Story Catcher keynote and closing speakers open to public

Registration for the entire workshop will remain open until the workshop begins, according to Dr. Matt Evertson, CSC English professor and department chair.

Registration forms and more information is available at: www.storycatcherworkshop.org.

The keynote address by Dan O’Brien will be Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center Chicoine Atrium. The closing talk by Ron Hull will be Friday, June 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the same location. Refreshments will be served following both public events.

Described by the New York Times “as a writer with a keen and poetic eye,” Dan O’Brien is one of the most powerful literary voices on the Plains, author of numerous novels and memoirs, including Buffalo for the Broken Heart and The Contract Surgeon, winners of the Western Heritage Award for best nonfiction in 2001 and for best fiction in 1999, respectively. Buffalo for the Broken Heart, which explores the history of his ranch and the conversion from beef to buffalo, was chosen as One Book South Dakota in 2009. He is currently working on a sequel.

As he so colorfully relates in Backstage, Stories from My Life in Public Television, Ron Hull has lived a very full life. Yet, like many of the participants in our writing workshop, he considers himself a “first time writer.” In his presentation, he will relate what he learned in the process of writing his first boo and getting it published. He will also relate a number of episodes and read some selections from Backstage. He will include the ways Mari Sandoz’s work inspired his and her advice to young writers. 

All events June 13 in the Sandoz Center are open to the public. Booksellers, vendors, and displays will be open from 8-8:30 a.m. followed by Shannon Baker speaking about beginning a story with bang from 8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. From 10 a.m.-12 p.m., workshop participants will share readings during an open mic session. Following Hull's speech, authors will sell and sign books from 3-4 p.m.