Friday, March 28, 2008
Sheraton Read House, Silver Ballroom
6:30 PM
Registration and Welcome Reception
7:00 PM
Dinner and Keynote Address by Ben Fountain
Booksigning
About the Keynote Speaker:
Ben Fountain's journey to becoming a writer is fascinating and inspiring. Although he was drawn to writing from an early age, he graduated from Duke University and practiced real estate law before deciding to quit his job and write full-time. His first novel took five years to complete but did not sell. So he started writing short stories as a way to master the craft of writing longer fiction. His hard work paid off when those short stories earned the 2004 Pushcart and the 2005 O. Henry prizes, and were published as his debut collection called Brief Encounters with Che Guevara. Brief Encounters earned the PEN/Hemingway award for a distinguished first work of fiction, and was chosen as an independent booksellers' Book Sense Pick, a Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" selection and a Borders "Original Voice" selection.
In 2007, Fountain received the Whiting Writers' Award, which is given annually to 10 emerging writers of exceptional talent and promise. His novel, The Texas Itch, is scheduled for release in 2009. Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and two children.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University Center
8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 - 10:15 AM
First Workshop Session
a. Randall Kenan -- Nonfiction: The Real Story
b. John Sedgwick -- The Memoir—Telling Your Story
c. Lolly Winston -- Creating Great Characters
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Second Workshop Session
a. Katori Hall -- Developing the Scene
b. Ben Fountain -- Writing the Short Story
c. Will Akers -- Tips to Keep the Reader Reading
12 - 1:30 PM
Lunch - Reading and Commentary by Allen Wier
1:45 - 3:00 PM
Third Workshop Session
a. Panel Discussion - Freelance Journalism: Crafting a Career, Finding Your Niche
Nancy Henderson, Sean Price, Nancy Hatch Woodward Listen to a preview!
b. John Sedgwick -- The Memoir —Telling Your Story
c. Katori Hall -- Developing the Scene
3:15 - 4:30 PM
Fourth Workshop Session
a. Panel Discussion - Freelance Journalism: Crafting a Career, Finding Your Niche
Nancy Henderson, Sean Price, Nancy Hatch Woodward Listen to a preview!
b. Randall Kenan -- Nonfiction: The Real Story
c. Will Akers -- Tips to Keep the Reader Reading
4:30 PM
Booksigning (Books will be on sale in the Festival bookstore)
Schedule subject to change.
