Writers’ Conferences are a great way to meet others in the industry, talk books, discuss craft, participate in workshops, buy books, sell books and have a good time.

A few weekends ago, I went to the Lakefly Writers Conference in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is a well-organized, inexpensive and fun conference. I was able to pitch to two editors, learn about a “Books & Beer” book club, get details on creating a “30-Day Promotional Plan” and meet and re-meet some wonderful authors.

Of course, I can’t go to a writers’ conference and not buy books! Here are the books that came home with me: K.W. Penndorf’s Freya and the Dragon Egg (middle grade time-slip fantasy!), REUTS press novels: Melinda Michaels’s Golden (a loose re-telling of Sleeping Beauty) and Valentina Cano’s The Rose Master (a re-working of Beauty and the Beast and Jane Eyre!) I’m so excited to read these books!

The three other books in the picture came to me via a door prize gift basket that included a bottle of wine, chocolate pretzels, and a deck of cards. Lucky me!

My next conference will be the SCBWI-Wisconsin fall conference in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Next summer, I hope to attend the Historical Novels Society Conference in Portland, Oregon.

Fun times to come!