Prominent Catholic Authors to Speak at Catholic Writers’ Conference

Several prominent Catholic authors will speak at the seventh annual Catholic Writers' Conference LIVE taking place July 22-24 at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ. Sponsored by the Catholic Writers Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN's annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers' Conference LIVE provides Catholic writers with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe. The theme of this year's conference is "Perseverance."

Speakers include keynote speaker Pat Gohn (BLESSED, BEAUTIFUL AND BODACIOUS), authors Gary Zimak (FROM FEAR TO FAITH), Regina Doman (RAPUNZEL LET DOWN), Margaret Rose Realy (A CATHOLIC GARDENER'S SPIRITUAL ALMANAC), Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle (CATHOLIC PRAYER BOOK FOR MOTHERS), Ellen Gable Hrkach (STEALING JENNY) and many others.

The conference will give authors an opportunity to meet personally with publishing professionals and pitch their writing projects. Some participating publishers are Ignatius Press, Ave Maria Press, and Servant Books. In addition, attendees have the opportunity to sign up for a fiction critique workshop with award-wining short fiction writer Arthur Powers (A HERO FOR THE PEOPLE), a non-fiction critique group with Nancy Ward (joyalive.net) and attend writing workshops with novelists John Desjarlais (SPECTER) and Michelle Buckman (RACHEL'S CONTRITION). Information for these events can be found on the conference website.

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization affiliated with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, sponsors this conference in July, an online conference in March, and a writers' retreat in October to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature.

"With members all over the world, these events bring our diverse membership together for fellowship and networking to promote our mission of creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters," says CWG President and award -winning novelist Ellen Gable Hrkach.

Registration costs $80 for CWG members, $85 for non-members and $40 for students. There's also a discounted combined membership. To register or for more information, go to http://blog.catholicwritersguild.com/