Call for Papers

The Southwestern Writers Collection and the Center for the Study of the Southwest at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos invite you to submit a 200-word abstract for a special symposium on John Graves. The symposium, originally set for April, has been rescheduled for September 6-7. 2002.

Graves, best known for his 1960 book _Goodbye to a River_, is one of Texas' most revered writers and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Book Festival in 2000. Graves' writing over the years is testimony to his native Texas: the "woods, hills, mountains, prairies, deserts, and the bays and islands along the Gulf Coast...vegetation, geological phenomenon, and beasts and birds...battles, Indian tribes, and other historic matters...towns, accents, dialects, myths, livelihoods, skills, attitudes, and local ways."

The symposium on John Graves will be held at SWT's Southwestern Writers Collection in conjunction with its current exhibit, The Writer John Graves. The Southwestern Writers Collection holds the bulk of Graves' literary papers and personal memorabilia.

Papers may address any range of topics relating to John Graves and his writing, and should be written for oral presentations of 15-25 minutes. Selected papers from the conference will be published in an upcoming special issue of the journal _Southwestern American Literature_, published by Dr. Mark Busby, Director of the Center for the Study of the Southwest.

Abstracts must be received by August 1, 2002 to be considered. Authors will be notified of selection by August 15. Please send abstracts, paper titles, and contact information to: Connie Todd Curator, Southwestern Writers Collection Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, Texas 78666 Or e-mail ct03@swt.edu