The Alabama Writers Symposium celebrates its 11th anniversary in Monroeville, Thursday, May 1 through Saturday, May 3. This year's symposium combines elements of a literary festival and an academic conference, bringing some of Alabama's most celebrated writers and scholars to discussion sessions, readings and workshops.

The symposium announced this week that previously scheduled opening night speaker, Anne Rivers Siddons, has canceled her appearance due to health issues. Daniel Wallace will replace Siddons as the speaker for the opening banquet Thursday, May 1. The agenda for Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 remain unchanged.

Alabama writers participating include Ace Atkins, Kate Campbell, Beth Nielsen- Chapman, Wayne Flynt, Bob Halli, Patti Callahan Henry, Rebecca Gilman, Hank Klibanoff, Michael Morris, Roger Reid, Philip Shirley, Cynthia Tucker, Sue Brannan Walker, Daniel Wallace and Elyzabeth Wilder.

Alabama scholars participating in the event include Nancy Anderson, Margaret Davis, John Hafner, Bert Hitchcock, Jennifer Horne, Jay Lamar, Derryn Moten, Don Noble and Jeanie Thompson.

The symposium opens Thursday evening with "An Evening with Daniel Wallace." Wallace's latest novel, Mr. Sebastian and The Negro Magician, has received rave reviews and is a No. 1 Independent Booksellers Pick.

Friday's events include readings by Ace Atkins, Roger Reid, Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Daniel Wallace, Michael Morris and others; a picnic on the Monroeville Courthouse lawn; a community theatre production of To Kill A Mockingbird; and an afternoon performance by popular Alabama singer/song-writer Beth Nielsen-Chapman.

The Friday luncheon features the presentation of the Harper Lee Award for Alabama's Distinguished Writer 2008 to playwright Rebecca Gilman and the Eugene Current-Garcia Award for Alabama's Distinguished Literary Scholar 2008 to Norman McMillan. The awards are made possible through a generous grant from George F. Landegger, Alabama River Pulp Company.

Saturday morning's schedule includes readings by Rebecca Gilman and author Patti Callahan Henry. The program will conclude with a brunch featuring Pulitzer-Prize winning writers Cynthia Tucker and Hank Klibanoff. All events take place in Monroeville.

In 1997, the Alabama Legislature designated Monroeville and Monroe County as the Literary Capital of Alabama in recognition of the region's remarkable literary heritage. Among the writers who at one time or another have called Monroeville and Monroe County home are Truman Capote, author of such classics as In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's; Harper Lee, author of the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel To Kill A Mockingbird; Mark Childress, author of five novels including the bestselling Crazy in Alabama; and Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial page editor Cynthia Tucker.

Admission to discussion sessions is free to all registered participants, but there will be a charge for the other events. Tickets are limited for the Thursday "Evening with Daniel Wallace," the Friday Awards luncheon, the live performance of "To Kill A Mockingbird," and the Saturday brunch, so participants are encouraged to register by April 18.

The symposium is a project of the Alabama Center for Literary Arts and is sponsored by Alabama Southern Community College. Symposium supporters include George Landegger, Alabama River Pulp Company, Inc.; Alabama Humanities Foundation; Alabama State Council on the Arts; BankTrust; Alabama Power Foundation; Vanity Fair, Inc.; United Bank; and Radley's Fountain Grille. The symposium is produced in cooperation with Alabama Writers' Forum; Association of College English Teachers of Alabama; Auburn University Center for the Arts and Humanities; Alabama Center for the Book; Monroe County Heritage Museums; and the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information or to request a registration form call Donna Reed, (251) 575-8223 or email dreed@ascc.edu.