Dawn Zera will tackle a subject everyone is talking about these days: the truth. In Just the Facts, Ma’am: Research in the Era of Catfish, Russians and Fake News she’ll talk all about why facts matter in creative nonfiction. We asked Dawn a few questions about her participation in this year’s HippoCamp.
HM: Tell us a little about your involvement at this year’s event. What are you most excited to share during your breakout session?
DZ: In this session, attendees will test their own ability to sift fact from fiction and evaluate the difference between alternative facts and incontrovertible facts. We’ll also discuss best practices for interview preparation.
Why do you love true stories?
True stories often garner greater empathy from readers. There’s an intimate connection established right away in knowing we are peeking into another human’s raw truth, if only for a short time.
What made you decided to participate in HippoCamp this year as a speaker?
I have heard great things about HippoCamp from friends who have attended and presented the past couple of years.
Share a fun fact with us—something attendees may be surprised to know:
In 2016, my fiction manuscript — about a town recovering from the boom and bust of fracking — was named a top ten finalist for the PEN/Bellwether Award for Socially Engaged Fiction.
Since you’ll also be attending the conference, what are you most looking forward to learning or doing when you’re not wearing your “speaker hat?”
Attending other sessions and, overall, listening to others’ wisdom and learning from them.
We love introducing Lancaster to attendees. If you live here or have been here before, what would you recommend to other attendees?
My parents were crazy for Lancaster and drove there frequently on weekends from our home, which was closer to Philadelphia. “We’re headed to the Dutch Country,” they said, leaving early in the morning for a leisurely drive and returning by dinner time with a variety of jams and other goodies. Their favorite spot was Kitchen Kettle Village, a shopping destination. In addition to foodstuffs, Kitchen Kettle Village has local artisan merchants. Be sure to check out the quilts, which are linked to Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.
Thanks, Dawn, for sharing all this info! We look forward to learning from you in August.
Register to reserve your place today.
There are 0 comments