The Clearwater branch of the National League of American Penwomen is now accepting short stories (1,000-word limit), poems (one-page each) and essays (500-word limit) from women writers for the annual Arts and Letters contest. Fee is $5 per entry (there is no limit on entries). Submissions must be typed with no byline, but include a cover page with the title, author's name, address, phone, fax and e-mail. Deadline is Feb. 20. Send entries to Penwoman contest, 1555 Eastlake Drive, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Winners will be announced March 20 at the 6 p.m. reception at Oldsmar City Hall. Call (727) 725-1015 for more information.

Writers' conference:

Places are still available for the 29th annual Florida Suncoast Writers' Conference, held on the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus, Feb. 1-3. Frank McCourt, whose memoir Angela's Ashes won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for biography, will be the keynote speaker on Feb 1. Also featured are National Book Award winner Ha Jin; Pulitzer Prize winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa; Nebula and Hugo winner Octavia Butler; and novelist Francine Prose. The conference also features 54 workshops and social events. Early registration is $150; after Thursday, the cost is $175. For information call (813) 974-2403, extension 817.

Author appearances:

Michael Sterns (Kokopelli and the Butterfly), noon today, WaldenBooks in University Square Mall, Tampa and 11 a.m. Friday, WaldenBooks in Tyrone Square, St. Petersburg.

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco (Pacheco's Art of the Cubans in Exile), 1 p.m. today, Sarasota News & Books, 1341 Main St., Sarasota and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave., Tampa.

M. Diane Vogt (Justice Denied and Silicone Solution), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Borders Books and Music, 12500 N Dale Mabry, Carrollwood and 2 p.m. Saturday, WaldenBooks in ParkSide Mall, 7200 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park.

Diane Goshgarian (The Arbitrary Sword), 2 p.m. Wednesday, Bradenton Central Public Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W, Bradenton.

Dick Schaap (Flashing Before My Eyes: Fifty Years of Headlines, Deadlines and Punchlines), 7 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, 213 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.

Tom Bunevich (Sign This: The Real Truth About Your Sports Heroes and the Sports Autograph Industry), 7 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, 11802 N Dale Mabry Highway, Carrollwood.

Ted Simendinger (Critters, Fish and Other Troublemakers), 7 p.m. Thursday1/25, Inkwood Books, Tampa.

William Froug (Zen & the Art of Screenwriting 2), 1 p.m. Saturday, Circle Books, 478 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

Ellen Williams (Godopossum: Printed Words), 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Carrollwood.

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