About every year or two I attend a writer’s conference and every time I learn something new and meet great people.  While I usually stay in the Midwest (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri), this year I’m going to the Southwest (New Mexico). 

I have a new writer buddy who lives in Albuquerque and is a member of the Southwest Writers organization.  Olive writes mysteries and I know you’ll be seeing her work in print one of these days (I would say “soon”, but publishing takes a bit of time to accomplish and “soon” doesn’t quite fit).  Watch for her!

My second novel, Patchwork Family is in the tweaking phase and is almost ready for prime time.  After the shine is put on this manuscript, I’ll need to write a synopsis and a knock your socks off query.  I’m hoping to get some advice at the conference on how best to accomplish these last two things, because I get a little nervous writing them. They are too much like a book report and a cover letter for an interview. While I used to love writing book reports and drawing the illustrations for school, the whole interview process for a job still makes me a bit nervous. (Can you say sweaty palms?)

I’m pretty good at interviewing someone else for an article or about a subject I need for a book, but I’m not as comfortable talking about myself.  It’s not that I’m shy, far from it, it’s just that I have my foibles like everyone else. But I digress.

Conferences are a great place for networking with other authors, agents, editors, and publishers.  The competition is so tight these days that who you know might make the difference between a small independent publisher and film and foreign rights.  (Personally I think Feisty Family Values and Patchwork Family would make great films.) 

If you get an opportunity to attend a writer’s conference, do so. Check ShawGuides.com for one in your area, or Google writer’s conferences to find one.