Selling my way to RWA!

 There are several very large organizations for writers. One of the biggest is Romance Writers of America, which holds its conferences in July at various large cities from coast to coast.  It’s educational, it provides wonderful opportunities for networking with other writers, and for meeting with one’s literary agent and editors. It’s also a chance to “give back” to writing community by offering to give workshops or by volunteering in other ways.

It’s also a way to visit other parts of the country…and this summer it’s back in New York. Be still my heart!  Wonderful restaurants.  Broadway shows. Incredible museums. And an exciting vibe this country girl loves in…well, smaller doses before slipping back into her office in a quiet, rural state. 🙂  Especially exciting is that my daughter, who is also a writer, will be there.  We’ll stay with two of my writer friends at the conference hotel, and enjoy every minute of the conference and the big city.

But, it’s an expensive affair what with airfare, a big city hotel, restaurant meals and the conference fee.

I love consignment stores and eBay…it’s always such a treasure hunt,  as you just never know what you’ll find!  On the flip side of that coin, I enjoy donning my alter ego now and then, as Christiana 116, and providing that sort of experience by listing items on eBay.  All of us have things we don’t really need, and apparently this form of buying and selling is very popular, as there are now many “cash from your closet” type auction sites online.

Years ago, a dear friend set a goal of going RWA based in what she saved via couponing, and she succeeded!  This year, I decided to do the same, only via what I could make selling on eBay.  I’d been quite inactive there for sometime.  Was it even possible?  Well, I’m part way to my goal, and thinning out my closets and shelves makes me feel good, too.  I have had a passion for Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Fossil and Kooba for way too long!  As hard as it is to let them go, sending them off to new homes so that I can go to RWA with our daughter this year is worth it!

So…do you have travel plans this year?  What is your dream trip for the future?