IMPORTANT: CONFERENCE UPDATES

May 21, 2010
Conference update!

Okay, with the conference three short weeks away we need to discuss the changes that have occurred lately. There are several things that have happened and I want you all to know about them.
First, Lee Maynard will not be attending this year. Due to matters beyond his control, he can’t make the conference but he was so gracious as to ask me to send his love to everyone and to let it be known, he will return when he can.
Stepping in for Lee is none other than the author of The Miner’s Daughter and The Midwife’s Tale, Gretchen Moran Laskas with a class on how to write Appalachian style so that the rest of the world gets it.
Kelly Mortimer of Mortimer Literary Agency will fill Lee’s other class. Kelly will discuss why not to use the passive voice in fiction.
Another major presenter facing a family crisis is poet Rick Campbell.
Rick is also being replaced by two very powerful substitutes. From the Kestrel Literary Group at Fairmont State University comes Kestrel editor, Donna Long. We’re thrilled to welcome this fascinating editor and poet.
Also joining us in Rick’s stead is one of West Virginia’s leading African American poets, Norman Jordan. Norman is anthologized in Wild Sweet Notes and 41 other collections and has accolades from West Virginia to the United Nations. We are happy to have Norman join us with a reading as well as a new voice on the Appalachian panel discussion.
These and a few minor changes can be heard on Eric’s latest podcast (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpodcast.wvwriters.org%2F2010%2F05%2Fepisode-32-conferencecast-2.html&h=3063a )
Please have a listen and also take a look at the schedule changes posted on our website (http://www.wvwriters.org/conference.html )


Okay, let’s talk about the rooms again….
Several of the lodges at Cedar Lakes are full. The remaining options are: 1. Ask the folks at Cedar Lakes to convert a dorm room into a motel style room, 2. Stay in a dorm room (kinda like summer camp), 3. Stay in a nearby motel/hotel in Ripley. These are discussed in the podcast and you can see them on our website at: OTHER LODGING POSSIBILITIES (Updated 3/25/09) …take a look and READ CAREFULLY.


DO YOU HAVE A BOOK TO PITCH ? TRUST ME, NOW IS THE TIME! 2010 CONFERENCE PITCH SESSION DETAILS

SEE YOU SOON!