Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop 2018

I have wanted to participate in the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop in nearby Dayton, Ohio, ever since I first lined of the conference. This year I did.

It happens on the River Campus of the University of Dayton, in the beautiful alumni center off Patterson Blvd. (Did you know that Erma was from Dayton? And that both she and her husband were alumni of UD? Well, now you do). About 350 writers attend, and the faculty is top notch.

The Powers That Be invited me to participate in the three "speed dating" sessions, in which writers can by advance registration sit down for rapid-fire five-minute appointments with editors, agents, and authors. Sure, I had to awaken and get dressed in the actual A.M. for two of the sessions, which began at 7:45 a.m., but I survived. As did most of the people with whom I met.

Some of the workshop sessions included actual writing (unlike many writers' conferences, which boggles the mind, right?) and covered such topics as "How to use  humor in the dark places," "Developing the writer's eye," using social media effectively, branding yourself as an author, and even stand-up comedy training.

The meals and keynotes were outstanding, and the conference was run efficiently and effectively. I think every part of the conference I attended started and stopped on time. And only a few of us spilled things on ourselves. I was thrilled to meet a few already-friends (I would call them "old friends," but they're all women, and you know how sensitive those people can be), meet many new ones, and make some energizing connections with industry professionals.

The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop takes place every other year, and sells out every time. I hope to return in 2020, if my dementia hasn't advanced too much by then. I hope to return in 2020, if my dementia hasn't advanced too much by then.

Bob's Furniture

Seen on I-80 westbound south of Chicago. Poor likeness. Looks nothing like me. 

A Shakespeare Experience in California

I posted on The Bard and the Bible Blog about a recent visit to a unique spot filled with Shakespeareana in California. Check it out (here).

Shanahan Cabin at The Cove, Asheville NC

Speaking at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove is always a delightful experience, but it was made more so last week at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference by the accommodations I enjoyed in the Shanahan Cabin (if I remember correctly), which sits in the woods up a long and winding gravel drive from the main driveway through the grounds.

Wow. When I texted my family the photos, my daughter supposed I had found my dream house so I'd never be coming home. If I had had the lovely Robin with me, that would have been very tempting.

There was another (larger) bedroom and a second private bathroom, but I let my roommate have those. That's just the kind of guy I am. 

I could have stayed much longer, but of course missed my wife and family, so I left when I was supposed to. But it wasn't easy. 

Eureka Restaurant, Cupertino CA

Apple Park, Cupertino CA

Last week the lovely Robin and I visited (with our son and his family) Apple Park, the new "mother ship" of the Apple universe in Cupertino, California. We didn't get to go into the actual spaceship-like headquarters but visited the visitors' center, as visiting visitors are apt to do.

We were each issued an iPad that "animated" the model so that a full rendering could be viewed and adjusted, lifting off roofs and pointing inside buildings and rooms, etc. Amazing. 

I was a little disappointed that we couldn't simply beam up to a different location but they probably save that for special visitors. Who are visiting. In the Visitors Center. 

Betto's Bistro, Morgan Hill CA

 Betto's Bistro is located in Morgan Hill, California. I got to visit with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids Miles and Mia, which made the experience pretty perfect, if not necessarily economical.