2014 Conference - Click links at right for individual pages

27^th Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Westmoreland County Community College

Youngwood, PA

Register by June 10 for early bird discounts.

"A writer's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened." -- Albert Camus

Poetry - Lori Jakiela

Fiction - Timons Esaias

Nonfiction - Sue Baugh

Songwriting - Mike Vale

LVM Mission and Calendar

Ligonier Valley Writers is a nonprofit group serving writers and readers throughout Western Pennsylvania. It has been promoting good writing since 1986. LVW is committed to providing practical tools and creative inspiration to sustain both emerging and published writers.

Ligonier Valley Writers Events Calendar

April 26, 4:00 p.m. Student Poetry Awards ceremony and bookfair at Greensburg Barnes & Noble. LVW’s Bookfair ID# is 11308780.

May 1. Loyalhanna Review submission deadline.

May 18, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Playwriting workshop with award-winning playwright F. J. Hartland. St. Michael’s Church, Rector.

July 18, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Loyalhanna Review publication party at SAMA Museum in Ligonier.

July 19, 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 27^th Annual LVW Conference.

August 15. Deadline for Flash Fiction Contest submissions. The topic this year is "Creepy, Haunted, and Scary Places." Winning stories will be read aloud at Halloween events. Submissions open April 15.

September 7, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Annual LVW picnic. St. Michael’s Church, Rector.

October. Readings of the winning Flash Fiction stories at local venues. Specifics TBA.

November 9, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Karen Dietrich on how to submit your work to literary agents. St. Michael’s Church,    

December 7, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Annual LVW Christmas Party. St. Michael’s Church, Rector.

Please check www.LVWonline.org for the most up-to-date information about program times and places.

Registration/Pricing

Registration Form (simply select "Print" from your browser menu and mail in completed form; we do not yet have online registration)

Name _____________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________

Email  __________________ Phone  ______________

Choose one session in each morning time period

and one workshop in the afternoon. 

9:00-10:15 a.m.         

Choose one:  [  ] Fiction seminar  OR  [  ] Nonfiction seminar

10:15-10:30 a.m.  Break.

10:30-11:45 a.m.  Choose one:  [  ] Poetry seminar OR  [  ] Songwriting seminar 

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Choose one: [  ] Fiction workshop  OR  [  ] Nonfiction workshop

OR  [  ] Poetry workshop  OR  [  ] Songwriting workshop

Tuition, Lunch/ Faculty Reading, and Thoburn Lecture           

Early Bird until June 10

LVW Member                          $95               How many?   ___

Nonmember                            $115               How many?   ___

June 11–July 10

LVW Member                        $105              How many?   ___
Nonmember                            $125              How many?   ___       

LVW membership                    $30               How many?   ___
        

TOTAL ENCLOSED:     _______ 

Enclose check or money order payable to Ligonier Valley Writers.

Mail to Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference, PO Box B, Ligonier, PA  15658    

Questions? Contact Judith Gallagher: jgallagher@LVWonline.org or 724.593.7294, or Ruth McDonald: RMCD1997@aol.com or 724.836.0588. Put “LVW Conference” in the subject line.

The Early Bird registration deadline is June 10.

The full-price deadline is July 10.

Conference Logistics

Conference Logistics

Directions. Exit PA Turnpike at New Stanton Interchange (Exit 75). Take ramp for I-70 West toward Delmont/Greensburg/Connellsville. In 1.3 miles, the road name changes to US 119 North. Go 1.4 miles on 119. Turn right onto Depot St., which becomes Armbrust Rd. In 0.8 mile, turn right onto Pavilion Lane at WCCC. Parking is free. 

From Route 30: Take Route 119 South into Youngwood. At third traffic light (Depot St.), turn left and go one mile to campus (on right).

Manuscript critiquing. You may bring manuscript you’ve already written for critiquing during your workshop if you prefer not to write new material at the workshop. Please limit it to five pages maximum (double spaced, 12-point type). Bring at least 10 copies to share.

Book sales. If you are an LVW member and you’ve published a book, you may arrange for us to sell it at the conference. The book room will be staffed all day; you can stay and sign your books when you wish. For details, contact Mary Ann Mogus, jaguar263@verizon.net or (724) 836-1099. For a membership application, check www.LVWonline.org.

Special needs or concerns? All conference venues are handicap accessible. Vegetarian options are available at lunch. Please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding special dietary or other concerns. Ruth McDonald is at (724) 836-0588 or RMCD1997@aol.com.

Songwriting - Mike Vale

Songwriting: Mike Vale will talk about "Digging for Gold: How to Turn the Material of Your Life into Musical Treasure." Like novelists, poets, and most other artists, songwriters take the raw material of everyday of life, both the joyful and the painful, and transform them into art. Mike Vale will describe how experiences from his life, guided by imagination, found their way into his music. In the workshop, you’ll use your own life experience to begin writing a song of your own. A guitarist will join Mike Vale so you can set your words to melody. You may bring your own instruments and recording devices or smartphones to document your work.

Songwriting: Mike Vale served as bass player, vocalist, and song- writer for Tommy James and the Shondells from 1966 through 1970, selling more 100 million records worldwide, with 23 gold singles and nine gold and platinum records. He helped write many Top Forty hit singles, including “She,” “Ball of Fire,” “Loved One,” and the smash hit “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” which hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Tom Jones, Della Reese, and The Clique. After leaving the Shondells, Mike joined the influential country-rock band Hog Heaven, releasing two albums in the early ’70s. He has written 150 songs that have been a part of more than 25 albums. In 2012, Mike released “It’s a Pittsburgh Thing.” He followed that up in 2014 with “In My Dreams,” a 10-song collection of new material that is among his finest work yet.