We’re thrilled to announce the first three faculty hirings for the 2008 Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, taking place at Fort Worden State Park July 13 to July 20: poet and novelist Chris Abani, poet and novelist Kim Addonizio; and nonfiction writer Lesley Hazelton.

The prose of Chris Abani, who was once a political prisoner in Nigeria, includes the novels The Virgin of Flames, GraceLand, and Masters of the Board, as well as the novellas Becoming Abigail and Song For Night. His poetry collections include Hands Washing Water, Dog Woman, Daphne’s Lot, and Kalakuta Republic. Abani teaches at the University of California, Riverside, and has won multiple awards for his work.

Kim Addonizio is the author of four books of poetry: The Philosopher’s Club, Jimmy & Rita, Tell Me, and What Is This Thing Called Love, which was a finalist for the 2000 National Book Award. She also has a collection of stories, In the Box Called Pleasure. Her first novel, Little Beauties, was published in 2005. Her new novel, My Dreams Out in the Street, was released in July.

A former psychologist and political journalist with deep roots in both Judaism and Catholicism, Lesley Hazelton reported from Israel for Time magazine, specializing in religious and social and cultural issues. She has since written feature articles on Middle East politics for, among others, the New York Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, The Nation, and Harper’s. Her most recent book is Jezebel: the Untold Story of the Bible’s Harlot Queen. Previous books include three volumes of Middle East reportage: Israeli Women, Where Mountains Roar, and Jerusalem, Jerusalem.

In advance of the Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, the next Writers’ events at Centrum will include the Advanced Revision Workshop with Pam Houston, November 1-4, 2007 and a weekend writers’ workshop February 21-24, 2008.