2026 Conference Schedule and What to Look Forward to:
Discounted Conference lodging
Navigate to the 2026 Conference Lodging page where you will receive a discount on the conference hotel fees.
Author Bookstore!
During the conference, author attendees will have the opportunity to sell their books in the AWC Bookstore. The Bookstore will run throughout the conference. Here’s what you need to know:
Attending AWC Member authors and conference faculty members will receive free use of the Bookstore for selling their books.
Member authors and attending faculty can receive 1 designated space at a table for Free.
All Bookstore Usage Fees (Non-Refundable):
Member authors and faculty members that wish to purchase more Bookstore space up to half a table only will be charged a $15 fee for the extra space.
Non-member authors will be charged a $15 fee for use of the Bookstore for selling their books.
Non-member authors can receive more space up to half a table for an extra charge of $15.
All books must be retrieved by attendees on the last day of the Bookstore (time TBD). Books will not be shipped back to authors who have left them with the AWC Bookstore.
More to come…
2026 Conference Schedule-at-a-glance
All workshop sessions are at Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209
Friday, September 11
11 AM - Registration and Bookstore Opens
12:45 PM - Welcome
1 PM - Using Dream Imagery in Writing - with Miriam Calleja
2 PM - Panel Discussion: How to Write Stories People Can’t Stop Reading - with Audrey Atkins, Mary Dansak, TK Thorne - Moderated by Javacia Harris Bowser
3 PM - Creating Poetry Collections Readers Will Love - with Kwoya Fagin Maples
4 PM - What Authors Should Know about AI - with Carrie Rollwagen
5 PM - Bookstore Closes
6 - 8 PM - Wine Down Social & Open Mic
at Little Professor Bookshop, 2738 18th St South, Homewood, AL 35209
Saturday, September 12
8 AM - Registration and Bookstore Opens
8:30 AM - Welcome
9 AM - The Business of Writing - with Bob McGough
10 AM - What Comes After: Responsible Practices for the “After” Poem - with Jermaine Thompson
11 AM - Getting started as a writer? How to get published - with Catherine Hamrick
Noon - Lunch Break
2 PM - A Soulful Approach to the Creative Process - with Charlotte Donlon
3 PM - Changing the world through children’s literature - with Tanisa Moore
4 PM - Steps to Traditional Publishing: The Manuscript is Completed, What Now? - with Hallie Christensen
5 PM - AWC Annual Meeting
Sunday, September 13
8 AM - Awards Brunch with Keynote Address and Presentation of Awards Certificates
Keynote Speaker: Salaam Green, Birmingham Poet Laureate
Keynote Address: The Courage to Write Now
Awards Brunch will be held at Vulcan Park & Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209