13th Annual Arnow Conference to be Held April 9 + 10; Early Registration Until March 15

Early bird registration for the 13th annual Harriett Simpson Arnow Conference at Somerset Community College is now available until March 15, 2015. See the conference website for details and to register: arnowconference.org.

Arnow, who grew up in Pulaski County, was the author of non-fiction, short stories, and novels, most notably The Dollmaker. The Arnow Conference will take place on the SCC Somerset Campus, located at 808 Monticello Street in Somerset, in the Harold Rogers Student Commons on April 9 and 10, 2015. The early bird registration fee for both Thursday and Friday is $25. After March 15, the fee increases to $40. The cost includes lunch on Friday.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of the memoir All over but the Shoutin’. His book is also featured as part of SCC’s Common Read project.

Bragg will be joined by other guests for the conference, including playwrights, poets, biographers, memoirists and songwriters. Most will not only be speaking or performing, but also offering workshops. A sampling of conference speakers and workshop hosts include: Bobbi Buchanan, founding editor of New Southerner magazine; Steve Cleberg, playwright and theater director at SCC; Betty Peterson, SCC English professor and playwright; Brenda White, SCC English instructor, poet and playwright; Joe Anthony, retired English professor and author; Gurney Norman, author and director of the University of Kentucky Creative Writing Program; singer/songwriters Pearlie Jenkins and Kevin Dalton; Sandra Ballard, author; Cecilia Woloch, poet, writer and teacher; and more.  

In addition to his conference presentation, Bragg will also be featured as a guest speaker as part of the SCC 50th Anniversary Speakers Series on April 9 at 7 p.m. This community event is free and open to the public. No registration for the 7 p.m. event is required.

To find out more, including information about registration, hotel, directions, and more specific information about the program and presenters, please visit the Arnow Conference webpage, www.arnowconference.org, or contact Wanda Fries at Wanda.Fries@kctcs.edu or Chelsie.Wolfe@kctcs.edu.