The Sixty-Ninth Annual Arkansas Writers’ Conference is scheduled to take place Friday May 31 & Saturday June 1, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Presidential in Little Rock. This year’s keynote speaker will be a familiar face to many, the accomplished journalist and author Deborah Mathis. The featured speaker will be bestselling author Laura Parker Castoro, who has published 39 books, in multiple genres, ranging from historic romance; to contemporary African American; to YA.
The opening day of the conference begins with the program Admired Artist or Chief Cook and Bottle Washer?: Finding Your Way in the Age of the eBook” by Laura Parker Castoro at 9 a.m.; followed by Getting Published in Magazines … for New and Established Writers by Jullianne Ballou, Editor of Oxford American Magazine at 10:15 a.m.; and Creating a World for Children Who Love to Read by Darcy Pattison at 11 a.m. After the Hall of Fame Award Luncheon, taking place at noon, the day’s programs resume with Born to Write: Why me Lord? by Deborah Mathis at 2 p.m.; Using Oral Histories in Your Writing by Janet Holt at 3 p.m. Following the FWCA Dessert Reception at 5:30, a workshop will be presented by Jerry Davis and Mary Lou Moran called Playing with Dialogue at 7 p.m.
Highlights of day two include: a panel discussion by John Achor and Bob Galen titled Independent E-Publishing at 8:30 a.m.; a talk by Paula Morrell called Good Stories Begin with Good Storytelling at 9:15; then 20 Things We Know About Writing Memoirs by Madelyn Young, Don Campbell, Marcia Camp & Gale Gill at 10:30 a.m.; followed by a luncheon at 12 p.m. The afternoon session includes a panel discussion by Karen Jordan & Linda Black titled Making Social Media Work for You at 1:45 p.m.; another panel discussion Can You See What I See? 10 Keys to Coloring Our Stories led by Robin McLea at 2 p.m.; and the final panel discussion Good Research + Good Writing: A Beautiful Marriage with Marilyn Collins moderating at 3:30. The weekend’s activities conclude with the Awards Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening, featuring special guest speaker Deborah Mathis.
There are a total of forty sponsored writing competitions, including the Holiday Inn Presidential Suite Prize (one night in the Presidential suite, valued at $339), for the winner of a contest for best first chapter of a historical fiction novel featuring a former president. For an entry fee of $15, authors can enter as many contests as they want.
Pre-Registration ends April 15, 2013. Attendees may also register at the door. For details on ticket prices visit www.arkansaswritersconference.org
Some information provided by the AWC.
Comments