Just when I thought I had charted the complete fall literary schedule, three more conferences came along to be added to the calendar.

A clutch of groups working on children's literature presents a program of authors and illustrators Saturday at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It's free.

More than 20 writers and artists from the region will be presenting their books. The conference also plans a slate of activities for kids from drawing to storytelling.

The event will also showcase the new Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media on the campus.

The college and the Western Pennsylvania Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators join the Rogers Center in sponsoring the program. Call 724-805-2950.

The work of Edward K. Muller, a University of Pittsburgh professor who has focused on the history of Pittsburgh and environs, takes center stage at Pitt's history department's first book symposium Sept. 26.

To be held at the Pitt Student Union, Oakland, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., the program will focus on the book "Before Renaissance: Planning in Pittsburgh, 1889-1943," co-written by Muller and John F. Bauman (University of Pittsburgh Press, $60).

The book follows the various renewal and reform efforts in the city before World War II.

Muller also has served on the boards of directors of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area and the Sen. John Heinz History Center.

The program is free and open to the community.

Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary is the theme fueling Creative Nonfiction Foundation's conference on writing Oct. 2-4.

The city's long history of industrial development inspired the program's focus, the organization said.

Creative Nonfiction also is involved in the anniversary observance with its "Pittsburgh in Words" essay project, which collected writings old and new about the city to post on its Web site, www.pittsburghinwords.org.

Collaborating with the American Shorts Reading Series, the foundation kicks off the conference Oct. 2 with readings from seven contributors to the project.

That program will be at 7:30 p.m. in the WYEP-FM studios, 67 Bedford Square, South Side. The evening includes a film on the city's neighborhoods. Rick Sebak, local TV producer, is the host. For tickets, call Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, 412-622-8866.

The conference theme is echoed Oct. 3 when Lawrence Krauss, Foundation Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Physics Department and Beyond Center Arizona State University, discusses "Selling Science to Unwilling Buyers."

He also has written "The Physics of Star Trek," a serio-comic discourse on the popular TV and film series.

The talk is at 7 p.m. at the Carnegie Science Center.

The conference includes a series of daylong workshops and panel discussions held at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland, during its three-day run.

A variety of ticket options ranging from $60 to $475 as well as a schedule are available at www.creativenonfiction.org or 412-688-0304.

• Ann Fessler, author of "The Girls Who Went Away," her study of women who turned over their babies for adoption in the years before Roe v. Wade, speaks at 8 p.m. Sept. 22 at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Oakland. She also will be showing a film in progress based on her book. The Pittsburgh Consortium for Adoption Studies and the University of Pittsburgh sponsor the free program.

• Post-Gazette sports columnist Gene Collier and co-author Ron Zellers will promote and sign copies of their popular play, "The Chief," at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2705 E. Carson St., South Side. The published script is from the University of Pittsburgh Press ($17.95).

• Jennifer Baumgardner, author of "Abortion and Life," has canceled her Sept. 24 appearance at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.