Writers conference

Writers conference to be held at MHC

SOUTH HADLEY New England's longest running writers conference, WriteAngles 21, will be held on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley on Nov. 11.

Now in its 21st year, the 2006 edition of the conference will feature an outstanding group of speakers, including:

Keynoter Suzanne Strempek Shea, author of five novels and two memoirs. A Bondsville resident, she won the 2000 New England Book Award, which recognizes a body of work that stands as a significant contribution to New England's culture.

Morning kick-off speaker Kevin O'Hara, the Pittsfield author whose personal memoir 'The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims: A Man's Journey Through Ireland" is in the process of being brought to the screen.

A special workshop by New York literary agent Katharine Sands on "Making the Perfect Pitch to an Agent." Sands recently published "Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent's Eye," a compendium of advice from 40 top agents and industry experts.

Organized by the Western New England chapter of the National Writers Union and co-sponsored by Mount Holyoke College, the one-day conference will be held at the Willits-Hallowell Center at Mount Holyoke. Eight workshops featuring more than 20 authors, editors, agents and writing coaches, many from the Pioneer Valley's large literary community, will focus on this year's theme, "Finding Your Story."

In addition to Katharine Sands' workshop, the sessions will include:

Living Your Story: Three Novelists Talk About Perseverance

New Twists on Old Stories: Writing Lively Historical

Non-fiction

Parameters of Poetry: Taking the Road Less Traveled

Shaping your Story: Revisions tools and Exercises

Telling Your Family's Story: Workshop on preserving and

Writing a Family History

The Inside Story: Agents and Editors Tell All

Personal Stories: Writing Memoirs

Registration and breakfast begins at 8:15 a.m. with the opening speaker appearing at 9 a.m. The conference ends at 4:30 p.m. The fee is $70 in advance for NWU members, seniors and students; $90 in advance for all others; at-the-door fees will be $75 for NWU members, seniors and students and $95 for all others. The fee includes breakfast and lunch, and parking is free. The Willits-Hallowell Center is wheelchair accessible. Register at www.writeanglesconference.org or call 586-8844.