UND Writers Conference 2012 line-up

The line-up for the 2012 annual UND Writers Conference is up at the conference website. Authors scheduled thus far are: Jane Smiley, Lee Ann Roripaugh, Pam Houston, Brenda Miller, Hal Herog, Mark Doty and Grand Forks' own Aaron Poochigian. Follow the above hyperlinked text to the website and you'll be able to read authors bios and more.

The theme for the 2012 conference is "Humanimal." The conference runs from March 27-31, 2012 at UND.

UND Writers Conference begins tomorrow

This spring, the UND Writers Conference celebrates its 42nd anniversary.   In 1970, the late John Little, a professor in UND’s English Department, was missing some of his literary friends from the South.  He decided to invite them to share their words here in North Dakota, and thus a rich artistic tradition began.  Since that first conference, some of the most laudable names in literature have visited the UND campus, including Allen Ginsberg, Truman Capote,  Edward Albee,  Louise Erdrich, Thomas McGrath,  Sherman Alexie, Jon Hassler, Alice Walker as well as 2008 attendee, Sir Salman Rushdie.

More than 3000 lovers of literature from all over North Dakota, as well as beyond our borders descend on the campus to listen to panel discussions, readings, and ask their questions of nationally and internationally prominent authors.

The above comes from the UND Writers Conference website. 

For a schedule of writers and events, click here.

Literary connections

Though the author Cathy Williams read from at yesterday's session of Literary Lunches may not be familiar, the local event that writer attended is familiar: the annual UND Writers Conference.
Williams read the work of Karen Russell, who participated in the 2010 Writers Conference for which the topic was wit.  Specifically, Williams read the title story from Russell's St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves.

In an online interview at Book Browse, Russell talks about the importance of reading. Click the text below to read more.


What in your own life made you want to become a writer?
Reading, definitely. I loved reading so much; I mean, I still do, but not with that sort of illicit midnight intensity. I was such an anxious kid, and reading was a way out. At sleepovers, I would sneak away and lock myself in the bathroom and read the other kids’ books. Here was a way to step-out of your child’s body and into the mind of a Salem witch or a bunch of warring rabbits. It’s still amazing to me. It was spooky and intimate and totally intoxicating, to step into an author’s private rooms. I’d read the words and they became my rooms. Then I wanted to be a writer myself, to do to others what these authors were doing for me.