While we would usually start things off with the beautiful desert weather and the southwestern landscape, things are a little different this year. With rising COVID cases in Arizona, restrictions surrounding travel around the nation, and ongoing orders against large public gatherings, we’ve made the choice to move Desert Nights, Rising Stars 2021 to a completely virtual experience.

The 2021 conference will be conducted online via Zoom from February 18 through 20. Program features will include writing workshops, panel discussions, readings, pitch sessions, book fair, author signings, and roundtable discussions. Genres covered this year include fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, publishing, business of writing, memoir, and young adult.

The faculty for the conference will be Matt Bell, Mahogany L. Browne, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Alan Dean Foster, Tod Goldberg, Raquel Gutiérrez, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Linda Hogan, Beverly Jenkins, C.B. Lee, Connie J. Mableson, Christopher Morgan, Cynthia Pelayo, Evan Winter, and Erika T. Wurth.

Early registration is only $225 before December 31. Swing by their listing at NewPages to get more details.