The 29th Annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference: Celebrating the Words of Women

Sponsored by the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Women Writers Conference will be held on September 11 - 13, 2008 in locations throughout the UK campus and the city of Lexington.

"Come to a place where the skylines move like creek-beds, where people understand craft as a way of life. One weekend the best women artists from around the world venture to this place to exchange ideas, process, performance-calling us to newly imagine what it means to be a writer." This quote graces the home page to the website for the conference. It is a most beautiful statement of the purpose of the event.

This writers conference is the longest running of its kind in the state of Kentucky. 2008 will mark its 29th celebration. There are readings, workshops, master classes, panel discussions, and Q and A sessions. It is one of the finest literary events that Kentucky has to offer.

This year, UK is pleased to welcome Joyce Carol Oates as guest speaker. She will be hosting a poetry master class with Lisa Williams. She will also give a free reading of her work during the days of the conference.

In preparation for her visit at the conference, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning- in conjunction with the Friends of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference- are hosting a series of book discussion groups entitled "5 Writers to Know for the 2008 Kentucky Women Writers Conference". These discussions will take place at the Carnegie Center (http://www.carnegieliteracy.org) and are free and open to the public. The following books will be discussed:

THURSDAY JUNE 19, 7:00-8:30 pm: discussing "The Gravedigger's Daughter" by Joyce Carol Oates. Discussion leader: Jan Isenhour, Carnegie Center Director.

THURSDAY JULY 10, 7:00-8:30 pm: discussing "Inventing Niagara" by Ginger Strand. Discussion leader: Julie Wrinn, Director of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference.

THURSDAY JULY 31, 7:00-8:30 pm: discussing "Native Guard" by Natasha Trethewey and selections from "Woman Reading to the Sea" by Lisa Williams. Discussion leader: Carrie Green.

THURSDAY AUGUST 21, 7:00-8:30 pm: discussing "The Horizontal World" by Debra Marquart. Discussion leader: Kremena Todorova.

There will be ten presenters at the 29th Kentucky Women Writers Conference. There are eight presenters who have been selected so far: Malín Alegíra, author of two young adult novels, Estrella's Quinceñera (Simon & Schuster, 2006) and Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico (Simon & Schuster, 2007). Laura Benedict, author of Isabella Moon (2006), her first novel. Debra Marquart, author of The Horizontal World (2006), two poetry collections, and a short story collection, The Hunger Bone: Rock and Roll Stories. Joyce Carol Oates, author of over 100 books, most recently Wild Nights (2008) and My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Skyler Rampike (forthcoming). Jennifer Sahn, editor of Orion Magazine: Nature/ Culture/ Place. Ginger Strand, author of Inventing Niagara: Beauty, Power, and Lies (2008) and the novel Flight (2005).Samantha Thornhill, poet, spoken-word performer, and author of the young adult novel Seventeen Seasons (forthcoming). Natasha Trethewey, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Native Guard (2007), and author of Bellocq's Ophelia (2002) and Domestic Work (2000). Lisa Williams, winner of the Barnhard Women Poets Prize for Woman Reading to the Sea (2008), and author of The Hammered Dulcimer (1998). More information will be posted as plans are finalized, including a full itinerary of the event.

The Kentucky Women Writers also officiate two of the most important prizes for poetry in the region: The Betty Gabehart Prize for Poetry and, for younger poets, the Gypsy Slam Poetry Prize. Guidelines and entry information are available at the website for the conference listed below. Winners will be announced at the conference.

I will likely also be attending as a class and workshop student. Entry to most events requires registration and purchase of tickets. Spaces are limited and are on a first-come-first-serve-basis. The master classes are limited to ten participants each to allow maximum benefit to the students. This includes the poetry master class with Lisa Williams and Joyce Carol Oates. If you wish to be a part of these particular aspects of the conference, act now.

I will post here on AC the full schedule of events when it becomes available. For more information, go to http://www.uky.edu/WWK/index.html.