with twelve community groups to found West Florida Literary Federation. They began publishing the Emerald Coast Review (ECR) in 1989 to showcase the creativity of regional writers and artists. The group’s mission has been to bring people together who are interested in the literary heritage of the region, and to promote literary efforts through programs, workshops, awards, publications, and related activities. In 1987, WFLF was incorporated by the State of Florida as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The group rebranded in 2023.