Off to AWP

 

That acronym stands for "Association of Writers and Writing Programs" and its national conference is in Washington DC this year. So I am going!

 

This will only be the third time I have gone to this enormous conference; I only go if it's in driving distance. I went to New York in 2008; to DC in 2011, and this year.  Probably I will never go again, because the next few are in far distant cities, and I am getting too old as well.

 

About 12,000 writers have registered to come to the one this year!

 

Here is a photo from a recent conference.  This is the enormous Bookfair:

 

I'm going because it's an opportunity to hear some wonderful readings and panels. Even more, it's an opportunity to visit with writer friends I see rarely.   Thanks to Facebook, there are also "Facebook Friends" I have never met, but with whom I correspond, who are coming.

 

Some of them, both old friends and Facebook friends:

Diane Lockward

Emilia Phillips

Kate Daniels

Laura Shovan

Gerry Cambridge

Gerry La Femina

April Lindner

Grace Cavalieri

Robert Lee Brewer

Rosemary Winslow

Susan Elbe

Kim Becker

Luke Stromberg

Marie-Elizabeth Mali

Maryann Corbett

Jon Tribble

Jane Satterfield

Allison Joseph

Ned Balbo

Mike Maggio

Sid Gold

Sam Gwynn

Valerie Fox

Joseph Ross

Kim Bridgford

 

to name a few!