For mentorship and leadership within the South Jersey Writers’ Group
Glenn Walker was an invaluable member of the South Jersey Writers’ Group community for many years, including several years as our Membership Director. He also hosted countless write-ins, and initiated the long-running Sunday afternoon Blogfest, which carried on once a month at the Treehouse Coffee Shop in Audubon for nearly a decade, until the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a professional freelance writer and a fan of stories of all kinds, Glenn became the SJWG’s go-to professional writer resource, sharing tips for getting fiction and non-fiction published, monetizing your work, and offering critique on articles, short stories, and novels. Glenn could offer advice on all aspects of writing, whether craft tips, marketing, publishing, networking, the business of writing, and more.
Glenn was actively involved in the South Jersey Writers’ Group until the fall of 2016, when he and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Florida. Sadly, Glenn passed away unexpectedly on December 6, 2017, only a few weeks after a visit back to New Jersey, surprising the SJWG at an Open Mic night!
Glenn ran two personal blogs:
Welcome to Hell (pop culture): http://monsura.blogspot.com/
French Fry Diary http://frenchfrydiary.blogspot.com/
He was also the host of several podcasts.
Glenn was a long time contributor to the Biff Bam Pop! Blog. Glenn’s friend, and Biff Bam Pop’s Editor-in-Chief Andy Burns, wrote a tribute to Glenn. SJWG Member Kevin Stephany also wrote a tribute to the impact Glenn had on emerging writers, and our local writing community.
Glenn’s departure has left a vacancy in the South Jersey Writers’ Group. Glenn was our living library; our idea-bouncer; the guy who wouldn’t let us get away with “my writing sucks”. The one who motivated us to keep writing, to try it a different way, to stick with our writing schedules, to keep submitting, to try again.
In 2022, the SJWG Board of Directors voted to create an award in Glenn’s name, acknowledging a member who has become a leader within the group, encouraging members and helping them grow and develop their writing careers.
Inaugural Awardee
(2022)
Over the past year or so, Jennifer M. Eaton, another longtime SJWG member, has become the person we check with with regards to market expertise, story development, book sales and metrics. As an independent author, she’s the first to check her makes you consider your market, and as a professional editor, is ready to offer suggestions and critique to guide your story. She’s the one who asks, “what’s not working”, and tells you to try again. All in the name of telling better stories and reaching more readers.
The Glenn Walker Memorial Award is not an annual award. Rather, the Board of Directors will vote to grant this award based on the recommendations of members during the Writer of the Year nomination process.