MIDWEST WRITING CENTER OPENS EARLY REGISTRATION FOR PREMIER WRITING CONFERENCE FEATURING KEYNOTE ADDRESS FROM PULITZER-PRIZE FINALIST LUIS ALBERTO URREA

What: The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference When: Thursday, June 22 - Saturday, June 24, 2017 Where: McCarthy Hall, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA (and other locations)  The Midwest Writing Center (MWC) is thrilled to announce the annual David R. Collins Writers’ Conference will return to St. Ambrose University on June 22-24. The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference offers high quality, generative writing instruction at affordable prices with Midwest hospitality. With intensive three-day workshops, book pitches, 1-on-1 manuscript critiques, luncheons, free readings, and a participant open mic, there’s something for writers—and readers—of all kinds! This year, we’re thrilled to add a new event to the Conference: a keynote address, free and open to the public, to be given by Pulitzer-Prize finalist Luis Alberto Urrea. A Member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, Urrea is the critically acclaimed and best-selling author of 16 books, winning numerous awards for his poetry, fiction, and essays. Born in Tijuana to a Mexican father and American mother, Urrea is most recognized as a border writer, though he says, "I am more interested in bridges, not borders." His most recent book, The Water Museum, a collection of short stories, was a finalist for the 2015 PEN-Faulkner Award and was named a best book of the year by The Washington Post and Kirkus Reviews, among others. Into the Beautiful North, his 2009 novel, is a Big Read selection by the National Endowment of the Arts, and has been selected by more than 30 different cities and colleges as a community read. The Devil's Highway, his 2004 non-fiction account of a group of Mexican immigrants lost in the Arizona desert, won the Lannan Literary Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Pacific Rim Kiriyama Prize. Urrea will give the Conference keynote address at the Figge Art Museum (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) on Thursday, June 22 at 7:30pm. The event will start with a private reception for Conference participants at 5:30 p.m., which will be followed by a public reception and the keynote address.  In addition to the keynote event, this year’s Conference offers five immersive workshops, led by a mix of returning and new faculty members:  • Novelist Kali VanBaale returns to the Conference to teach “Revision Strategies for the Novel” • Kelly Daniels, author and professor at Augstana College, will return to teach “Nothing Fancy: Lessons on The Art and Craft of Memoir” • First-time faculty member Anaïs Duplan will lead a poetry workshop called “Writing About Our Times: Should / Could / Would Poetry Do It?” • The other new Conference faculty member, agent Abby Saul of the Lark Group in Chicago, will lead a workshop on “Partnership: Finding, Working with, and Keeping an Agent” • Returning faculty member and host of The Fail Safe podcast Rachel Yoder will teach “Combinatory Play, Conspiracy Theories, & The Collage Essay: Short Prose”  All faculty members are highly credentialed, award-winning authors/agents, and outstanding instructors. You can read complete bios for the faculty and full workshop descriptions on the MWC website: www.mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/david-r-collins-writers-conference/drc-conference-faculty-workshops/. Additionally, literary agent Abby Saul and publisher MWC Press will be at the Conference on Saturday, June 24th to hear book pitches; and several faculty members are offering a limited number of 1-on-1 manuscript critiques throughout the weekend—spaces are limited and filling up, so if you are interested in a critique, please sign up early.  There are also two free events during the Conference. First, Thursday June 22nd will be the keynote address from Luis Alberto Urrea at the Figge Art Museum, and then on Friday, June 23rd, Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Avenue, Rock Island) will host the faculty reading and book signing, with conference participant open mic, at 7 p.m.  Finally, faculty member Kelly Daniels will serve as this year’s Author Luncheon keynote speaker on June 24th, with an address titled “‘I’m Nobody! Who are you?’: On Writing Because You Love It.” Then, on Saturday June 25th, a concluding luncheon (the cost of which is included with the registration fee) rounds out the three day event. More information, including a brochure and online registration, is available at www.mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/david-r-collins-writers-conference/. If you have questions, would like more information, or want to register for the Conference, please contact Ryan Collins at MWC at 309-732-7330 or mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org. We hope to see you this summer at the David R. Collins Writers’ Conference!  The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: Modern Woodman of America, founding sponsor; the Riverboat Development Authority; the St. Ambrose University English Department; the Figge Art Museum; and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.