2012 Conference dates are July 15th to the 21st. Stay tuned for announcements of 2012 programs and instructors. Registration will open in the New Year.

We had an incredible week with some very talented and dedicated instructors teaching over 65 students. Thank you to all of the sponsors and volunteers who made this all possible. Watch for news here as we develop the programs and enlist the instructors for 2012!

Less than a week to go until the 2011 Conference and there are still a few spots left in some classes ~ Most classes have a few spots left, so if you have been thinking about registering, you might want to do so soon! Registration continues to be strong and it is going to be an awesome week in Fernie!

There are few places more beautiful for a poetry reading than Island Lake Lodge. Set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Island Lake is the perfect setting to hear the likes of Sid Marty, Tom Wayman, Fred Wah and Dave Margoshes read from their work. This will be a reading to remember and this event is always one of the highlights of the Fernie Writers' Conference. This year should prove to be no exception.

The Fernie Heritage Library is our host in their magnificent summer garden. This is a casual get-together intended to make introductions and get everyone ready for the coming week. Myrna Kostash and Andreas Schroeder will read from their recent work as part of this opening celebration to the 2011 Writers' Conference.

The 2011 Keynote Address is scheduled during the Literary Festival on Friday July 22 at 8pm at the Knox United Church in Fernie. A conversation with acclaimed poets Tom Wayman and Fred Wah called The Mysterious Gravel Roads: Writing And The Local.

The 2011 Fernie Writers’ Conference youth sessions are Youth Writing Workshop (ages 15-18) with Kim McCullough Word Candy (ages 10-13) with Monica Meneghetti with the addition of Youth Poetry (ages 12-14) with Adam MacDonald and Writing & Visual Arts (ages 8-10) with Gail Bartel and Sally Manwaring. The 3-day youth sessions will culminate with a youth reading on the final afternoon of the conference as part of the festival open to the public.

Registration is strong with some courses filling up quickly.

Aritha Van Herk, author of five novels will be joining the Fernie Writers' Conference to teach a 3 day workshop called The Unlikeliest Story. The course will run Thursday July 21 - Saturday July 23, 2011.

The Fernie Writers' Conference is pleased to announce two more instructors joining the 2011 Conference. Award winning author, Marina Endicott will be teaching a week-long fiction workshop Creating Character and Juno Award winning singer, songwriter James Keelaghan will be teaching the songwriting component. Myrna Kostash will be teaching the week long Creative Non - Fiction component and Andreas Schroeder is joining us to teach one of the week long fiction sessions. Betty Jane Hegerat, Alison Calder, Kim McCullough and Monica Meneghetti are all returning to teach in 2011. Stay tuned for more updates to come soon!

Visit www.ferniewriters.com/instructors for more details.