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EVENTS 42 MOVIE REVIEWS 43 SIDE DISH 46 FACES & PLACES 47 PAWS & CLAWS 48 Arts&Entertainment
A Meeting of the Literary Minds
25th annual Flathead River Writers Conference brings together writers, agents, editors for a weekend
FBY MOLLY PRIDDY OF THE BEACON
or a writer to perform their craft, they need some- thing to write on, something to write with, and an idea. It’s a solitary endeavor by its very nature,
and many such artists revel in the isolation.
But every once in a while, writers like to get together to prove they aren’t actually alone in their literary pur- suits. That’s how Authors of the Flathead, a group of writers supporting and helping one another, was formed. It’s also the reason Authors of the Flathead started its annual Flathead River Writers Conference, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year over the Sept. 26-27 conference weekend at Flathead Valley Commu-
nity College.
Debbie Burke was one of the founding members of the
Authors group, and said it has been a unique joy to watch people grow in their writing over the years.
“It’s so neat,” Burke said. “What’s really nice is to see people who came originally as newbies who didn’t know what they were doing and they have achieved success and now are presenting at the conference.”
The conference that started as a meeting in a church basement has blossomed into a well-known weekend, attracting the attention of book editors and agents, who attend and present along with writers.
With a limit of 100 people attending, the atmosphere is one of inclusion and fun, Burke said, with attendees of various ages and skills mingling all together.
“It’s a fun, casual, inclusive sort of conference,” Burke said. “People can sit down next to a New York editor and talk to them at lunch. So the accessibility is very, very good.”
The theme of this year’s conference is “The 21st Cen- tury Writer,” with a focus on how writing and publishing continue to change as the Internet presents opportuni- ties unfathomable even 15 years ago.
Jess Owen, president of Authors of the Flathead, started her career in writing, which now includes the young-adult fantasy series “The Summer King Chroni- cles,” at a Flathead River Writers Conference when she was still a teenager.
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“It’s a fun, casual, inclusive sort of conference. People can sit down next to a New York editor and talk to them at lunch. So the accessibility is very, very good.” DEBBIE BURKE, FOUNDING MEMBER OF AUTHORS OF THE FLATHEAD
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM