Our conference is mentioned in today's e-newsletter from Springfield Regional Arts Council

Did you see us in today's ezine from Springfield Regional Arts Council?

They usually send their e-newsletter each Monday, but since their office was closed Monday for the 4th of July holiday, the newsletter was sent today (Tuesday) instead.

SRAC mentioned Ozarks Romance Authors' Annual Conference coming up July 23, along with a link to our page on our their site. Click HERE to see our conference page on Springfield Regional Arts Council's web site.

Why did SRAC do this? Because we are a member of this fine organization that promotes the arts in southwest Missouri.

What did Springfield Regional Arts Council say about us?

Ozarks Romance Authors will host their annual conference all day July 23 at The Clarion.

This is conference for all fiction writers (not just in romance, this authors' group is multi-genre).

Registration is required.

Guest speakers will include award-winning authors, a literary agent from New York City, and an editor from Avalon Books.

July 22 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., Barnes & Noble is hosting the conference kick-off with appearances from conference speaker and authors, and a booksigning event.

For more info - http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/2011-annual-conference/ Next Event (daily): Friday, July 22, 2011 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm

If you would like to receive Springfield Regional Arts Council's weekly ezine, click HERE and enter your email address.

Thinking of coming to our writers' conference on July 23, 2010? There is still time to register. Pay in advance using the link at the bottom of THIS page. You can even pay at the door that morning.

We'll have best-selling authors who are scheduled to travel to Springfield and make this one of the best writers' conferences in the state of Missouri. They have prepared fabulous presentations, workshops, and panels with information relevant to all writers of fiction (not just those writing for the romance genre).

We'll also have Louise Fury, literary agent with The L. Perkins Agency, and Lia Brown, editor with Avalon Books.

Hope to see you at The Clarion Hotel Conference Center on Saturday, July 23, 2010!

Video highlights from our 2010 conference!

This 30-second video features highlights from Ozarks Romance Authors' 2010 conference, "Romancing The Ozarks: Dancing With Words."

The conference was held July 10, 2010, at The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., in Springfield, Missouri.

Conference speakers were:

• Kensington author Kimberly Killion (www.kimberlykillion.com) and Harlequin author Megan Kelly (www.megankellybooks.com) presented "The Road so Far: The First Year After the Call."

• Ginger Kolbaba, editor of Marriage Partnership magazine (www.christianitytoday.com/mp), a publication of Christianity Today International, presented "Writing for the 21st Century Woman."

• Mary-Lane Kamberg (http://kansascitywriters.com) presented "What's So Funny?" She has more than twenty years of writing experience and is the author of seven books. Her articles have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Marriage and Family Living, Christian Science Monitor, Healthy Kids and many others.

“Each year, our conferences are so inspiring for new and seasoned writers alike, but this year’s lineup of speakers will bring some really talented authors to town,” said Kathy Mullens, 2009-2010 president of Ozarks Romance Authors, said in the press release that was issued prior to the conference. “We look forward to sharing their expertise with the local writing community, and we’re excited to present this scholarship to Ozarks Literacy Council.”

A portion of the proceeds from the writers' conference was donated to Ozarks Literacy Council, based in Springfield, Missouri.

Ozarks Literacy Council conducts programs including one-on-one tutoring, and outreach events and partnerships with other nonprofits, such as sending free books home with children who are part of Ozarks Food Harvest's backpack programs. According to Nicole Thom-Arens, Ozarks Literacy Council's program director, Ozarks Literacy Council served 97 adults and 8,600 children in 2009. For more information, visit www.OzarksLiteracy.org.

The afternoon of July 9, 2010, a booksigning event was held for the conference speakers at Border Books & Music, 3300 S. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield's Primrose Marketplace shopping center.

Borders also provided staff members and a mini-bookstore during the conference to allow attendees to purchase books written by the authors who spoke.

Published members of Ozarks Romance Authors also sold and signed books throughout the day, including Jennifer Jakes, Beth Carter, Cindy Sigler Dagnan, Lisa Wells, Brenda Brinkley, and Shirley McCann.

ORA's 2009-2010 President Kathy Mullens was interviewed by the local CBS affiliate, KOLR-10, and appeared on the news that evening. That news story (including the video) is available online here: http://ozarksfirst.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=293565

Ozarks Romance Authors is a non-profit organization for writers of all genres in the southwest Missouri region. Monthly speakers help writers of all genres hone their skills and explore writing opportunities.

Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, in Springfield (Greene County), Missouri. Visitors are welcome! The first three visits are free. More information is available by calling (417) 597-4716 or by visiting www.Ozarks-Romance-Authors.com.

Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OzarksRomanceAuthors or follow the group on Twitter @OzarksRomance.