CREATIVE WRITERS MEET FOR
MAY MICROBURST

The Phoenix College Creative Writing Program will offer May Microburst, a creative writing conference in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Phoenix College Creative Writing Program.

This dynamic conference will showcase two different tracks: Getting It Down and Getting It Out. There aretwo major areas that writers struggle with and find the most challenging. Getting It Down will address the importance of writing time and Getting It Out will inform writers on how to submit their work for publication. Publishing professionals will present panels and individual workshops that will inspire writers to get their words on paper as well as get their work published.

Registrtion form below. For more information, please call (602) 285-7347. Registration is limited to 100 participants.

Conference Keynote Diana Gabaldon is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning Outlander series. Her series has been described by Salonmagazine as "the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting `Scrooge McDuck' comics." Her latest novel, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, opened at No. 1 in four countries upon its release.

Laraine Herring holds an MFA in Creative Writing and an MA in Counseling Psychology. She currently runs the creative writing program at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona. Her first book, Monsoons, was published in 1999 by Duality Press. Her second book, Lost Fathers: How Women Can Heal from Adolescent Father Loss was published by Hazelden Press in April 2005. Her non-fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart prize. She has had numerous poems and short stories published. Her novel, Lay My Sorrows Down, won the Barbara Deming Award for Women. Her latest novel, Bone Dance, and a non-fiction book on the connection between writing and yoga called The Octopus and the Keyboard are currently making the rounds.

Mary Sojourner is the author of the memoir/meditation, Solace: rituals of loss and desire; short story collection, Sisters of the Dream and Delicate; essays, bonelight: ruin and grace in the New Southwest. She has been a national NPR commentator and writes for High Country News/Writers on the Range.

Mystery writer Betty Webb has been a journalist and book reviewer for the Arizona Tribune for the past 15 years. Her own prize-winning Lena Jones detective series (published by Poisoned Pen Press) -- Desert Run, Desert Shadows, Desert Wives, and Desert Noir - has garnered rave reviews from the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and other prestigious national publications. Desert Wives, a mystery set in on of Arizona's notorious polygamy compounds, is in development to become a Lifetime-TV movie and series. Her newest book, Desert Run, is based on a real-life murder in a German POW camp in Arizona during World War II.

Stella Pope Duarte acclaimed author of Let Their Spirits Dance will lead participants through a microburst of creative energy during her workshop, Short Days, Long Nights and Rewrites. Through story, humor and a panoramic view of the writing process Duarte boldly breathes life into the maddening world of words.

Bob Early has spent 47 years writing and editing for newspapers and magazines. He began his career in 1958 at The Indianapolis Star, moving to The Arizona Republic in 1961. Early also served as editor of Phoenix Magazine and retired at the end of 2004 after 15 years as editor of Arizona Highways magazine. He currently serves as a consultant to newspapers and as a lecturer on writing.

Jerry Simmons began his career in publishing in the fall of 1977 as a sales rep for Random House selling paperbacks. In 1979, he joined the book division at Warner Communications, where he spent more than 20 years in sales and management. During this time, he was exposed to every aspect of major trade publishing: acquisitions, advertising, promotion, publicity, editorial and sales. He also worked on such huge multi-million dollar copy best-selling titles as The Bridges of Madison County, Scarlett and Lovely Bones.