Barnes and Noble Bookfair will feature UNL writers, faculty

A Barnes and Noble Bookfair in support of the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be April 3 at Barnes and Noble, 5150 O St. As part of the Barnes and Noble Bookfair program, the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference will receive a portion of sales made that day by shoppers using a special voucher. Vouchers can be downloaded at the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference Web site at http://nebraskawriters.unl.edu. All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule follows.

4 p.m. -- "The Birds in Your Brain." For ages 11 and under. You've got a lot going on under your cap. Tickle those birds nesting in your noggin and come up with some great poetry and stories. Representatives from the UNL English Department will lead a one-hour creative writing workshop that will include brainstorming, storytelling, and creative exercises for elementary school students.

5-6:30 p.m. -- Literary readings by students in the UNL creative writing program. Hear fresh, new work from talented student writers.

7 p.m. -- "Write Your Book." Writers and editors discuss the process of bringing expression to the printed page and into the hands of readers. Panelists include members of the faculty of the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the writing process; how these writers got published; what editors look for in new work; how to find an agent; and other topics vital to writers. Featuring novelists Jonis Agee, Sean Doolittle and Timothy Schaffert; memoirist and fiction writer Joy Castro; and poets/editors Grace Bauer, James Engelhardt, Anthony Hawley and Hilda Raz. Authors will speak, answer questions and sign their books.

The Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference is offered annually by the English Department at UNL. This year it will be June 13-19. Registration is open for workshops in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Fees, faculty, and other details are available at http://nebraskawriters.unl.edu. For more information, e-mail nswc@unl.edu or call (402) 472-3067.