A note from Les Standiford, Director of the Creative Program at Florida International University

[The] most illustrious lineup ever has been finalized for the 2013 FIU Writers’ Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, October 24-25.

Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River, Gone, Baby, Gone, The Given Day, and many more, will be with us as keynote speaker and craft lecturer.

Also confirmed for 2013 are the following:  Agent—Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell Management of NYC; Editor—accomplished poet and writer Dan Halpern, Editor in Chief, Ecco (a division of Harper Collins); Screenplays & Thrillers—John Katzenbach (The Wrong Man, What Comes Next).  They will join FIU faculty members Les Standiford (non-fiction); John Dufresne (morning writing exercises); Lynne Barrett (revision); Campbell McGrath (poetry); Debra Dean (novel writing);  Julie Marie Wade (memoir); and the previously guest faculty members short story writer and essayist Steve Almond (My Life in Heavy Metal; Rock & Roll Will Save Your Life), and novelist (and Iowa and Coral Gables HS alum) Frances de Pontes Peebles (The Seamstress).

Attendees will be able to choose from 3 classes each period on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday (9-10:20, 10:30-11:50, and 12-1:20) attend special seminars including discussions of the contemporary publishing scene and the agent/editor process each afternoon, and enjoy faculty readings each evening.

[I am] looking forward to another exciting conference.

Please help us spread the word to your Facebook friends and others.  Early bird registration rates of $325 are now in effect, but they will expire September 3 (TODAY).

All best, and see you in October,

Les Standiford, Conference Director