Missouri Writers Guild Welcomes Noted Faculty
For Spring Writing Conference
Best-selling Author Claire Cook, Christina Katz will deliver keynote speeches as part of the “Write Time! Write Place! Write Now!” Conference
SAINT LOUIS – Best-selling Author Claire Cook of Must Love Dogs and The Writer’s Workout Coach Christina Katz will deliver the keynote speeches during Missouri Writers Guild’s 97th Annual Spring Conference, slated to run April 20-22, 2012, at the Doubletree Conference Center of St. Louis in Chesterfield, Mo. Registration is now open for the event, which is being billed as the “Write Time! Write Place! Write Now!” Conference.
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Registration runs through April 9. It costs $160 for MWG members, $170 for chapter members and $190 for the general public. After April 9, late registration prices take effect. Registration information and payment through PayPal is available at www.missouriwritersguild.org.
Writers and authors will want to secure their spot as soon as possible, not only for conference breakout sessions, craft-specific courses and inspiration, but for the additional extras offered, including individual agent pitch sessions, two early bird arrival seminars and in-depth Sunday morning workshops.
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“We have an excellent line up this year that will appeal to writers of all skill-levels and genres. Our presenters, which include well-known authors, agents, book and magazine editors, and even a lawyer, will motivate everyone who attends and remind them that it’s always the ‘Write Time and Write Place’ to ‘Write Now,’” said MWG Conference Chair Tricia Sanders.
Noted faculty include Jane Friedman, former publisher of Writer’s Digest, Award-winning authors Cook, Katz, Christie Craig, Karen Docter, and Linda Gerber. Missouri authors and talent will also be spotlighted including authors Susan McBride, Shawntelle Madison, Carol K. Carr, John C. McManus, Missouri’s first poet laureate Walter Bargen and intellectual property attorney Paul Lesko.
Registration includes admission on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. Activities begin at noon, on Friday and include two early-arrival seminars, an Agent Reads the Slush Pile panel, Nightcaps Networking session & an Open Mic, hosted by the St. Louis Writers’ Guild. Saturday events last all day and include panel discussions, break-out sessions, and pitch sessions in addition to scheduled networking times during evening hours, and a Saturday luncheon with keynote speaker Author Claire Cook, whose first book, Must Love Dogs, was made into a motion picture by Warner Brothers.
Attendees will be able to pitch their projects to featured agents, magazine editors or book editors. It is recommended attendees only pitch completed projects and manuscripts. Agents and editors planning to participate in the pitch sessions include: Ann Collette from the Rees Literary Agency, Katharine Sands from Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, Sarah LaPolla from Curtis Brown LTD, Debra Hess from Highlights for Children, Rhonda Penders from The Wild Rose Press, Kristina Makansi from Blank Slate Press, Michele Mortimer from Darhansoff & Verrill and Ann Behar from Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.
Additional opportunities include the Saturday night banquet, Sunday Master Classes, attendee book signing event and a book signing with featured speakers. Tickets for Saturday night’s writing awards banquet with keynote speaker Christina Katz, author of three books from Writer’s Digest including Writer Mama, can be purchased for an additional $40 to conference attendees and $45 to the general public. In-depth master’s classes are available Sunday morning for an additional $50. Master’s classes offer writers opportunities to work closely with one of the professional speakers in a workshop environment.
Additional information regarding speakers, classes or registration can be found at www.missouriwritersguild.org or http://mwgconference.blogspot.com. Requests for additional information or questions contact Conference Chair Tricia Sanders at mwgconferenceinfo@gmail.com.
About the Missouri Writers Guild
Established in 1915, the Missouri Writers' Guild is a statewide, non-profit organization for professional writers in all genres. The Guild has 14 chapters throughout Missouri that provide regular opportunities to network with other writers, authors, and publishers and learn more about the craft of writing.