Canyon Crest Academy’s Creative Writing Club recently announced the winner of the Jonathan Maberry Inspiring Teen Awards, which will be presented at the 11th Annual CCA Writers’ Conference. The conference will be held in person on Saturday March 19 and online on Sunday March 20. This event is the only free writing conference for high school students in the country. Registration will open at the end of February.
The 2021 Jonathan Maberry Inspiring Teens Award will be presented to Alonso Nunez, Co-Founder, Executive Director and Head Instructor at Little Fish Comic Book Studio.
Nunez said, “I am humbled and honored to receive this award. The work I’ve had the chance to do, the projects, the workshops and the talks – all of that is for nothing if the kids aren’t inspired at the end. Hush, don’t tell them, but they inspire me even more!
Isabella Hirst, Co-Chair of the CCA Creative Writing Club, said, “We are thrilled to have Alonso Nunez receive the Jonathan Maberry Award in recognition of all his hard work inspiring young writers and artists. After two years online, we can’t wait to see his workshop in person for this year’s conference. »
Serving the San Diego area, Little Fish Comic Book Studio, a nonprofit educational corporation, is dedicated to developing the skills and empowering the minds of students interested in the art form of comics, especially through a wide range of courses and camps aimed at all ages.
The club created the award in 2016 to honor Jonathan Maberry for all he does to inspire writers. The award is given annually to a writing professional who is dedicated to inspiring San Diego teens to:
pursue their artistic projects with heart, enthusiasm and integrity;
give back to their community; and
actively improve their art.
Jonathan Maberry will present the award to Alonso Nunez at the CCA’s 11th Annual Writers’ Conference on Saturday, March 19.
Abigail Tangonan, Co-Chair of CCA’s Creative Writing Club, said, “Being able to plan this conference is an experience like no other! Watching writers of all ages work together and inspire the next generation of the community is truly something to behold. Holding the conference online for the past two years has shown that offering an online option provides accessibility for students who may not be able to attend in person and enables students from across the country to take advantage of our workshops. That’s why this year we’re hosting the conference online and in person. »
Additional speakers for the conference include: Gretchen McNeil, Greg van Eekhout, Chris Hamilton, Amy Spalding, Nikki Katz, Nick Zayas, Demetra Brodsky, Gill Sotu, James Matlack Raney, Natalie Lakosil, and more.
In order to continue to provide this free experience to middle and high school students, the CCA Creative Writing Club is seeking individual and corporate sponsors. Individuals can sponsor a student for as little as $25 or become a Gold sponsor for more. Sponsors can email ccawritersconference@gmail.com for more information on how to contribute.
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, a longtime supporter of the conference, will be selling speaker books at the event or through their website at www.mystgalaxy.com.
The 11th Annual CCA Writers’ Conference is open to middle and high school students only and is free. Registration will take place at the end of February at ccawritersconference2022.weebly.com.