MARQUETTE — To continue to inform regional authors and publishers of the latest changes in the publishing world and offer effective marketing and writing innovations, the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association will hold its 25th Annual Spring Conference on June 20 at the Peter White Public Library.

This year’s conference, which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will include a variety of topics relevant to writing, publishing and marketing. It will be open to all writers, beginning and seasoned, as well as anyone who is interested in writing, regardless of whether their work has been published.

Registration is open at www.uppaa.org/meeting-registration/.

Marty Achatz will be the keynote speaker. Achatz, who lives in Ishpeming with his wife and children, has taught writing, literature, mythology, film and composition at Northern Michigan University since 1998. He holds a master’s degree in fiction and master of fine arts degree in poetry.

His work has appeared in “Kennesaw Review,” “The Paterson Literary Review” and “The MacGuffin,” among others, as well as several poetry anthologies. His collection of poems, “The Mysteries of the Rosary,” was published by Mayapple Press. He has released two full-length spoken-word albums with the band “Streaking in Tongues — Slow Dancing with Bigfoot” and “Christmas with Bigfoot.”

In 2022, Achatz was the subject of the feature-length documentary “Bigfoot and Marty” and has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He served two consecutive terms as U.P. Poet Laureate and is currently vice president of the U.P. Poet Laureate Foundation and coordinator for adult program for the PWPL.

Achatz’s most recent work can be read on his blog Saint Marty (saintmarty-marty.blogspot.com), which receives over 10,000 pageviews per month, the UPPAA said.

In the presentation titled “Chasing Bigfoot: The Mythology and Truth of Being a Poet/Writer,” which involves music, film and performance, Achatz will discuss his journey from plumber’s son to U.P. Poet Laureate.

Breakout sessions by expert members of the UPPAA community include:

≤ Terri Martin – “Tickle Your Reader’s Funny Bone: Using Humor in Your Writing”;

≤ Tyler Tichelaar – “Self-Publishing 101: Why You Should Self-Publish and How to Do It”;

≤ Brandy Thomas – “Getting Started with Audiobooks”;

≤ Carrie A. Pearson – “Illustrative Collaboration in Traditional Children’s Book Publishing: Working Together but Actually Apart”;

≤ Laura Smyth – “Actually, We Do Judge a Book by Its Cover”; and

≤ Amy McKay, Jessica Bays and Ann Newcombe – “Working with Bookstores: Panel Discussion.”

A business meeting will include the presentation of the Sixth Annual Dandelion Cottage Awards for the UPPAA’s student short story contest. For more information about the contest, visit www.DandelionCottage.org.

Authors’ work to be celebrated

In addition, the release of the seventh volume of the U.P. Reader, UPPAA’s annual literary anthology featuring short stories, poetry and essays by its members, will be celebrated. This new volume includes works by more than three dozen authors from around the U.P. including this year’s Dandelion Cottage Award winners. For more information, visit www.UPReader.org.

The conference will provide networking opportunities for anyone wishing to learn more about writing, publishing and book marketing. An exhibition area will showcase the works U.P. authors, and all books displayed will be given away as door prizes at the conclusion of the conference.

The general public may attend the conference for a $60 registration fee. UPPAA members attend free of charge. Space is limited, so advance registration is recommended. Membership details, benefits and registration are available online at www.uppaa.org. A catered hot lunch buffet is included with cost of registration (free for UPPAA members).

For details or to register offline, contact membership secretary Brandy Thomas at uppaa.membership@gmail.com. Registrations online or by mail must be received no later than June 1.

The UPPAA was founded in 1998 as a non-profit corporation with the goal of educating and empowering authors of the U.P. Among its outreach programs are the U.P. Notable Books List, U.P. Book Review, the Dandelion Cottage Awards and the U.P. Reader.

For more information about this event, email UPPAA President Victor Volkman at president@uppaa.org.

“The 25th UPPAA Spring Conference offers something for every writer regardless of where they are on their journey — from first draft to post publication,” Volkman said in an email. “You can ask questions from the seasoned authors leading the breakout sessions. The conference is the single best chance this year to network with like-minded writers and authors from all ends of the U.P.”

Volkman said the event is a unique opportunity, and similarly chartered groups downstate or around the U.S. typically charge double or triple the price for a writer’s conference of this magnitude.

Volkman said anyone can join the UPPAA as a member for $40 and receive free admission to the conference, including a hot lunch, as well as the ability to participate in many outreach projects, including submitted stories to the U.P. Reader, reviewing books for the U.P. Book Review or helping to jury the Dandelion Cottage Student Writing Contest, among other benefits.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.