2008 Woodie Awards
First annual writers conference brings host of storytellers
Jennifer Joyner
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Life & Style
The first annual Writer and Storyteller Conference will be held this Friday and Saturday at Mount Sequoyah.
The two-day conference is designed to give writers, both experienced and not, the opportunity to write freely under the influence of great authors, according to a press release.
"As Joan Didion put it, 'We tell ourselves stories in order to live," said Sara Carroll, a coordinator for the event, in a press release.
The event will feature Ellen Gilchrist, an associate English professor at the UA. Gilchrist is the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction and a three-time recipient of the Thomas Wolfe Award, according to the press release.
Gilchrist will release "A Dangerous Age," her first novel in more than a decade, at the conference, according to the press release. To commemorate her new novel, a book signing will also be held at the conference.
The writers vary from poets and storytellers to non-fiction and Christian romance writers, Carroll said.
The other workshop leaders include Roger Armstrong, a United Methodist Pastor and nationally known storyteller; Clayton Scott, poet laureate of Fayetteville and founder of the Student Poetry Movement; Robert Ford, a novelist, playwright, actor, musician, and director of the Arkansas Playwrights Workshop; Barbara Youree, a freelance writer from Rogers and author of a series of Christian romances and children's books; and Radine Trees Nehring, an Arkansas Ozarks writer since 1986 and a recipient of the Governor's Award for Best Writing about Arkansas.
Although the workshop will include writers and storytellers mostly from Arkansas, the center plans on branching out to other states in future conferences, Carroll said.
Friday night will feature readings from Gilchrist, Scott and Armstrong. A dinner will be catered by Lyn D's Cajun Gypsy, according to the press release.
In addition, folk musician Jack Williams will be performing Saturday night.
Williams is a popular artist on contemporary acoustic music stages. His commanding presence, musicianship, songs and stories have made him an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer, according to the event brochure.
Williams is also a storyteller through his music, Carroll said.
Registration for the conference with meals included has been extended until today. Registration for the workshop not including meals will go on throughout the week, even during the day of the event, Carroll said.
Workshops begin at 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
To register or for more information, call (479) 443-4531 or send an e-mail to mail@mountsequoyah.org.
The two-day conference is designed to give writers, both experienced and not, the opportunity to write freely under the influence of great authors, according to a press release.
"As Joan Didion put it, 'We tell ourselves stories in order to live," said Sara Carroll, a coordinator for the event, in a press release.
The event will feature Ellen Gilchrist, an associate English professor at the UA. Gilchrist is the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction and a three-time recipient of the Thomas Wolfe Award, according to the press release.
Gilchrist will release "A Dangerous Age," her first novel in more than a decade, at the conference, according to the press release. To commemorate her new novel, a book signing will also be held at the conference.
The writers vary from poets and storytellers to non-fiction and Christian romance writers, Carroll said.
The other workshop leaders include Roger Armstrong, a United Methodist Pastor and nationally known storyteller; Clayton Scott, poet laureate of Fayetteville and founder of the Student Poetry Movement; Robert Ford, a novelist, playwright, actor, musician, and director of the Arkansas Playwrights Workshop; Barbara Youree, a freelance writer from Rogers and author of a series of Christian romances and children's books; and Radine Trees Nehring, an Arkansas Ozarks writer since 1986 and a recipient of the Governor's Award for Best Writing about Arkansas.
Although the workshop will include writers and storytellers mostly from Arkansas, the center plans on branching out to other states in future conferences, Carroll said.
Friday night will feature readings from Gilchrist, Scott and Armstrong. A dinner will be catered by Lyn D's Cajun Gypsy, according to the press release.
In addition, folk musician Jack Williams will be performing Saturday night.
Williams is a popular artist on contemporary acoustic music stages. His commanding presence, musicianship, songs and stories have made him an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer, according to the event brochure.
Williams is also a storyteller through his music, Carroll said.
Registration for the conference with meals included has been extended until today. Registration for the workshop not including meals will go on throughout the week, even during the day of the event, Carroll said.
Workshops begin at 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
To register or for more information, call (479) 443-4531 or send an e-mail to mail@mountsequoyah.org.
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