Tony Hillerman, May 27, 1925 - Oct. 26, 2008 Thanks, Tony. We miss you.

Tony Hillerman Writers Conference is back!

WORDHARVEST is delighted to announce a re-formatted Tony Hillerman's Writers Conference, which we're calling the Tony Hillerman Writer's Weekend. The program will be presented November 11-13, 2010, in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico. Faculty feature Margaret Coel, Judith Van Gieson, Bill O'Hanlon, Valerie Plame Wilson and Christine Barber, winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize for first mystery novel.
(Photo: Tony Hillerman with Margaret Coel at the 2005 conference)

During the conference you’ll learn to:

• Craft a knock-‘em-dead first chapter
• Develop fascinating, engaging characters
• Energize your story with irresistible dialog
• Breathe new life into stalled writing projects
• Finish your book
• Find an agent to help promote your work

We offer:
Published writers who are excellent teachers
A chance to visit beautiful Santa Fe, N.M.
A toolbox of writing skills useful for fiction and non-fiction 
A opportunity for a professional critique of your opening chapter and synopsis

The fine print
Full conference (including most meals and the Tony Hillerman Prize dinner): $395 until Sept. 25,  then $425
First chapter critiques and a private session with Van Gieson : $150 or $200 for those not attending the full conference
One-day rates and Van Gieson's class on first chapaters also available.

About our hotel:
The Inn and Spa at Loretto, just a block from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, will be our headquarters. We'll be emailing details and updates, but the basic information is here. Click here to ask to join our newsletter list.

The Hillerman Prize update

Sponsored by St. Martin's Press and Wordharvest, this prize for best first mystery set in the Southwest continues the spirit of Tony Hillerman's work. Deadline for submissions was  JUNE 1 and the manuscripts are now with the judges. The winner will be announced at the Santa Fe conference at a dinner on Nov. 13. Please join us.

The first winner of the Tony Hillerman Price, Christine Barber, will speak at the 2010 conference. Roy Chaney's Ragged Edge of Nowhere received the price in 2008. In 2009, after considerable thought, St. Martin's Press decided not to name a winner.

Looking for author Anne Hillerman and her books? Please Click here for Anne's site