Off to the Getaway

Alright, so call me obsessed! All I can think about this week is The Word Writers Getaway which starts on Friday. I'm so excited, I've had butterflies in my tummy since Monday. There are so many reasons why I'm looking forward to this trip:

1. I get to fly. I love to travel and flying is right up there. No, seriously, I have been known to embarrass other passengers by whooping in the midst of turbulence.
2. I get to thaw out. Melbourne has been far too cold for far too long this winter just gone. (Queensland had better put on some exceptional weather for me.)
3. I get to escape wifely and motherly duties for a few days. Don't get me wrong, I love my family to bits and will miss them, but it will be nice to have a break from the domestic routine.
4. I get to learn stuff. I'm looking forward to all the different workshops - POV, story structure, marketing, book trailers, the list goes on. I know I will bring home a head full of new ideas.
5. I get to work on my manuscript. Love the editing room.
6. I get to discover new books. There will be a number of book launches, and a huge range to buy from as well.
7. Oh, and I get to launch my new novel, Black Forest Redemption, and together with Meredith Resce, Paula Vince and Rose Dee, launch The Greenfield Legacy.
8. I get to attend the CALEB Prize awards dinner. What a great night that will be!
9. Best of all, I get to hang with plenty of like-minded passionate-about-books people. I'm looking forward to late night chats, brainstorming with other writers, general fellowship. This is the stuff Anusha was talking about in her blog the other day - belonging and community. Connecting with other writers is the part I look forward to most of all.

So, for those of you who are NOT attending this year, I have just given you a bunch of reasons why you should go to the next one. And for those of you who ARE attending, I'm looking forward to meeting you.

What do you appreciate most about writers conferences and the like?

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Amanda Deed resides in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne where she fills her time with work, raising a family, church activities and writing historical romance novels. Her new novel, Black Forest Redemption, was released on the 1st of October this year. For more information, see:
http://www.amandadeed.com.au/
http://amanderings.wordpress.com/