Conference Information

21st Annual MKR Society Conference
April 24 - 26, 2008
Asheville, North Carolina

Call For Papers (Deadline March 1, 2008)

Conference Hotel: ASHEVILLE RENAISSANCE HOTEL
One Thomas Wolfe Plaza, Asheville, NC  28801
Phone: (828) 252-8211 * Fax (828) 254-1374
Ask for special conference rate by February 15, 2008

News from Brent Kinser

Well, the holidays are behind us, and now thoughts turn to April and to Asheville and to the 21st Annual Meeting of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society. To say that we are excited about welcoming all y'all up to the North Carolina mountains for this year's conference is a gross understatement. 

Plans are now beginning to come together.  Carol and David Grantges have located a Historic Asheville Trolley tour that, in conjunction with a visit to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and House, will make for a great Friday afternoon in the tradition of our always great boat trips (still no takers on white-water rafting!).  Speakers and potential speakers continue to be recruited and include Catherine Carter, a Pulitzer-Prize nominated poet and winner of this year's prestigious Roanoke-Chowan Award, the oldest literary prize given in the State of North Carolina.  Folks will love the wonderful rhythms and keen wit of her wonderful poems.  In addition, there is a possibility that we may have John Ehle join us or Lee Smith or Ron Rash, all fantastic writers, any of whom will make the banquet on Friday evening yet another memorable occasion.  We will be inviting Robert Fulton to welcome us all to the mountains, and with ninety-five Asheville middle-schoolers busily reading The Yearling and with Rodger Tarr fastidiously preparing his lecture notes for the discussion of this year's homework assignment, "Mother in Mannville" (don't forget to read it!), the Conference is beginning to take shape quite nicely.

Remember to make your reservations early!  The Renaissance Hotel in Asheville has given us a terrific rate of $125 and has provided us with a limited number of rooms at that rate for Saturday night, for those who want to stay for the weekend.  Our first allotment for Saturday, however, was sold out by January 7th!  Although the hotel has kindly blocked more rooms for us on Saturday, there are not many of them, and they also will sell out quickly!

SO, make those reservations, hitch up the wagons, and we will plan on greeting you in Asheville.  Let me know if there is anything I can do to help with your trip up yonder from down yonder.

For now, I'll wish you a blessed and a peaceful new year, and all the very best, as always,

Brent Kinser, President-Elect
bkinser@email.wcu.edu

Asheville Accommodations

Conference Hotel: Renaissance Asheville Hotel
31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC 28801.  1-800-468-3571
$125 per night
To receive this special rate by February 15, indicate you are attending the Rawlings Conference.

Suggested Alternative Hotels:

Past Conferences