Sonoma Writers' Festival

Learn, explore and experience the knowledge of 17 different nationally and internationally renowned writers
April 6, 2018
Sonoma Writers Festival, April 13-14

For the first time, Sonoma State University will be hosting its annual Writers’ Festival. Writers recognized both nationally and internationally will lead workshops, read their work and discuss the challenges involved with their craft. For attendees looking to learn more about literary magazines or managing independent presses, renowned editors and publishers will also be sharing their knowledge and experiences.

“We have 17 writers/editors and publishers with similarly laudable backgrounds who will be participating in readings, panels and book fair,” said Gillian Conoley, professor at Sonoma State, 2017 Shelley Memorial Award winner and one of the festival’s 17 leaders. “We're very thrilled to have the participation of such fine, nationally recognized writers.”

Taking place April 13-14, those in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and panel discussions exploring various writing forms including fiction, nonfiction and poetry. One-on-one’s with SSU’s award winning creative writing instructors, networking with writers and the festival’s book fair are also part of the experience. Tickets can be purchased for the receptions with personally selected individual workshops or the opening and closing receptions alone. Purchase tickets online, and for more information visit the Sonoma Writers’ Festival website.

“It's our hope that students and attendees will take away not only a sense of community and joy in joining together for two days of festivities and celebration of the art of writing and editing,” said Conoley, “But that they will also leave inspired to go back to their desks, their laptops and the world of books with new insight and new ideas as to what is possible with their work.”

Friday, April 13

5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wine & Food Reception // Prelude

7 p.m. Reading // Prive Room - Kazim Ali & Corinna Vallianatos

Saturday, April 14

9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. Coffee & Welcome // Valley Conference Rooms

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Book Fair, Panels, Readings & Workshops // Valley Conference Rooms

5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wine & Food Reception // Overlook Restaurant

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Reading- Angela Morales and Tongo Eisen-Martin // Overlook Restaurant

Panels and Readings // Saturday, April 14

Conference Room 1

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Poetry Panel - Line, Lyric, Voice: New Combinatory Movements. Kazim Ali, Gillian Conoley (moderator), Tongo Eisen-Martin, Finn Menzies, giovanni singleton.

11 a.m. - Noon Reading - Gillian Conoley, Anne Goldman, Finn Menzies, giovanni singleton, Kathleen Winter.

Noon - 1 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Non-Fiction Panel - Fact, Fiction, and Truth-telling in Creative Nonfiction. Ianthe Brautigan, Anne Goldman (moderator), Angela Morales, Noelle Oxenhandler

2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Reading - Peg Alford Pursell, Stefan Kiesbye, Kevin Moffett, Noelle Oxenhandler, Jane Ridgeway, Domenic Stansberry

3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Fiction - Panel Literary Fiction, Genre, and the age of Mash-ups. Stefan Kiesbye (moderator), Kevin Moffett, Jane Ridgeway, Domenic Stansberry, Corinna Vallianatos

4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Editing/Publishing Panel - How books are chosen and made. Peg Alford Pursell (moderator), Domenic Stansberry, Peter Maravelis, Kathleen Winter

Workshops // Saturday, April 14­­­­­

Conference Room 2

10 a.m. - Noon Fiction Workshop - Corinna Vallianatos

 Noon - 1 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Poetry Workshop - Kazim Ali and Tongo Eisen-Martin

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Creative Non-Fiction Workshop - Angela Morales

-Nate Galvan