Chase Collegiate School Hosts Writers’ Conference

WATERBURY — The Litchfield Review is conducting a writers’ conference at Chase Collegiate School on Saturday, October 14, from 9 am to 3 pm. The conference offers new and experienced writers the unique opportunity to work on their writing with editors, agents and other published writers in small workshops on memoir, poetry, fiction and nonfiction.

The keynote speaker is Waterbury native Tom Santopietro, author of The Importance of Being Barbra, a critical assessment of Barbra Streisand’s career, its longevity and magnitude. Readings and book signings will take place after lunch and are included in the $90 registration fee.

 Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, an upper school English teacher and the chairperson of the English department at Chase Collegiate, co-edits The Litchfield Review with Theresa C. Vara. Ms Sharnick’s excitement about the upcoming conference, the talent pool of writers running workshops and ultimately, the talent pool she anticipates attending, is palpable. 

“For Tom Santopietro to agree to speak at this conference during the height of his book tour is a real testament to his love of writing as well as his dedication to his alma mater, St Margaret McTernan/Chase Collegiate,” explained Ms Sharnick.

 The Litchfield Review’s Writers’ Conference workshops will offer a variety of topics from successful writers with valuable field experience. Marie L. Clark, writing instructor at Wesleyan University will lead a workshop on the art of personal memoir. Edwina Trentham, author of Stumbling into the Light, will discuss poetry. Tom Hunt, author of Cliffs of Despair: a Journey to the Edge, will lead a discussion on creative nonfiction.

Patricia Klindienst, author of The Earth Knows My Name, will address the writing of family history/memoir. Tom Cerasulo, recipient of the Zoetrope: All-Story award, will lead a workshop on short story writing. David Cappella, author of Gobbo: Solitaire’s Opera, will discuss the writing of fiction. And finally, Chantel Acevedo, author of Love and Ghost Letters, will discuss the publication process and read from her novel.

Register online at thelitchfieldreview.com.

Chase Collegiate is an academically demanding coed day school in the classic independent school tradition for students in grades preK-3 through 12.