Allan Gurganus is the author of the novel, Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (Sue Kaufman Prize for the American Academy of Arts and Letters), the collection of stories and novellas, White People (Los Angeles Times Book Prize and Pen Faulkner Finalist), and the novel, Plays Well with Others (Lambda Literary Award Finalist). His latest book, The Practical Heart: Four Novellas won The National Magazine Prize in 2003.

Mr. Gurganus was reared in eastern North Carolina and has taught at Stanford, Duke, The Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and Sarah Lawrence. His short fiction appears in the current O’Henry Prize Collection and in Best American Stories. His political editorials often appear in The New York Times. The CBS production of Oldest Living Confederate Widow won 4 Emmies, including Best Supporting Actress for Cecily Tyson. He was recently

inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Fellowship of Southern Writers. His next novel will be The Erotic History of a Southern Baptist Church.

Join Allan Gurganus as he sets the pace for our conference in opening the first General Session for attendees.