A faculty of outstanding speakers and workshop leaders has been assembled for the workshop. They include experienced, successful authors, columnists, editors, teachers and writers of many types who are well qualified to help you learn more ways to improve and market your work.

These capsule biographies illustrate the high quality of training that will be offered at the Will Rogers Writers' Workshop:

Sally Allen is an editor and humor columnist for NewsOK.com. She isn't blonde. She can't sing. And, she has never owned a Chihuahua. Often idle, she has yet to be idolized, though some have speculated she could be the real reason God made Oklahoma. In her spare time, she is raising three boys. They pay no attention to her, or her column, "Outside the Box." The judges of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists column-writing contest did, however. They gave her an award in 2005 and 2006.

Smiley Anders is described by his wife Katherine as "a joyful little cherub of a man" whose work exudes wit and character. For more than 25 years Anders has been writing his six-days-a-week column for The Advocate in Baton Rouge. He started the column after a 13-year career in business journalism. Anders has won five first place awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in the notes/items category. That award is named for Herb Caen, the San Francisco Chronicle's long-time columnist. His book, "Best of Smiley", is an enjoyable sampling of his work.

Tim Bete, director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, is a self-syndicated humor writer and author of In the Beginning…There Were No Diapers. His column, "Where I Live," also has been featured in the Christian Science Monitor and more than a dozen parenting magazines. Formerly the editor of Early Childhood News magazine, Bete has written advertising copy for General Mills, IBM, Rayovac and Worldbook. He has won 18 national awards for communications excellence. Bete is national marketing manager for the University of Dayton at Dayton, Ohio and editor of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop newsletter.

Dr. James H. Boren, author of six books and many magazine and newspaper articles, has traveled throughout the world spreading his tongue-in-cheek message about the idiotoxicities of bureaucracies. He has gained insight from long and extensive careers in politics, government, education and business. Boren is president of the International Association of Professional Bureaucrats (INATAPROBU), which he founded before leaving government service in 1970. As a consultant and professional speaker, he has traveled the globe, visiting 58 countries. In 1985 he organized the first-ever exchange of American and Soviet humorists. He holds six academic degrees, including a PhD from the University of Texas, and has served on two college faculties. Some of his best-known books are "When in Doubt, Mumble", "The Bureaucratic Zoo", "Fuzzify", and "How To Be a Sincere Phony."

Terry Burns calls his work "inspirational fiction with a western flair" and he has tapped a rich vein with books that give readers a good yarn and a hopeful feeling in today’s troubled world. Even when he writes on serious themes, his West Texas humor shows through. The Amarillo writer likes to say he’s a fifth generation Irish storyteller and a fourth generation Texas tale-spinner. Burns www.terryburns.net has enjoyed writing all his life but on the way to becoming a successful author he spent 25 years as a chamber of commerce manager, was manager of the "World’s Oldest Rodeo" and wrote weekly columns for four newspapers for 17 years. With the publication of "Shepherd’s Son" in September 2006, Burns has 22 books in print, including four non-fiction books and a small volume of cowboy poetry. He has published more than 200 articles and short stories and his work is included in numerous anthologies. Burns, a Western Writers of America inductee, speaks frequently to writers’ groups.

W. Bruce Cameron wrote eight unpublished novels, and to his credit he didn't give up. In 1995 he started an online column that began with six subscribers. At its peak his electronic newsletter had 40,000 subscribers in 52 countries. In 1998 the Rocky Mountain News placed his column in its Home section. One of his columns, called "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," was expanded and published as a book, hitting the New York Times best-seller list in a month's time. The book was adapted for a hit ABC-TV series, "8 Simple Rules," in 2002. Cameron's column is distributed by Creators Syndicate. His latest book is "How to Remodel a Man." He is a faculty member for the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and has spoken at several meetings of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Cameron won the 2006 Robert Benchley Award and was named by NSNC as best humor columnist in large newspapers in 2006.

Ray Chavez is Director of the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism at the University of Oklahoma, which conducts training for minority high school students interested in media careers. Chavez, a professor at OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, was city editor of the El Paso Herald-Post before entering academia. His journalism experience spans more than 20 years. Chavez, who incorporated his dual heritages -- Apache and Chicano -- into his reporting, is a founder of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and is co-adviser to the OU student chapter of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA).

Jay Cronley's unique blend of humorous commentary in the Tulsa World has entertained readers for years. He has made a name for himself nationally with his novels, some of which have been made into major motion pictures: "Funny Farm", starring Chevy Chase; "Quick Change," featuring Bill Murray and Geena Davis; and "Good Vibes" (under the title "Let It Ride"), with Richard Dreyfuss. In 2002 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Cronley is an avid sports fan and appears regularly on a local sports-talk radio station, AM 1430 "The Buzz." He is particularly an aficionado of horse racing and contributes articles to ESPN.com on the subject.

Susan Driscoll, President and CEO of iUniverse, heads one of the largest book publishing companies in the United States. She has an in-depth understanding of the business from 20 years of traditional publishing experience and leadership in supported self-publishing. Since joining iUniverse in 2003, she has led the company to high levels of growth and stability while expanding its editorial and marketing services. She has been instrumental in developing key partnerships with industry associations, writers' groups and publishing and book industry executives, and is passionately committed to providing high-quality services at a reasonable cost to help authors get published quickly and affordably.

Ray Hanania writes an award-winning syndicated column analyzing Middle East events, is an author of several books, and is a humorist, satirist and professional standup comedian. He launched his comedy performances after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to help break through the growing hatred and animosity. Hanania cut his teeth covering Chicago's tumultuous City Hall politics from 1976 to 1991. He is a two-time winner of the Society of Professional Journalists Lisagor Award for column writing and holds many other awards. He is the founder of the National Arab American Journalists Association and is widely recognized as a reasoned voice on Middle East issues.

Robert L. Haught has had a long and varied career in journalism, government and politics. He has been a UPI correspondent, top aide to two governors and two U.S. senators, state agency head, newsletter publisher, editorial services business owner, event organizer, editorialist and columnist. In 1987 he became the first Washington-based editorial writer for The Oklahoman and since 1989 has written "Potomac Junction," a commentary on the wackiness of Washington, for the newspaper's op-ed page. He also originated "Now, I'm No Expert," a self-syndicated column. Haught, a University of Oklahoma journalism graduate, is secretary of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He is a dedicated fan of Will Rogers. See his blog Will Rogers, Writer.

Joe Hight has been managing editor of The Oklahoman since June 1999. Following the April 19, 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, he was victims' team leader of the newspaper's coverage that won the Dart Award, two national Society of Professional Journalists awards, and other prestigious honors. Hight was director for the first Southwest site of the National Writers' Workshop in 1999 and he has coordinated many other workshops. He serves as president of the executive committee of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, based at the University of Washington. He is co-author of "Tragedies & Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage." Hight also is vice chairman of the Mid-America Press Institute and is on the Newscoach committee for the Poynter Institute's training web site. He has spoken and taught at several national conferences and universities.

Kelly James-Enger, Contributing Editor at The Writer magazine, is the author of "Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money." Her monthly column, "Freelance Success", is a widely read feature of The Writer. In her column, she gives advice on such topics as writing a compelling query letter and earning money from reprint sales. Her first book, "Ready, Aim, Specialize! How to Create Your Writing Specialty and Make More Money", includes advice from 56 successful freelancers as well as hundreds of helpful resources for writers. Ten years after starting her business as a writer, Kelly James-Enger has authored six books, written for more than 50 national magazines and launched a successful speaking career. She has been a featured speaker at the annual conference of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the nation's leading organization of independent nonfiction writers.

Paula LaRocque, a former assistant managing editor and writing coach for the Dallas Morning News, has led writing and communications seminars for hundreds of corporations, institutes and other groups. She has taught writing at universities in Michigan and Texas. She was elected to the Associated Press Managing Editors executive board in 1998, and the APME honored her in 2001 with its Meritorious Service Award for exemplary contributions to journalism. LaRocque has worked as a consultant for the Associated Press and the European Stars & Stripes in Germany. She is a columnist for Quill magazine, published by the Society of Professional Journalists. She also writes a column on communications in the Dallas Morning News. Her most recent books are "The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well", and "Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing."

Dave Lieber has been writing columns for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram since 1993. Previously, he worked 10 years as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He won the 2003 Katie Award from the Press Club of Dallas as the Best Columnist in the American Southwest. He was the winner of NSNC's 2002 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award for positive contributions to the community. Lieber also is a past winner of NSNC's general interest column-writing contest. In 2004 his company, Yankee Cowboy Publishing, published an anthology of his work called "The Dog of My Nightmares: Stories by Texas Columnist Dave Lieber." He is a member of the National Speakers Association and has appeared before many regional and national groups.

Louisa McCune-Elmore is editor in chief of Oklahoma Today, one of the country's top regional magazines. Before joining the staff in 1997, she was a contributing editor for The American Benefactor. She also has worked at Worth, George, Harper's, Mirabella, and New York magazines. Under her guidance, Oklahoma Today has won wide recognition, including the Wilbur Award, three Press Club of Dallas Katie awards and dozens of International Regional Magazine Association awards. In September 1999, McCune-Elmore was named one of "Thirty Under 30" leading the publishing world by the Magazine Publishers of America and Folio. She is a former television talk show creator and documentary producer.

Jim Miller is the creator of "Savvy Senior," a weekly information feature which has enjoyed remarkable success in self-syndication. The 600-word column runs in more than 400 newspapers. Only about 10 columnists with major syndicates reach more papers. Miller credits his success to low prices and hard work. He began by mailing information packets about his column to 6,500 potential buyers, then followed up with thousands of phone calls. Miller became nationally known and began making regular appearances on the Today show, demonstrating "senior gadgets" such as a talking pillbox. Miller answers one question in each column, on topics ranging from grandparenting, volunteerism and travel to taxes, health, Medicare and Social Security. The Kansas native also works as the stadium announcer for University of Oklahoma football games.

Kem Rogers has been a member of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission of Oklahoma since 2000, when he replaced his father, the late Jim Rogers. He is one of three surviving grandchildren of Will Rogers. For 35 years he was a cattle feeder, owning or managing various feedlot operations in California, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Nebraska. Now semi-retired, he still feeds cattle and is a hobbyist polo player in the Nashville area where he resides.

Matt Schneider began his career as a freelance humor writer. In 1987, he accepted a staff position as a writer/illustrator with American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio. Presently, he holds the position of Humor Writing Director where he manages the editorial content of both the in-house staff and freelance contributors. In 2006, Matt conducted sessions at UCLA, Second City in Chicago, and the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, in Dayton, Ohio.

Suzette Martinez Standring is a Boston-area freelance writer and columnist. She served as president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists from June 2004 to July 2006 and is a member of the NSNC Board of Directors. Standring received national attention for an interview with syndicated columnist Art Buchwald while he was under hospice care in Washington, D.C. She is under contract with Marion Street Press for a book on column writing based on expert advice from the best in the industry.

Bryan B. Sterling is a noted authority on the writings of Will Rogers. Born in Vienna and educated in England, Sterling has engaged in acting, writing and directing for radio and the stage in Canada and the United States. He was associate producer of the acclaimed stage play, "Will Rogers' U.S.A." starring James Whitmore, for which he selected and edited the beloved humorist's material. He also edited a syndicated column, "Will Rogers Says." Sterling is the author of "The Will Rogers Scrapbook" and "The Best of Will Rogers." With his wife, Frances, he produced "A Will Rogers Treasury," "Will Rogers in Hollywood", "Will Rogers' World", "Will Rogers & Wiley Post: Death at Barrow," "Will Rogers Speaks" and "Will Rogers: A Photo-Biography." He lives in New York City.

Bill Tammeus spent nearly 27 years on the Kansas City Star editorial page before moving his column in 2004 to the weekly Faith section. His "Starbeams" column was syndicated by the New York Times News Service and by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services. A graduate of the University of Missouri journalism school, Tammeus was on the Star staff that won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. His many other honors include several awards from the NSNC and the American Academy of Religion. He received the David Steele Distinguished Writer Award from the Presbyterian Writers Guild in 2003. Tammeus is the author of "A Gift of Meaning", published by the University of Missouri Press in 2001. She his "Faith Matters" blog.

Yvette Walker, Deputy Managing Editor of Multimedia at The Oklahoman, supervises online content from the newsroom and coordinates special editorial sections. Walker came to the newspaper in 2006 from The Kansas City Star, where she was News Editor. Walker also had newspaper experience at Gary, Ind., Detroit, Dallas and Austin. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, she is a past editor of the NABJ Journal and was involved in the UNITY-Journalists of Color mentor program. She serves as an editor/coach each summer during the AHANA Student Journalism program at the University of Missouri-Columbia..

Doug Watson began his portrayal of Will Rogers in 1998 and since that time he has presented his program more than 200 times for organizations across the country. Watson, who holds a PhD from Texas Tech University, is a professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee. Dr. Watson has been active in the Great Plains Chautauqua Society since 1991 and his historical characterizations also include authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Stephen Crane. He has served as a Fulbright lecturer in Nigeria and is on the board of the World Neighbors organization.

Craig Wilson has amused and inspired writers from all over the United States and several foreign countries. As a featured columnist for USA Today he brings the perspective of a widely-read national humor writer. Wilson is the author of "It's the Little Things: An Appreciation of Life's Simple Pleasures" (Random House). He lectures on writing across the country and has made three consecutive appearances at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.

Jeffrey Zaslow is a senior writer and columnist for The Wall Street Journal. His column, "Moving On", appears in the Personal Journal section and focuses on life transitions. From 1983 to 1987, Zaslow was one of the Journal’s livelier feature writers. To get an angle for a front-page feature about a competition to replace Ann Landers at the Chicago Sun-Times, he applied for the job and won it over 12,000 other applicants. "All That Zazz" became a fresh departure from traditional advice columns. He worked as a columnist at the Sun-Times from 1987 to 2001. From 1994 to 2002, Zaslow also was a columnist for the USA Weekend magazine and his celebrity profiles appeared in 550 newspapers with a readership of 42 million. Zaslow has won many journalism awards, including the 2000 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award, given to a newspaper columnist who exemplifies the ideals and public service work of the fabled figure. He chairs the NSNC column-writing contest.