Inside to the Big Leaguers

Get your butt down, up, and over to the Bay Area the second week of August! It is going to be a week of non-stop fun for aspiring and veteran travel writers. Meet your heroes such as Jan Morris, Tim Cahill, Simon Winchester, and Isabel Allende. Have some drinks with Larry Habegger and Don George.They'll all be there. So will travel babes Alison Wright, Amanda Jones, and Linda Watanabe McFerrin, among others. If you have to ask who these authors are, that's ok. But please stand in back of me at the bar line. Thank you. Book Passage 13th Annual Travel Writers & Photographers Conference August 12-15 2004 Book Passage 51 Tamal Vista Blvd Corte Madera, CA 94925 I talk this fun week up every year. In fact, I'm pretty bummed that Jim and Mike of WorldHum.com will not be able to make it, but fingers crossed Rolf will be there. Yes, he will, or else... If you're coming in from out of town, you're going to want to get here on Wednesday because this year the party is starting early. Travelers' Tales and Michael Shapiro are celebrating the release of their new book A Sense of Place. It is going to be so great! People are already talking about it, and I don't mean just me and the publishers. Both the book, and the party at the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco. And because of the good timing with the BP Conference, Sense of Place contributors Jan Morris, Tim Cahill, and Simon Winchester will be there. Details are on the TT website and tickets cost $30. I've already talked about it, but here's the rundown from an old post:

Michael has compiled a book of interviews with several of the greats in travel writing. But these aren't just any interviews, Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson, Tim Cahill, Redmond O'Hanlon, Simon Winchester, Isabelle Allende, Sara Wheeler, and more will be discussing where they live, why they chose their place, and how it influences their writing.

Good grief, I'd have to read a book per night if I wanted to cover all of these author's latest works before the big week. Anyway, let me know if you'll be in town, or just come up to me and say hello. And if you're really cool, you'll save me a place near the front of the book signing line!