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To some people, women's journey throughout history has been a significant, tough ordeal, and the Women's Studies Advisory Council has worked to break down the roadblocks on this path.

Last night, WOSAC hosted the sixth annual fundraiser for the University of Arizona Women's Studies Department, entitled Writer's Journeys: Real an Imagined, An Evening with Writer's of the Southwest.

"WOSAC is a community support group for the women's studies department at the UA," WOSAC president Betty Eppler said. "Funds that we raise at this event and other events that we have throughout the year are solely to provide scholarships for students, travel stipends and research stipends for graduate students and faculty members."

This year's theme, "Tucson in Literature," highlights three distinguished authors whose writings have been set in the desert Southwest.

Now entering its 15th year, WOSAC invited Kathleen AlcalĘ, Nancy Turner and Ofelia Zepeda to speak about their current publications. The authors addressed an audience of nearly 150 people, most of whom are already WOSAC members.

Whether in the form of prose or poetry, all three authors focused on some aspect of a woman's life. AcalĘ's latest award-winning book, "The Flower in the Skull," is set in historic Tucson and rich in Hispanic culture.

Turner, author of "These is My Words" (sic) depicts a woman's struggle to survive on the Arizona frontier at the end of the 19th century.

Finally, Zepeda's books of poetry, "Ocean Power: Poems from the Desert" and "Jewed 'I-Hoi/Earth Movements" recount scenes of her life growing up as a member of the Tohono O'odham tribe.

Along with giving brief accounts of their lives, the authors each read excerpts from their recent publications and gave some insight to students as to the trials and tribulations of becoming a writer.

"Read the best literature you can," AcalĘ said. "Those people will shape the way that you write."

Turner and Zepeda agreed with AcalĘ, yet Turner's message was overwhelmingly clear.

"My advice would be never quit and never believe people who say you can't do it," she said. "Everybody told me 'it can't happen this way' - and it can."

Kari McBride, a UA women's studies professor, acted as a moderator between each author.

"The work of the three writers who have joined us here tonight explores themes of place and displacement and the continuity and disruption of culture and family in both space and time," she said. "The people who inhabit their works carry in them a wide range and often complex history of culture, oppression, migration and ethnicity."

Liz Kennedy, head of the UA women's studies program, spoke to clear up any misconceptions the public may have about women's studies.

"This is a contradictory time to live in. We're gonna get through this period by having more and more feminist scholars," Kennedy said. "That's what women's studies is trying to do on the campus - to make sure this research and teaching goes on in all areas of our life so we can really think towards the future."

She also added, "Women's studies will be helpful for helping us figure out the world we want to live in where men and women have equal places."

Maggie Burnett can be reached at catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu