Let’s Celebrate Our Members!
Award Winning: The Lost Dresses Of Italy
Marty Ambrose won a gold medal from the Florida Writers Association for her book, The Lost Dresses Of Italy.
Marty Ambrose is an award-winning, multi-published author of nine novels, including her recent historical mystery.
The Lost Dresses of Italy, published by Alcove Press, is a dual narrative of two creative women: a 19th-century poet and a 20th-century fashion curator whose lives intertwine around a century-old conspiracy in Verona, Italy
Bad JuJu in Cleveland Audiobook Receives an Award Nomination
The audiobook by Thekla Madsen and co-author Karl Bort has been nominated for a special award.
Mike Cantrell, the naraator has been nominated for a 2026 Voice Arts Award in recognition of outstanding audio storytelling and performance.
The award will be decided on January 18!
Upcoming Event
2026 SWFL Reading Festival!
Saturday, March 7, 2026
- There are 12 seats total:
- 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- For more information, email Claudia: twogforce@yahoo.com
Previous Recognitions
October/November 2025
Celebrating Our Members’ Achievements
As we roll into fall, we’re proud to celebrate two GCWA members whose talent and dedication continue to inspire our writing community.
Mary Charles was recognized for her outstanding work in short stories, and Ronald Harvey Wohl received honors for his exceptional poetry.
Their success is a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship found within GCWA — a community where writers belong.
We’re thrilled to share that GCWA member Mary Charles won First Place in The Writer magazine’s writing contest with her story, A Viking Funeral. Mary’s outstanding achievement is not only a testament to her talent and dedication but also a proud reflection of the caliber of writers who make up GCWA’s vibrant and supportive community.
Ronald Harvey Wohl won first place for his poem, Adirondack Facilitation, from the Rose Theater in Washington, D.C., which was set to music composed explicitly for it. On April 29th, 2025, a professional actress read the poem at Glen Echo Park, a vibrant cultural and historical site just northwest of Washington, D.C.
August Spotlight
Gulf Coast Writers is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of two of our talented members: Ginger Wakem and Patti M. Walsh.
On August 2nd, Ginger Wakem and Patti M. Walsh received the prestigious Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) Awards. Their achievements reflect the talent, support, and creative spirit at the core of the Gulf Coast Writers Association community.
The FAPA President’s Book Awards honor excellence in writing, design, and publishing. This national award recognizes standout books published in English between 2023 and 2025. Winning a medal is a true mark of talent and achievement.
Ginger Wakem accepted the FAPA Silver award for her powerful debut novel, Trust No One, Promise Nothing. Ginger Wakem’s latest release has earned top honors—an Amazon #1 bestseller in Mafia Romance and named Best of 2024 in Mysteries & Thrillers by Munn Avenue Press.
Patti M. Walsh received the FAPA Gold award for her novel Hounded, a compelling Young Adult story. Patty is no stranger to literary accolades, having previously won awards for Best Children’s Fiction, Silver in Middle-Grade Fiction, and Bronze in Middle-Grade Fiction.
