For the City Times

There will be as double dose of humorist, best-selling author, musician, and radio personality Michael Perry during the 66th annual Wisconsin Writers Conference October 2-4 in Wisconsin Rapids.

Perry will bring his knowledge and experience to the Mead Hotel & Conference Center on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Wisconsin Writers Association’s conference. Perry will share his experiences “Writing from the Middle of Nowhere” in his keynote address during the WWA’s Jade Ring Writing Contest Awards Banquet on October 3. The Jade Ring contest awards prizes in humor, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writing. More than 170 entries were received for this year’s contests.

Perry is the author of the best-selling novels “Population: 485” and “Truck: A love Story.” His most recent work, “The Scavengers,” was released on September 8.

“This is easily our most exciting and writing-centric schedule ever,” said WWA President Dave Rank, fiction writer from West Bend and this year’s conference coordinator. “We’re offering workshops, speakers and presentations that will interest writers in all genres of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.”

Earlier in the day, Perry will join a panel discussion on humor writing, “You Write Funny,” with Wisconsin humorists, Mel Miskimen, Joel Habush, Leah Carson, and Elaine Maly. They will discuss and share tips on the business of comedy writing. In addition, “What Poetry Can Teach Writers of Any Genre” by Robin Chapman and “Poets’ Anthology—a Collective Effort” by the Door County Poetry Collective will be featured workshops at the 2015 WWA Conference.

Also on the schedule are panel discussions on “Writing for Kids” with authors Miranda Paul, Pat Schmatz, Jessica Freeburg, and Silvia Acevedo, “The Reality of Fantasy Writing,” with genre novelists Alex Bledsoe and Kelly McCullough, and editors John Klima and Jason Waltz; “Self-Publishing Success Stories,” featuring Mary Wagner, Nicolette Pierce, Larry Scheckel, Jan Janson and J. Nathan Couch; and seminars on editing, character development, and historical research.

Individual critique sessions can be scheduled with author and writing mentor Kim Suhr. The conference will feature its popular roundtable readings the evening of October 2 and the WWA’s Author Showcase & Trade Show all day October 3 and the morning of October 4.

For more information on the 2015 Wisconsin Writers Conference and to register, go to the WWA’s website, www.wiwrite.org or call Dave Rank at 262-717-5154. The Wisconsin Writers Association has been providing educational and networking opportunities for writers of all genres since its founding in 1948.