Nebraska natives headline summer writers conference at UNL

The 2008 Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be June 14-20 on the UNL City Campus.

Since 2003, UNL's creative writing program has hosted the conference, a seven-day event consisting of intensive writing workshops and master classes, panel discussions, readings and receptions. Workshops require registration, but a number of panel discussions and readings are open to the public.

This year's events will feature accomplished local and national writers, including mystery novelist Harley Jane Kozak, Kurt Andersen (author of the New York Times bestseller "Heyday," and host of the radio show "Studio 360") and memoirist Michael Rips ("The Face of a Naked Lady: An Omaha Family Mystery") -- all native Nebraskans. Other guest teachers include:

* Kim Addonizio, National Book Award finalist for "Tell Me," a poetry collection;

* Kelly Braffet, author of the novels "Josie and Jack" and "Last Seen Leaving";

* Brock Clarke, author of "An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England";

* Meghan Daum, Los Angeles Times columnist and author of "The Quality of Life Report" and "My Misspent Youth";

* Anthony Hawley, author of "Autobiography/Oughtabiography";

* Jesse Lee Kercheval, winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize;

* Owen King, author of the short-story collection "We're All in This Together";

* Aaron Raz Link, memoirist, Nebraska native and author of "What Becomes You";

* Hilda Raz, author of the poetry collections "Trans" and "All Odd and Splendid," and editor of Prairie Schooner;

* Curtis Sittenfeld, author of New York Times bestseller "Prep"; and

* Sean Wilsey, editor-at-large for McSweeney's and author of "Oh the Glory of It All."

The conference will host discussions with publishing industry professionals from New York City, including publicist Lauren Cerand and agents Jessica Regel and Renee Zuckerbrot. Individual manuscript consultations are available.

Novelist and UNL English instructor Timothy Schaffert is this year's conference director. He is a contributing editor for Prairie Schooner and author of "The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters," a winner of the Nebraska Book Award, "The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God," a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, and "Devils in the Sugar Shop," a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice.

Schaffert has created a Web site for the conference (http://nebraskawriters.unl.edu), which features extensive faculty information, online registration and a forthcoming conference message board that will allow registrants to post new work online and discuss elements of writing in the weeks leading up to and following the conference, providing for an extended workshop experience.

Registration is open to new and experienced writers. There is no registration deadline, but registration is limited and early registration is encouraged. Tuition is $250 for a weekend workshop and $525 for week-long workshops. A special combined tuition rate of $700 covers the combination of one weekend and one week-long course. For more information or to register online, visit the Web site or e-mail Schaffert at tschaffert2@unl.edu.