Past Keynote Speakers
WCoNA conferences are headlined by writers with deep roots in northern Appalachia. Revisit their addresses below.
Ben Moyer
Ben Moyer, whose writing on nature, outdoors, and conservation issues appears in numerous regional and national publications including Northern Appalachia Review and Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine. In 2019, the Outdoor Writers Association of America honored Moyer with its Excellence in Craft Award, which recognizes an outstanding lifetime body of work. His writing has also garnered numerous awards from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association.
Kathleen George
Professor of theatre and writing, University of Pittsburgh
An Intimate Account of Recognizing Herself as a Citizen of northern Appalachia
Kathleen George was co-keynote with Lee Gutkind at our 2022 conference at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She is a professor of theatre and writing at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of acclaimed novels set in the city, including The Odds, which was nominated for an Edgar® award for best novel. She is also the author of The Johnstown Girls and the editor of the short story collection Pittsburgh Noir.
Maxwell King
Author of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers · Past President of the Heinz Endowments
The Power of Place
At our conference in 2022 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Maxwell King offered a special address on The Power of Place, which delivered not only writing advice, but a unique perspective on the distinct character and work ethic of the people of northern Appalachia through the eyes of one of our region’s most distinguished immigrants.
King, grandson of literary editor Maxwell Perkins, arguably a lion of American literature, moved here as the former editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Past president of the Heinz Endowments, he is the author of the poetry collection Crossing Laurel Run and the New York Times-bestselling biography The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, and American Workman: The Life and Art of John Kane, a portrait of a man whose life typifies the overlooked voices of northern Appalachia. Mr. King also served as chairman of the board of the national Council on Foundations and was president of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
David Poyer
Author of nearly fifty books, including the Hemlock County novels
The literary desert that is northern Appalachia
Author David Poyer headlined our inaugural conference in 2019 in Wheeling, WV. His keynote described the literary desert that is northern Appalachia and how, perhaps, we have ourselves to blame.
“Let me say first how honored I am to be here. Addressing, perhaps, the final generations not to be genetically modified or digitally enhanced. Classic humans! Thank you all for inviting me; and thanks especially to PJ, an old friend from the days of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council; and to the planning committee, who volunteered the hours and days to put this first conference together.”
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