Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Arts & Heritage Council is partnering with the Austin Peay State University Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, the APSU President’s Office and the Tennessee Arts Commission to once again bring acclaimed authors and poets to town for the Ninth Annual Clarksville Writers Conference.
The event will be June 6th and 7th at the APSU Morgan University Center.
Gaillard has written extensively on Southern race relations, politics and culture as the author or editor of more than 20 books, including “Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement that Changed America.” He will speak during the Thursday evening banquet at Freedom Point at Liberty Park, overlooking the Cumberland River and historic downtown Clarksville.
The conference will also feature several distinguished southern writers, such as best-selling author and Nashville resident Adam Ross and three members of the “Grit Lit” southern literary movement – Tom Franklin, Dale Ray Phillips and George Singleton.
Authors scheduled to speak this year include
Janine Boldrin, freelance journalist for Military Spouse magazine and author of e-book “The Thinking Spouse’s Guide to Military Life.”
Beth Ann Fennelly, award-winning poet of the collections “Unmentionables,” “Open House” and “Tender Hooks” and co-author of forthcoming novel “The Tilted World.”
Tom Franklin, New York Times best-selling author of “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter,” co-editor of anthology “Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader,” and co-author of forthcoming novel “The Tilted World.”
Rheta Grimsley Johnson, journalist, syndicated columnist and author of the memoirs “Hank Hung the Moon” and “Enchanted Evening Barbie and the Second Coming.”
Dale Ray Phillips, short story writer and author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated collection “My People’s Waltz.”
Adam Ross, author of 2010 New York Times Notable Book “Mr. Peanut” and the short story collection “Ladies and Gentlemen.”
Chuck Sambuchino, editor of “Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents” and author of “Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript” and “Create Your Writer Platform.”
Ann Shayne, former editor of book review BookPage and author of novel “Bowling Avenue” and “Mason-Dixon Kitting: The Curious Knitter’s Guide.”
George Singleton, author of often humorous short story collections and novels, including “Stray Decorum,” “Work Shirts for Madmen” and “Pep Talks, Warnings, And Screeds: Indispensable Wisdom And Cautionary Advice For Writers.”
In addition to the scheduled presentations and workshops, free manuscript consultations with two literary agents will be available to conference participants.
A complete package, including all conference activities, is offered, as well as “a la carte” options. Discounted rates are available for early registration, which is postmarked on or before May 23rd. Late registration is postmarked between May 24th and May 30th.
Visit the conference website at www.artsandheritage.us/writers for author bios, the conference schedule, registration information and more.
