WRITERS' CONFERENCE IS AUG. 14

Editors, agents and authors from across the nation will attend the fourth annual Heartland Writers' Conference Aug. 14 at the Cape Girardeau Holiday Inn.

The conference will host an autographing session Aug. 13 at West Park Mall, said Shirleen Sando, conference coordinator.

Twenty seminars will be presented, including topics of Writing the Third Dimension A study of Characterization, Adding Humor to Your Writing, and Science Fiction and the Star Trek Tradition. Topics also will include Screenplay Writing, Plotting Made Easy and Songwriting.

Featured speakers include New York agent Ethan Ellenberg and St. Louisan James B. Finn. The conference will also feature several a New York editors: Zebra book editor Sarah Gallick; Book Creations editor Paul Block; Samuel Post, editor of Space and Time Magazine; and Peter Blocksom, managing editor of Writer's Digest.

A number of authors are scheduled to conduct workshops, including Dick Vaughan, Connie Bennett, Frank Watson, Jean Lorrah, Louis Daniel Brodsky, Sue Harrison, Bobbi Smith, Lynda Trent, Lori Copeland, Jory Sherman, Joe Keene, Lynn Bulock and Eileen Dryer.

In addition to seminars, agents and editors will conduct group appointments with attendees. These appointments will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A fee of $95 includes workshops, editor-agent appointments, autographing party, luncheon and evening banquet. Deadline for registration is Aug. 7. Information and registration may be obtained by writing Sando at 813 Michael, Kennett, Mo., 63857, or calling 314-888-5589.