I was invited to attend the 3rd Annual Chick Writers’ Press Reception poolside at the J.W. Marriott and what a pleasure!  This year’s theme was a Hawaiian Luau and the weather could not have been more perfect. We were treated to some incredible food, door prizes including a night’s stay at the J.W. Marriott, a cooking demo which Debbie Hall has written about in her column this week, hula lessons, and a full bar with specialty drinks such as Muckraker Mai Tai, Headliner Blue Hawaiian, Writers Block Sling and The Communicators Colada. 

Spa stations were also set up for summer hair ideas with clip-on flower, make-up tips to beat the heat, chair massages and luxurious Fijian hand and foot rubs. Author of “The Goddess Experience,” Janice Marie M.A. spoke about taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Chick Writers began when Barbara Nosek gathered her Pen Women writer friends and media writer friends for a get-together at her home for a New Year's Day brunch.  Creative sparks flew and new friendships were forged as everyone greeted 2003.

The next one was held in Barbara's home on Saturday, December 6, 2003, to coincide with her good friends visiting from Chicago and Minneapolis.  Now the spark-flying and friendship-making extended to new geographies.

The party returned to New Year's Day, when the Chick Writers Brunch, as it came to be called, took place in Barbara's home on Saturday, January 1, 2005.  Debbie Hall was always integral to these festive occasions. It was during a luncheon with J.W. Marriott PR person extraordinaire Lisa Roughley that the Lisa offered to host the next Chick Writers’ Reception as a way to thank all of the women writers for their contributions. On January 20, 2006, the J.W. Marriott hosted the first event.  It has since become a tradition.