MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association will have its 26th-annual conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, May 18, at the Peter White Public Library in downtown Marquette.

The conference will be open to all writers, beginning and seasoned, Whether published or not, and anyone interested in starting to write. All genres will be discussed, including poetry, novels, non-fiction, children’s stories and more.

Open registration to attend began March 1 on the UPPAA website.

Keynote speaker will be Brian Bosley of Gladstone, the creator of the philosophy “Bamboo Progress!”, a straightforward method of success coaching based on the philosophy that excellence in this world starts with first choosing to think, feel and behave like a world-class performer.

His more than 25 years of business coaching expertise ranges from developing leadership in multi-million-dollar companies to helping individual professionals expand and grow. He is a popular speaker and trainer on the topics of leadership development, goal achievement, and change acceptance among other topics.

Breakout sessions will be done by expert members of the UPPAA community: participants can mix-and-match sessions from both tracks.

Marketing track:

— “Self Publishing 101” with Tyler Tichelaar;

— “Marketing Your Self-Published eBooks and Audiobooks” with Joshua Chadd;

— “Sell Your Books More Effectively in Person — Roundtable” with Mikel B. Classen, Deborah Frontiera, Michael Carrier.

Writing track:

— “Preparing for Traditionally Publishing Your Children’s Book in the Non-Fiction Market” with Carrie Pearson;

— “Weaving Romance Around Suspense with Intro to Plot Twisting” with Sylvia Hubbard;

— “Finding Your Writer’s Voice” with Tabatha Hines.

A first-ever workshop for young writers will be open to U.P. students in sixth through 12th grades who want to improve their writing craft and learn from established authors. It will be in rooms adjacent to the UPPAA Conference and admission will be $15 per student or free for those who have family memberships in UPPAA. Details of the workshop will be announced separately.

Also new for 2024 is a networking and social event available to all participants of the conference from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, at The Crib, a cozy and comfortable coffee house and roastery with lots of seating located just steps from the Peter White Library. A nominal fee will be charged to cover the costs of light appetizers, a cash bar will be available.

A business meeting will also take place, the highlight of which will be the presentation of the seventh-annual Dandelion Cottage Awards for its student short story contest. For more information about the annual Dandelion Cottage short story contest, go online to www.DandelionCottage.org.

In addition, the release of the eighth volume of 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 throughout the U.P., including all of this year’s Dandelion Cottage Award winners. For more information, go to www.UPReader.org.

The conference provides networking opportunities for anyone wishing to learn more about writing, publishing, and book marketing. Informal networking is programmed into the schedule around the lunch break period. An exhibition area will showcase the works of authors around the U.P. and all books displayed will be given away as door prizes at the conclusion of the conference.

The general public may attend the Spring 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 lunch is included with the cost of registration, free for UPPAA members.

For questions 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 May 4.