When you've always wanted to write and you hear an author say "a page a day is a novel in a year," the writing of a book seems like a realistic goal rather than a daunting task.

The 17th annual Hawai'i Writers Conference provides the opportunity to hear from people who write for a living and get the inside track on a literary life. It's designed to appeal to those who dream of writing books and screenplays, as well as readers who respond to the wisdom of a favorite author's inner voice.

"Our event offers a unique opportunity to listen to, meet and talk story with some of the country's best-selling authors, screenwriters and publishers," said conference co-founder Shannon Tullius.

This year, that group includes more than a dozen New York Times award-winning authors, including Mitch Albom ("Tuesdays with Morrie," "Five People You Meet in Heaven"), Jacquelyn Mitchard ("Deep End of the Ocean") and William Bernhardt ("Murder One," "Nemesis," "The Final Case Of Eliot Ness").

Bernhardt called in from his home in Oklahoma to talk about the conference: "I love to teach," he said. "I speak at many conferences. It seems to me that the Hawai'i event is filled with more serious and talented writers than any other."

The last Hawai'i Writers Retreat, a five-day writing marathon that precedes the conference, was a treat for Bernhardt, he said. He has bragging rights, too: "Two of my eight students have published a novel since the retreat," he said. "That's a 25 percent success rate!"

One writer, Aprilynne Pike, had her young-adult book "Wings" published, immediately making The New York Times best-seller list, followed by the sale of the book's film rights to Disney.

OPRAH'S PICK

The first best-selling book by Jacquelyn Mitchard, keynote speaker and repeat presenter at the conference, was "Deep End of the Ocean" (Viking Penguin, 1996). It was also Oprah's first book pick, back when Oprah herself wasn't sure people would listen and read.

"That was 12 years ago," Mitchard said. "Oprah did the right thing. There were 4,000 holds on the book at the New York Public Library!"

Mitchard laughed out loud when a would-be writer bemoans a lack of time to write. "I was newly widowed with three kids, commuting, working full-time for former Department of Health and Human Services secretary Donna Shalala. I didn't have time to wash the clothes, but I couldn't stop writing," she said.

There are 1,000 excuses for failing to write, Mitchard said — and every time she hears one she answers, "All of our somedays are right now."

Since the publication of that first book, Mitchard has remarried. She now has seven children, and she continues to write a best-selling book every year.

As a special treat for the 2009 conference, Mitchard will reveal her newest Random House book, "No Time To Wave Goodbye," set for national release in mid-September.

THE WRITE STUFF

Hawai'i Writers Conference success stories run from The New York Times best-seller list to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs's Ka Wai Ola. Each year the conference's Young Writers Program sponsors students from a dozen local high schools. Selected by their teachers, the students attend, participate and learn.

T. Ilihia Gionson, an immersion school student from the Big Island, calls the conference a "confluence of forces" that changed his life.

"Being a sponge, as young people usually are, I grabbed all the knowledge I could," he said. "During the conference, I met the folks from OHA. I took what I learned and now I am the publications editor for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs."

Tullius started the Young Writers program to encourage students to dream.

"I know that kids out there struggle. They dream and wait for guidance," Tullius said. "We work to make sure they have an opportunity to succeed as writers."

A concert by Norah Jones anchors an upscale fundraiser for the Young Writers program this year. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is chairman of the event.

A cultural program called Voices of Hawaii is new this year. On the opening day of the conference, Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole will be joined by family members, opening the conference with a traditional chant. Slam poet Kealoha will be followed by slack-key guitarist Makana. On the second day, the three performers will offer workshops on their art and their relationship to Hawaiian culture.

Tullius suggested that this is the place to get inspired.

"The conference is a safe place for dreamers. The person sitting next to you is a stranger for about a minute. Just exchange a smile and find out who they are and what they love about words," she said.

She enjoys introducing Patricia Wood, who lives on her boat at Ko Olina. "She came to our conference with an idea based on family fact. The fact turned out to be her best-selling book, 'The Lottery,' now translated into 20 languages and soon to be a film."