Last Tango in Buenos Aires

It's my last week in Buenos Aires.  I just had my last tango lesson, and I'm making the final rounds saying au revoir to my friends.

I've had people ask me if I'm sad to leave.  Oddly, I'm not.  I'm excited.  Don't get me wrong—words can't describe what the months I've spent here have meant to me.  But it's time to move on to the next adventure.  I'm looking forward to the future.  There's more travel involved, and just a little bit of intrigue.  You'll have to stay tuned for the details. 

Sneaky of me, isn't it?  But it's not like you're surprised. 

But first, I'm returning to San Francisco.  The main reason: I'm speaking at the San Francisco Writers Conference.  To say I'm looking forward to the gig would be an understatement.  I attended last year's conference as a speaker and it rocked. 

The conference goers are a mix of fiction writers of various genres as well as nonfiction.  The speakers are diverse and interesting, and it draws a number of big name editors and agents, who are totally accessible the entire weekend.  For example, last year, I met Donald Maass, who, contrary to what I'd believed, isn't seven feet tall with lightning bolts shooting from his eyes.

My favorite part of the conference: the cocktail parties.  Okay—the cocktail parties are my favorite part of any conference.  I can't help it.  I love to schmooze, especially martini in hand.  Yes, recess was my favorite subject in school too.

The conference itself is sold out this year, but there's a pre-conference day of workshops if you're in the area and interested.  If you're there, find me and say "Yo."  I'll be the jet-lagged one who keeps slipping into Spanish.