The author stage will host a variety of authors who will speak about their own experiences in publishing. These presentations are intended as an “industry mingle” rather than a series of readings. The authors will focus on the ups and downs, challenges, and triumphs they experienced in their careers. Local vendors from the publishing industry will also be present, sharing their knowledge and services with conference-goers.

We selected our 2012 theme—Step into Genre—with the realities of the publishing industry in mind. While the focus of many graduate writing programs is literary fiction, we recognize that much of the publishing world is focused on genre, whether it is young adult paranormal romance, hard science fiction, or serial killer mysteries. By hosting authors in a wide range of genres and offering workshops focusing on different topics related to genre, we hope to offer insight into the publishing world through a lens that is often underrepresented.

Write to Publish is about empowering you as a writer so that you are one step closer to getting published. Get ready to spend a day having your questions answered and seeing how you, too, can become a published author.