HONOLULU, HI. (Top40 Charts/ Jackson INK) - The Hawai'i Writers Conference (HWC) today announced that multiple Grammy award-winning recording artist
Norah Jones will perform in a private, intimate engagement at their first annual Writers Block Gala fundraiser on Friday,
September 4, 2009 at the Sheraton Waikiki. The gala is part of the week-long Hawai'i Writers Conference at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu. Hailed as the world's largest writer's conference, HWC's line-up of bestselling authors and Academy Award-winning screenwriters will thrill attendees on Labor Day weekend, from
September 4 to
September 7, 2009.
The HWC will welcome more than a dozen New York Times bestselling authors including Jackie Mitchard, whose "Deep End of the Ocean" was the first Oprah Book Club Pick. Gregory Maguire, international bestseller and author of "Wicked," and Mitch Albom, acclaimed journalist and author of "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" will deliver keynote presentations. In addition, acclaimed novelist and young adult and children's writer Alice Hoffman ("Practical Magic," "Aquamarine"), and mind, body and spirit guru Dan Millman ("Way of the Peaceful Warrior") will also present.
This year's keynote speakers in the screenwriting category include Academy Award winners Bobby Moresco ("Million Dollar Baby" and "Crash"), Diana Ossana ("Brokeback Mountain") and Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine"). In addition, James Strauss (screenwriter for "House," "Deadwood," and "Entourage") will present.
Each year, the HWC draws more than 1,000 aspiring and published writers, agents and editors, who come to Hawaii to develop their craft.
"The Hawai'i Writers Conference offers writers the rarest of opportunities: the chance to learn directly from industry icons while gaining insights into how to get published," said conference co-founder Shannon Tullius. "The 2009 conference will broaden its focus to include niche markets such as children's and young adult books, magazine writing, food and cookbook writing, and poetry - making the event more relevant for writers at all stages of their careers."
Writers also have the opportunity to participate in the six-day Hawai'i Writers Retreat, which takes place immediately before the conference. The retreat offers intimate workshops on the art and craft of writing with an emphasis on how to shape and present a saleable manuscript or screenplay. The retreat takes place from August 28 to September 3, 2009 at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki.
Formerly called the Maui Writers Conference, the 2009 HWC will move to a central location in Honolulu to accommodate more participants. This year's conference takes place at the The Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Sheraton Waikiki.
For a full list of presenters, please visit https://www.hawaiiwriters.org.
About the Hawai'i Writers Conference
Since its first event in 1993, the Hawai'i Writers Conference and Retreat has grown to become one of the largest writer's conferences in the world. Each year, it attracts a long list of bestselling authors, Academy Award-winning screenwriters, and the top literary and film executives in the business, who offer workshops and presentations on the art and craft of writing. Past presenters have included Ron Howard, Carl Bernstein, Frank McCourt, Dave Barry, Carrie Fisher, Joan Collins, Aaron Sorkin, Tony Hillerman and Wendy Wasserstein.
