The third annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference is scheduled for January 22-23 at Hollins University.
Founded and organized by Valley Business FRONT Co-Founder and Editor Dan Smith, the conference opens Friday evening with a wine reception and introduction of teaching staff and speakers for the evening, Sara Elizabeth Timmins and Janis Jaquith.
Timmons, a filmmaker most recently from Los Angeles, will speak on “Telling the Story.” She has produced more than a dozen movies helping playwrights, screenwriters, writers, musicians and choreographers translate their vision to the screen.
Jaquith’s commentaries have been heard on the public radio show Marketplace, on National Public Radio’s (NBR) Day to Day and on NBR station WVTF. Having won a Virginia Press Association (VPA) award for editorial writing, she is a columnist and author.
The conference on Saturday is geared toward vocational and avocational writers who have the desire to become better at their craft and to network with other writers from the region. The 24 classes and two round-table discussions will be on topics including writing and social media, translating your work to film/stage, media writing, freelance writing and the law, freelance writing in this market, the short personal essay, and writing local history among others.
Among those teaching classes will be John Anderson, author of the recently published book, “Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men.” Anderson was prompted to write the book after his wife, sister, mother and mother’s best friend were diagnosed with breast cancer and his close encounters with the disease. He has since appeared on national television and has been asked by numerous publications to author articles on the same subject.
Other presenters include Blue Ridge Country editor Cara Modisett, Leisure Publishing Editor in Chief, Kurt Rheinheimer, two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Rex Bowman, and Roanoke Star-Sentinel Editor Gene Marrano, among others.
The cost of the conference is $50 per person and includes the reception, coffee all day Saturday and lunch.
For additional information regarding the conference schedule and to register, visit http://www.hollins.edu/news-events/writers/writers.htm.
By Susan Ayers [email protected]