Tim Z. Hernandez, an award-winning author and Fresno native, will be the keynote speaker at the 30th annual Young Writers Conference on Wednesday, April 21, at California State University, Fresno.

The conference, which is sponsored by the university’s Department of English and the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, will begin at 9:15 a.m. at the Satellite Student Union (2485 E. San Ramon Ave. at Maple Avenue).

The Young Writers Conference provides a valuable opportunity for young writers to hear professional writerd read their work and answer questions about the creative writing process and the profession in general.

“This event encourages the appreciation and study of creative writing, especially important when public schools are cutting support of the arts, and in an area that has a rich history of producing great writers,” said Tanya Nichols, the conference coordinator.

In 2006, Hernandez’s book of poetry, “Skin Tax,” received the American Book Award and the Zora Neal Hurston Award for writers of color dedicated to their communities. His performances have been featured in venues across the country, including Los Angeles, Denver, New York and Stanford University.

Currently, Hernandez is working in tandem with UCLA’s Center for the Book and Poets and Writers Inc., teaching writing workshops on the West Coast.

About 200 San Joaquin Valley high school students are expected attend the conference to interact with their peers and get a taste of a university-level writing workshop. Students also will have a chance to receive feedback on their own writing.

Participants will have the opportunity to submit to “Spectrum,” an anthology of student work that can be used in classrooms on campuses and across the Valley.

Master’s students and faculty will take creative writing submissions from all Valley high schools prior to the conference and select winners in at least 14 separately sponsored awards.

Students who attend are encouraged to submit their own original works of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction to the Young Writers Conference Writing Competition.

For more information, contact Nichols at trnichols@csufresno.edu.