Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - La Cruz de Huanacaxtle song writer and performer Thomas Pulley (a.k.a. Rusty Debris "On Time and In Tune") will be adding a new ingredient to the Ninth Puerto Vallarta International Writers' Conference March 6-8th - live music.

In addition to providing a presentation on song writing, he'll be playing opening and closing songs for the Biblioteca Los Mangos event sponsored jointly by Puerto Vallarta Writers' Group and the city's public library.

"My presentation will introduce participants to the basics and techniques of writing a song," he says. "We will touch on music theory, keys, chords, what to keep in mind about the song, some dos and don'ts, guidelines on the craft, point of view, tempos, timing, rhythm structures, melody, chorus/verse issues, inspiration, themes, easy songs and 'composing in pencil.' There will be examples of songs I think are well crafted as well as songs I have written (love songs, novelty songs, work songs, anti-war songs, tear-jerkers and humorous songs, etc.)"

Pulley has been snow-birding in the Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit areas since the early 1980s and is a fixture in the writers' group and entertainment venues. He performs regularly on Wednesday nights at Ana Bananas, at Philo's Loosey Goosey Jam on Monday nights, and at private parties and benefit fund raisers.

"La Cruz, in my estimation, is Mexico's Music Mecca," he says of the stimulation he gets here and wants to share with conference participants. "I hope the participants of the song-writing session will gain an understanding of the process and an appreciation for the craft of song writing. I'm hoping to arm twist a couple of my musician friends to help with the music."

Texas writer Caleb Pirtle, author of more than 55 books, also promises to motivate as keynote speaker. Maurice Monette, author of Confessions of a Gay Married Priest, will be speaking too. Other presenters - Sarah Cortez, James Callan, Donna Dahl and Melissa Frost - will offer an inspiring mix of seminars, workshops and interaction on the theme "Leaving Our Mark ... Awakening More than Memoir." Evelyn Byrne of White Bird Publishing and literary agent Elise Capron, representing the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, will be on hand to consider manuscripts.

Registration is $125 USD. Registration forms and information are available by email at drjane121@msn.com. Payment can be made via Paypal.