Event runs June 28-30

The New Letters annual Weekend Writing Conference, “Writing for Love, Money, & Immortality,” will feature keynote speaker Kelly Barth. Barth is an award-winning writer and author of numerous works including the 2012 memoir My Almost Certainly Real Imaginary Jesus (Arktoi, 2012). 

Students, community members and writers of all levels are invited to attend the conference June 28-30 at Diastole, 2501 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo. Diastole is the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s beautiful Scholars’ Center, donated by Mary Clark and Dr. E. Grey Dimond. 

Barth’s keynote address is open to conference registrants and their guests and will commence following a 5:30 p.m. welcoming reception at Diastole June 28.  The conference continues Saturday, June 29 (9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), through Sunday, June 30 (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

The conference faculty is composed of professional writers and instructors of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and screen and stage writing, including Frank Higgins, Mitch Brian, Loring Leifer, Trish Reeves, Stanley E. Banks, Catherine Browder, Phillip Stephens and Robert Stewart, plus other special guests.

“This is a dream weekend for beginners and established writers alike,” said Robert Stewart, director of the conference.  “True professional writers and coaches from many disciplines will share their strategies, ideas and love of the written word.”

To register or for more details, contact the UMKC Arts and Sciences Continuing Education Department at (816) 235-2736 or visit www.newletters.org and click on “writing conference” to complete an application.