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July 7, 2007
9:30 am	to	10:00 am

I have scheduled an interview Roz Savage, who has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and is leaving San Francisco in July to row—solo—across the Pacific, in a bid to be the first woman to do so. How does Roz do it? And why? How big is her “rowboat”? What does she take along to eat and drink? Why doesn’t Roz use a chase boat? And how in the world does she keep from going mad with boredom? Here’s a 15-minute interview.

The upcoming half-hour interview will be broadcast live on BlogTalkRadio on Saturday, July 7, at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time.

Thanks to Kathy Barlow with Travel Insurance Services for sending information about her friend Jason Lewis’ Expedition 360, “an attempt at one of the last great firsts for true circumnavigation: reaching antipodal points on the surface of the globe using only human power (no motors or sails). Bicycles, in-line skates, kayaks, swimming, walking and a unique pedal powered boat are being used by Englishman Jason Lewis and an international team to travel over 40,000 miles across five continents, two oceans and one sea (1994 - 2007).”

It took me a few minutes to find them online, so I thought I’d post the link for AARP’s writers’ guidelines.

At a recent Bay Area Travel Writers meeting, someone mentioned that the best software they’ve come across for slideshows is FotoMagico by Boinx. I’m no software reviewer, but this looks pretty darned good, and is priced from $49. Check out the website for more info and some impressive reviews.

Here’s Mark Morford’s take (he always has an interesting POV, although it’s best in small doses), on Google Street View, which will eventually take you pretty much anywhere in the world from the comfort (and privacy?) of your own room. (June 6, 2007)

Did you recognize “Gail (30 something, straight, single, Gidget with Attitude),” a local travel writer, in Rebecca Chekouras’s My Word essay in the February 25 San Francisco Chronicle Magazine? “The stories she sent back were each a Faberge egg using an economy of words to open a wealth of images. I loved them.”

I have to link to the article, both because “Gail” is a friend of mine (yes, she’s a wonderful travel writer, and yes, she’s Gidget with Attitude), and because I really enjoyed Rebecca’s writing, and will be watching for her forthcoming book, Through the Turquoise Gate.

Laralynn Weiss Rapoza is a writer, blogger, photographer, and now, a mom.

June 2, 2007
10:00 am	to	4:00 pm

Larry Habegger
Crafting the Personal Travel Story
Saturday, June 2, 2007 (10:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Book Passage, Corte Madera
$95 Sign Up

“The best travel stories are really stories about life, with lessons for both writer and reader. Travelers’ Tales Executive Editor Larry Habegger shows how to unearth kernels of inspiration, find the right lead, and create a structure that gives a story substance. The class involves writing exercises and discussion. Habegger covers both short essays and longer narratives, offering ideas on where and how to get published. He has been on the faculty of the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference since 1994.”

From Janet Reil’s website I found Writers in the Sky, “a blog, newsletter and podcast for the craft and business of writing, publishing and book marketing. Tons of tips for freelance writers.” I particularly appreciated the articles Striking Keyword Gold, about how to figure out which keywords will be most useful and knowing how best to use them, and Purple Snowflake Marketing, about making your book stand out from the rest.

Thanks to Eva Schlesinger for this link to About.com’s website for freelance writers.

June 6, 2007
5:00 pm	to	7:00 pm

Wild Writing Women Literary Salon
Wednesday, June 6
Host: Lisa Alpine
Monticello Inn in downtown San Francisco
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. FREE

Guest: Margaret Dumas
Topic: What the fiction writer can do to make the most of her marketing and PR.

“The writer’s work doesn’t end with getting published. After that comes what some consider the hardest part—making sure the book sells. Margaret Dumas, author of The Balance Thing and the popular San Francisco-based mystery series featuring Jack and Charlie Fairfax, will be speaking about what the fiction writer can do to make the most of her marketing and PR.

June 28, 2007

to

July 1, 2007

Thanks to Renee Owen for sending this information about the upcoming Wellspring Retreat for Writers (June 28 to July 1, 2007). “A time to write, listen, share the creative process and gain inspiration amidst nature’s beauty at Wellspring, a retreat center along the Navarro River in Mendocino County. The program will include: fiction, non-fiction and poetry critique group, workshops, a panel discussion and readings by leaders and participants. Ample time will be available to write, swim, hike the redwoods and lend a hand in the garden. Participants are encouraged to submit in advance (by June 10) a work in progress for supportive feedback from a featured writer and a small group of colleagues.”

Interested in traveling to Africa? Then don’t miss The Cultural Explorer, which specializes in off-the-beaten-path itineraries. In 2007, there are two Make-a-Difference tours (one departing in September and one in October) on which you meet with “entrepreneurs, interact with the local children, visit schools, teach in a orphanage, assist health care workers, observe animal rescue, and experience life in the townships.” For 2008, there’s a tour that combines animals and art, and sounds absolutely wonderful.

I found this link to One Bag in The Cultural Explorer newsletter. The One Bag site includes tips and products to lighten your packing load, and has won several awards. I like the section on “bundle wrapping,” the description of how to use squat toilets, and the author’s recommendation about characteristics of the best travel bags.

I found this link to Travel Products.com “Products for Better Travel” in The Cultural Explorer newsletter.

Thanks to Cheryl McLaughlin for sending links to these two articles about podcasting, Promoting Your Book with a Podcast, from Patrice-Anne Rudledge’s The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a Tech Twist, and Powerful Podcasting from The Book Marketing Expert newsletter, “a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques.”

“Contributors to The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2007 will read from the book at several Northern California venues in the coming weeks. Diana Cohen, Francesca De Stefano, and Thelma Stiles will read selections from their stories at Books Inc., 3515 California Street, San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m.

“The same three will be joined by Nicole Clausing for a reading at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera, CA on Sunday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. as a prelude to the annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference. Come to one or more of these events for what promise to be engaging evenings of women’s travel stories.”

June 26, 2007

7:00 pm

August 12, 2007

7:00 pm

“Contributors to The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2007 will read from the book at several Northern California venues in the coming weeks. Diana Cohen, Francesca De Stefano, and Thelma Stiles will read selections from their stories at Books Inc., 3515 California Street, San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m.

“The same three will be joined by Nicole Clausing for a reading at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera, CA on Sunday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. as a prelude to the annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference. Come to one or more of these events for what promise to be engaging evenings of women’s travel stories.”

September 1, 2007
12:00 am	to	11:00 pm

And “if you’re submitting for The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2008 or any other Travelers’ Tales book, don’t forget to enter the Solas Awards for Best Travel Story of the Year. The Solas Awards are an annual competition to find the best writing being done about the world today. The Travelers’ Tales editors choose winners in 21 categories ranging from adventure to humor, from destination to memoir, and everything in between. The grand prize category has cash awards of $1,000 for Gold, $750 for Silver, and $500 for Bronze; all other category winners receive a certificate and a copy of The Best Travel Writing 2007. Plus, winners may be published in Travelers’ Tales books. To enter this year’s competition, go to BestTravelWriting.com and follow the instructions.” Deadline is September 1.

Book Passage now has a blog, written by guest authors. Looks like a great way to get some inside scoop from authors’ perspectives.

The “Trusted Adventures” family (which includes Austin-Lehman Adventures) has added The Wayfarers, which specializes in walking tours. “Specialists in walking vacations since 1984, The Wayfarers is committed to providing inspired options for the very best of travel on two feet. Freedom of spirit and a passion for adventure set the scene. We seek out expert local walk leaders and put the focus on exciting itineraries featuring diverse landscapes, gracious lodging and delicious regional cuisine. Affordable pricing covers all accommodations, ground transfers, meals on itineraries, wine with dinner, entry to specified museums and historic sites, lectures and events.”

From the Travel Quest site I found Jay Anderson’s website, eclipser, “devoted to eclipses, transits, occultations and other astronomical events in which weather conditions play an important role. In this site you can check out the average cloud conditions for your favourite star party, find a detailed map for a solar eclipse track, check the weather for an eclipse, transit, occultation or other event, or just mull over the monthly cloud conditions around the globe.”

Thanks to April Orcutt for telling us about Travel Quest, “Journeys for Inquisitive Minds,” a new quarterly on-line publication that’s looking for 500- to 600-word travel essays, photos, and travel tips. I didn’t see any information about payment rates on the site.

“For over a decade, TravelQuest International has been arranging specialized tours for a discerning clientele. Unlike tour companies offering mainstream tours, each of our tours is customized to focus on special aspects of the places we visit. All of our tours feature distinguished study-leaders who offer insight to the historical, anthropological and archeological highlights of the areas we visit.

The Amazon Travel Store (yes, that Amazon) offers savings of “up to 75% on last-minute cruises! All lines, all destinations;” an RSS feed for travel discounts; and discounts on travel magazines and luggage; as well as non-discounted travel books, guides, gear, DVDs, videos, etc.

Thanks to April Orcutt for reminding me about Snopes.com, a good place to check out the veracity of weird news, rumors, and potential urban legends.

keep looking »

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