Everything an author, new or published, needs to learn will be presented at the annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference January 23-24, 2015 held at Hollins University’s Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center. Twenty four classes will be offered and taught by as many well-known regional writers, including Diane Fanning.

Topics will range from writing a memorable obituary, a three-class set on true crime, the query letter, journalistic ethics, writers groups, storytelling, building a resume, interview techniques, writing a journal, the writer’s voice, critical thinking, writing about sex, marketing, opinion writing, ghost writing and breaking writers block.

Notable writers include Keith Ferrell, Roland Lazenby, Diane Fanning, Ed Falco, Rod Belcher, Andrea Burnais and Neil Sagebiel. Two keynote addresses will be presented, Roland Lazenby and Keith Ferrell will talk about “The Future of the Book” and the second by respected journalist Anne Adams.

True crime will have a featured presence at the conference with classes offered by writers of the genre, Diane Fanning,“Interview Techniques for Fact or Fiction,” Ed Falco,“True Crime Fiction: Isn’t That an Oxymoron?” and Alice de Sturler,“True Crime Reporting: Blog to Business.”

ImaginePublicity client, Diane Fanning is one of America’s premier Crime novelists and True Crime authors.  At the top of a genre that often gets a rap in the literary world, Fanning brings esteem, doing due diligence when presenting a criminal case in book format.

Before writing her first true crime book, Fanning wrote for magazines,television, radio and ad agencies in Virginia, earning many awards. She moved to Texas where her career in true crime writing blossomed, and has since returned to make her home in Bedford, Virginia. She has served on the executive committees of the Writers’ League of Texas and the Heart of Texas chapter of Sisters in Crime and is also a member of Mystery Writers of America.

A complete schedule may be downloaded here: 2015 Roanoke Conference Schedule

Registration Details:

• Registration is $75.00 which includes the reception on Friday and lunch on Saturday.
• Friday, January 23:  Reception 6:15 pm, Keynote address 7:00 pm
• Saturday, January 24:  Workshops and Panel Discussions 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
• For more details, contact Dan Smith, conference organizer, at pampadansmith@gmail.com or 540-556-8510.
• You may register online at http://roanokewritersconference2015.eventbrite.com/

• Hollins University: Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center
  7916 Williamson Road
  Roanoke, VA 24020

Roanoke Regional Writers Conference Features Diane Fanning