Roanoke Regional Writers Conference

January 23 - 24, 2015

(Snow Date: January 29 – 31, 2015)

Top National Writers Headline RRWC

Well known national authors Keith Ferrell, Roland Lazenby, Diane Fanning, Ed Falco, Rod Belcher, Andrea Burnais and Neil Sagebiel are among two dozen witers who will teach at the 2015 Roanoke Regional Writers Conference at Hollins University Jan. 23-24.

Ferrell and Lazenby will deliver the keynote address Friday night following a wine reception on "The Future of the Book." Each has had a best-selling work in the past few months: Ferrell's History Decoded was a New York Times Top Ten bestseller; and Lazenby's Michael Jordan: The Life is the most successful of his 60 books. Ferrell has written nearly 20 books (and was the editor of Omni Magazine).

Falco, who heads the masters writing program at Virginia Tech, is the author of the new blockbuster Toughs, while Belcher's newest is Nightwise, quickly following the popular debut Six-Gun Tarot. Sagebiel is also on a two-book roll. His Draw in the Dunes immediately follows The Longest Shot, a Top 10 Sports Book last year. Brunais, a former Pulitzer finalist, has a big hit with Mercedes Wore Black and Fanning's Scandal in the Secret City and Lt. Lucinda Pierce series have been well received.

Among the topics to be taught at the conference are: writing a memorable obituary, a three-class set on true crime, the query letter, journalistic ethics, writers groups, storytelling, building a resume, interview techniques, writing a journal, the writer's voice, critical thinking, writing about sex, marketing, opinion writing, ghost writing and breaking writers block.

The conference includes 24 classes, two keynote addresses (the second by respected journalist Anne Adams), original music by Greg Trafidlo, lunch in the Hollins cafeteria, coffee and a networking/wine reception, all for $75.

Registration Details:

Registration is $75.00 which includes the reception on Friday and lunch on Saturday.

Friday, January 23: Reception 6:15 pm, Keynote address 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 24: Workshops and Panel Discussions 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

For more details, contact Dan Smith, conference organizer, at pampadansmith@gmail.com or

540-556-8510.