In 2001, Jo Wilkins was looking for a writers group in the valley. When she couldn't find one, she started her own.
"The first meeting, 36 people showed up," said Wilkins, president of the Henderson Writers' Group.
Today, there are more than 88 members who attend the weekly meeting where they have mini-classes, read their work and receive feedback.
There is an annual membership fee of $36 a year, but Wilkins said anyone is welcome to come and watch. Members also have access to post and critique stories on the group's Web site, www.henderson writersgroup.com.
The group also sponsors the Secret Dragon Society, a writer's group for children ages 11 through high school graduation.
Although the group is called the Henderson Writers' Group, meetings are held around the valley to accommodate members driving from all areas.
"I come clear across town because I just love coming," said Stacee Hallquist, a North Las Vegas resident.
About 25 members show up to each meeting. They write all genres.
"Anything you can think of, we've probably got someone who's doing it," Wilkins said.
In addition to the feedback everyone receives, Wilkins said, networking with authors is invaluable.
"We help each other not get into scams. There are so many people who play on how badly we want to be published," Wilkins said.
Thursday through Saturday, the group will host the annual Las Vegas Writer's Conference at Sam's Town. Although the event is sold out, videos of all the proceedings from this year's conference will be available, and writers already can register for the 2009 conference. The public also can attend a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday where they can mingle with published authors, who will sell and sign their books.
"We've got people from California, Virginia, even Australia," Wilkins said.
The 140 writers will participate in workshops and lectures. There will be a journalism panel and a crime panel with crime scene investigation representatives, Metropolitan Police Department officers, detectives and bail bondsmen.
"It's great. You get to pick someone's brain and get all the details," said Hallquist, who also is the conference coordinator.
There will be information about fiction and nonfiction writing. Agents will be available to talk with authors, and there will be a workshop about working with an agent.
Even a few young authors will be at the conference. Winners of the Henderson Writers' Group's annual youth writing contest are given scholarships to the events. There also will be a special two-hour Student Saturday workshop.
"Our mission is education, and the best place to start is with young kids," Wilkins said.
Wilkins said the group will start collecting 2008 contest entries this summer. Students in high school and college are invited to submit 4,000 words or less in any writing genre by Nov. 15.
For more information, visit www.hendersonwritersgroup.com or www.lasvegaswriters conference.com.
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