​If you need that extra push to finish your book, or you need some extra motivation to develop your writing skills, you will want to attend Tornado Alley’s 2026 Writers Conference on March 21, 2026.
 

What: One-Day Writers Conference
Breakfast, lunch, and happy hour are included

When: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9am to 4pm CST (check-in begins 8:00 - 8:30 am)
Where: St. Thomas More University Parish, 100 Stinson, Norman OK 73072
Cost: Members $40.00 Non-members $50.00 Zoom attendees $40.00
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Featured Speaker:  Vanessa Lillie - who grew up in Oklahoma, is an enrolled member of the Cherokee tribe and a member of Sisters in Crime. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Blood Sisters, the first in a new series centered on the stories of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. It was awarded best mystery of the year from The Washington Post, Amazon editors, and Reader’s Digest. The sequel, The Bone Thief, was recently released.

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Special Guest Speaker: Constance Squires - her latest novel, Low April Sun, based on the Oklahoma City bombing, was  nominated for the National Book Award (2025). A winner of the Oklahoma Book award in 2012, Constance teaches a variety of courses in creative writing, with special emphasis on novel and short story at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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Tornado Alley Member Speaker: Author And Criminologist Merle Davenport - he is president of the Tulsa NightWriters, where writers help writers. He writes in a variety of genres. He and his wife collaborate on historical romance novels, turning their love story into stories for others. His new book, based on 25 years of experience teaching inside prisons as well as extensive research, is titled Echoes of the Criminal Mind.  It is written for authors to give them a better idea how to create authentic, three-dimensional villains.

 Writers Panel and Discussion: TBA 
Guest Moderator: Dianne McCartney

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We are in the process of finalizing the discussion topics, and the writers panel. Continue to check back for more details. Visit our Facebook page for extra information.