Hampton Roads Writers Conference

The 15th annual Hampton Roads Writers Conference was held from November 9 to November 11 at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Norfolk Hotel and Conference Center. The conference featured 10-minute agent pitches, critique sessions, and craft and publishing classes for poets and prose writers. Participating writers included poets and prose writers Bill Glose, Michael Khandelwal, and Charlotte Matthews and nonfiction writer J. Dennis Bounds. Participating publishing professionals included agents Keri-Rae Barnum (New Shelves Books), Lori Colvin (Birch Literary), Steven Salpeter (Assemble Media), Katharine Sands (Sarah Jane Freymann Agency), and Emily Williamson (Williamson Literary). Literary agent Amy Collins (Talcott Notch Literary Services) and fiction writer Dani Pettrey delivered the keynote addresses. The cost of the conference, which included daily continental breakfast and lunch, a 90-minute social (for registrants, participating writers, and publishing professionals), and an open mic, was $329 for members and $369 for nonmembers with registration by October 27, and $409 with registration by November 9. The cost of a one-day pass was $209; one- and two-day passes were available to full-time students for $150 and $199 respectively. The cost to attend Thursday evening programming only was $59. Lodging was available at the Holiday Inn at a rate of approximately $162 per night; nearby motels were available at a lower cost. A limited number of partial and full scholarships were available upon request by contacting the cofounder and director Lauran Strait via e-mail before registering or at the time of registration. The deadline for registration was November 9. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations include elevators in all multilevel event spaces; accessible sidewalks, pathways, and doorways; accessible restrooms; reserved seating at the front of the venue’s event spaces; and accessible parking.