For many years Paul and I attended the biennial convocation of The Fellowship of Southern Writers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Now The Fellowship holds its convocation in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The fourth floor of the UTC Library is dedicated to the Fellowship and houses its archives

Founded in 1987 by a group of writers who would meet in Chattanooga, the Fellowship of Southern Writers is a nonprofit organization which encourages the creation and development of literature in the Southern literary tradition.

The Fellowship achieves its mission by commemorating outstanding literary achievement, encouraging young writers through awards, prizes, and fellowships, and by recognizing distinction in writing by election to membership.