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Culver-Stockton to host Young Writers’ Conference April 2

Culver-Stockton to host Young Writers’ Conference April 2

 

CANTON, Mo – Three Culver-Stockton College alumni will be featured speakers during the college’s sixth Young

 Writers’ Conference for high school students on Wednesday, April 2.

Keynote speaker Leisha Kelly, who attended Culver-Stockton during the ‘80s, is the author of 10 historical novels, including the “Country Roads Chronicles,” set in rural America during the Great Depression.  Kelly also wrote three novels about Than Dorn, a mysterious hero whose adventures took place during the medieval period.

Kelly will conduct a 10:45 a.m. workshop entitled “He Said/She Said: Principles of Effective Dialogue in Writing.”  Her keynote address at 12:45 p.m. will deal with the life of a typical writer.

Also featured will be Velvet Hasner, class of 2001, and Kim Gaither, class of 1979.  Hasner is currently the publishing coordinator for University of Missouri Health Care. In this capacity she writes, edits, creates production schedules, and assigns articles. While Hasner was a student at Culver-Stockton, her poem “Gay Bashing” won first prize for free-verse poetry in the national contest sponsored by Columbia University in New York City.  Hasner’s 10:45 a.m. workshop will be entitled “Persuasive Writing as a Career.”

Gaither is the former general manager of Upchurch and Associates, a Canton, Mo., company that prepares training materials, videos, CDs, and technical documents for such industries as Mobil Oil and Corning Glass.  She is currently C-SC assistant professor of finance.  Her afternoon general session presentation, entitled “Creativity and Technical Writing,” will focus on the art of blogging.

Culver-Stockton Professors Steven Long, Steve Wiegenstein, and Carolyn Kane will also conduct workshops.  The conference will conclude with door prizes and awards for the best writing of the day.

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. April 2. Admission to the conference is free, and lunch will be complimentary.  For more information or to make a reservation, contact Gaye Redd at 573-288-6303 or gredd@culver.edu.