Packing for a conference

I'm attending a conference for writers at the end of July. The first two days will be filled with workshops and events to help us all be better writers. The final day has a Book Signing with 250+ authors in attendance!

Whether you're heading to a conference to learn, network, or just have fun, here's a packing checklist for your trip.

What to Pack for a Writing Conference

Clothing

• Travel clothes
• Professional clothes
• Undergarments, socks, hose
• Formal attire for dressy occasions
• Lightweight sweater, jacket, or wrap
• Sleepwear
• Casual or workout clothes 

Shoes

• Comfortable, professional shoes
• Shoes for dressy occasions
• Casual shoes or flip-flops
• Athletic shoes

Accessories

• Jewelry
• Scarves or shawls
• Purse(s)
• Computer bag
• Evening bag
• Umbrella
• Professional pins or badges

Toiletries and Sundries

• Cosmetics and skin care
• Deodorant and hygiene products
• Hair care
• Dental care
• Nail care
• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Safety pins, clothes pins, and duct tape

Important Documents

• Passport or photo id
• Business cards
• Conference receipts and confirmations
• Conference app or handouts downloaded
• Tickets for travel, events, and entertainment
• Notes for pitching manuscript
• Promotional materials

Miscellaneous

• Spare pair of glasses or shades
• Cash, especially one-dollar bills/coins for tipping
• Credit and debit cards
• Laundry bag
• Electronics (headphones, computer, cell phone)
• Power cords for rechargeable electronics
• Backup battery
• Leisure time content (books, music)
• Digital copies of ID card, credit cards, etc.
• Thumb drive for saving images and documents
• Pen and notebook (if electronics fail)
• Pedometer

It's World Autism Awareness Day!

My fellow author & autism mom Sabrina Jeffries and I are talking on Facebook about how autism has touched our lives.

Read the post, watch the video, and a comment. Each comment gives you a chance at one of 3 prizes. Also, we're donating $10 for every 50 comments. Drop by and tell us "How has autism touched your life?"

April is Autism Awareness Month

April 2 (Monday) is World Autism Awareness day, and April is Autism Awareness Month.

I'm an autism mom, the mother of an amazing daughter with Aspergers. Along with Sabrina Jeffries, a fellow author and autism mom, I will be hosting a conversation about autism on my Facebook page on World Autism Day. Join us Monday! Read the post, watch the short video clip, and leave a comment about how autism has touched your life.

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I will also be participating in the spring 2018 YA Scavenger Hunt from April 3 - 8. I'm one of 20 authors on Team Purple. Check back here on April 3 for rules, exclusive bonus content from some of your favorite authors, and the chance to win books!

Writing at a weekend retreat

I will soon be heading off for a weekend away with four writer-friends.  Once there, we will spend all of our waking hours writing or revising our works-in-progress. At least, that's the plan.

Mountain retreat, 2014

We've been doing this for nearly a decade. Twice each year, we rent lodging an hour or more away from Raleigh. We arrive, claim a bedroom, stock the refrigerator with food (not the healthy kind!), and park our butts in the living room to write, write, write.

Normally, we head for the beach or the mountains. This year, it will be Pinehurst, which is a good thing. None of us golf; ergo, no distractions.

I have two goals: (1) make progress on edits of Wish You Were Here (I Wish #3) and (2) begin drafting a new book (as yet untitled.)

Perhaps this sounds like a working weekend. But really, it's not. I love to write. I love hanging out with my "retreat buddies". And I love indulging in a sleep/eat/read schedule with no one to judge!