Join us for this year's Inspired Words Writers' Conference  

"In the stories we tell ourselves, we tell ourselves." Michael Martone

This intimate writing conference, hosted by the Lafayette Writers' Studio, will feature a keynote and workshop by acclaimed author Barbara Shoup, novelist and prose writers Sarah Layden and Melissa Fraterrigo, and poets Lauren Mallett and Kaveh Akbar. In addition to Shoup's workshop, you may attend breakout sessions designed to help you learn more about craft, generate new work, and explore yourself and your writing. All sessions will be generative in nature, so you will leave with the start of several pieces of new work. Lunch and refreshments included with admission. Local bookseller Second Flight Bookswill be selling books by presenters along with other merchandise. Discover writing that stirs and surprises you, and meet other committed writers. You will leave with more than inspired words. Early Bird ends Oct 13, 2017!

I'm delighted to participate in this fall's 2017 Steel Pen Creative Writers' Conference on Saturday, Oct 28 at Fair Oaks Farm in Fair Oaks, Indiana. I'll be leading a workshop on "Connecting the Unconnected: Exploring the Novel-in-Stories." I hope you can join us!

I'm thrilled at the opportunity to return to Iowa City to participate in this year's Book Festival. I'll be reading with Jacquelyn Vincenta, among other events.