7th Annual Let's Write!

2026 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

9:00AM - Arrival/Check-In with Coffee and Refreshments

9:30 - 10:30AM - KEYNOTE ADDRESS - "To See, To Say, To Know: Writing Into Your Vision" with Jennifer Roberts (she/her), a novelist, fierce library advocate, occasional knitter, and aspiring mead maker who lives in Southern Oregon, where the mountains are tall, the lakes crystal clear, and the beer hoppy. Jennifer’s debut novel The Village Healer’s Book of Cures was published in November of 2023 by Lake Union. It was an Amazon Editors' "First Reads" Pick and was named an Editors' Choice by the Historical Novel Society. It features 17th-century recipes, witches, alchemy, and a wicked-smart crow. To learn more about Jennier and her work, visit her website: www.jenshermanroberts.com | Bluesky: @jshehermanroberts.bsky.social | Facebook @JenniferShermanRoberts 

10:00AM - Haiga! Playing with Art and Poetry with Deb Murphy - Traditionally Haiga has combined calligraphy and haiku poetry. Contemporary creatives use many mediums including painting, photography, and graphic design. In this playshop we will create our own haigas using a variety of materials. Using our own poems or poetry of others, we will explore fusing poetry and visual imagery. Examples from traditional and contemporary Haiga artists will be shared. Paper and some art supplies will be available, but please bring your own if you have a special watercolor set, for example. From crayons to calligraphy… we will delve into the delights of Haiga! 

10:00AM - The Writer as Architect: Crafting Visionary & Authentic Story Worlds with Shelly King - Worldbuilding is at the heart of every great story. Whether your setting is a medieval village, a modern coffee shop, or a time and place that doesn't exist (yet), the world your characters inhabit shapes their choices, their challenges, and the emotional truth of your narrative. In this fiction-based workshop, we’ll explore how worlds function as characters of their own, influencing mood, theme, conflict, and the reader’s experience. You’ll learn how to build immersive, believable environments that feel lived-in and meaningful, whether you’re reconstructing the past, imagining the future, or grounding the present.

11:30AM - 12:30PM - 1 HOUR LUNCH BREAK - Buffet in the Cafeteria

Deborah Murphy (she/her) is a lifelong learner on her own creative path as a writer, storyteller, and traveler who still loves pencils and crayons! She has been an educator for decades earning her B.S. in Elementary Education and English at State University of New York in 1975 followed by her Masters in Elementary Education, with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education also from State University of New York, in 1977.  Murphy has been a highly regarded teacher, volunteer, and community worker in Grants Pass for over thirty years touching the lives of hundreds of youth. She has worked and played with students of all ages, including teaching locally the Dome School in Takilma and at Rogue Community College (RCC) for 20 years. Deb currently lives in the Illinois Valley of Southern Oregon and is still working as an adjunct professor in the Early Childhood-Elementary Education Department @ RCC.

 Shelly King Schuur's (she/her) short fiction has appeared in the GW Review, Epiphany, Slow Trains, the Dos Passos Review, and the Coe Review, Palo Alto Weekly, and The Writer magazine. She is the author of the novel The Moment of Everything (Grand Central Publishing/Hachette) which has been translated to a dozen languages around the world. She has taught numerous workshops and classes for the California Writers Club, Cabrillo College, and other private organizations. She is the co-founder and board president of the Rogue Writers Collective, a nonprofit organization based in Grants Pass, dedicated to helping the writers of Southern Oregon develop their craft and build community.  You can learn more about the Rogue Writers Collective HERE.

Lisa E Baldwin (she/her) is a fifth-generation native Oregonian, has lived in the Lower Applegate Valley since 1966. Baldwin taught English in Grants Pass for 30 years, retiring in 2015. Currently, as owner of N8tive Run Enterprises and Press, she works as a poetry evangelist—writing and publishing poetry, organizing and teaching poetry workshops, spreading the good news of the poetry world, and encouraging others to write as an act of art. In early 2025 Baldwin and fellow poet Seth Kaplan teamed up and created Poetry for the People, a series of poetry readings and open mics at various venues in Jackson and Josephine counties. The series wrapped up with a “re-gathering" celebration in September and an anthology of poems from the six readings and open mics, The Gathered Poems from Poetry for the People 2025, came out in December 2025. Baldwin’s first book of poetry, Truths and Consequences, was published in 2021, and her second poetry collection, Jerome Prairie Creation Myths and other Farm Tales in 2023. Books are available for purchse at the Guild Gallery or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Contact the author by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ciera “Scout” Cox (they/them) is a freelance manuscript editor and publishing professional holding an MA in English from Arizona State University. Prior to going freelance, Scout worked as a manuscript editor for Blackstone Publishing in Ashland, Oregon, editing a number of New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Scout is also a Chaos Curator with Rogue Writers Collective, assisting with event curation and editing various publications such as The Rapids literary and art journal! Outside of writing and editing, you can likely find Scout curled up in a sunny spot crocheting, reading, or playing ukulele with their beloved cat, Willow, by their side. To learn more about Scout and their work, visit https://www.sunflowerscoutediting.com/

Joy Lotus (she/her) is a masters level trained therapist with over ten years of experience. She also has both Ganja Magic and A Poet's Guide to Ireland available on Amazon. Her short story, “Park Ranger Cinderella” was published in The Rapids Fall 2024 Literary & Art Journal of Southern Oregon. She spends her days wrangling her small children and drinking copious amounts of coffee. Website: https://joy-lotus.com | Threads and Instagram @joy_lotus_author | Substack: www.substack.com/joylotusauthor

Ruth Halpern (she/her) has been telling, writing, and drawing stories since she could hold a crayon. After attending college at UC Berkley, she performed everywhere from Bolivia to Scotland to Fiji, sharing folktales and personal stories, and improvising stories based on audience suggestions right on the spot. As an adult, she’s created graphic narratives ranging from a single panel to an extended series, finding new ways to bring stories to life using words and pictures. She is a much-loved group facilitator who takes joy in creating collaborative learning experiences. Her passion is helping others find their authentic storytelling voice. Because when you can become the narrator of your own stories, you gain control over the story of your life. To learn more about Ruth, visit: www.ruthstory.com