On Day One of the Novelists, Inc. (#NINC2025) 2025 conference, my friend Janice Hardy and I checked into the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort at St. Pete Beach. I’d attended this writers’ conference many years before and remembered this resort with fondness. The Grand Colonnade main hall is still impressive and was the site for many of our workshops and networking. After registering and receiving our name badges, we mingled for a social hour and enjoyed complimentary ice cream novelties from a food cart.

I greeted Neil Plakcy, a mystery writer friend whom I’ve known for many years and met some new faces. Most everyone else I encountered were romance writers. Janice and I filled out a bingo card that was a good icebreaker and then wandered off to inspect the facilities.

Sadly, many of the hotel’s amenities were damaged by hurricanes. The seaside restaurant was closed as were some other areas. But our suite more than made up for any deficits. We had a twin bedroom but also an entire other room with a fully-equipped kitchenette, table and chairs, tv and sofa, and an armchair. We’d opted for a gulf-side view and had a balcony with a broad view of the ocean. The suite couldn’t have been more perfect. This was room 7211 in the Island Grande.

 

 

We ambled toward Salty’s Tiki Hut on the beach for cocktails, sat and chilled for a while, then headed back to the room to rest.

 

 

Dinner was a buffet with barbecued chicken and ribs, baked beans and potato salad, rolls and butter, corn on the cob and salad. A choice of desserts followed. I had the warm peach cobbler. I am liking the networking opportunities that this conference provides. Everything was super well organized, thanks to the #NINC2025 conference coordinators.