Months ago I asked about interest for a possible book blogger retreat. There was definitely a lot of interest, but due to the vastness that is the United States, it’s really impossible to accomodate everyone. So for the first book blogger retreat, I decided we’d do it in Portland, Oregon, so we can have Powell’s at our disposal.
Sounding fun yet?
The date that I’m tentatively planning for is July 18 and 19.
I thought the days would be fairly structured, with authors coming (I don’t think we could get enough authors to do panels, so we would have to be content with an interview/Q&A set up) and panels of book bloggers. I haven’t talked to any authors yet, as I need to book a hotel first and firm up the date. The panels I was thinking the book bloggers could be on would include: branding yourself as an authoritative reviewer, how to review a book fairly, author/blogger relations, and what content you choose to put on your site. Three of those ideas are not my own, which is why they sound so good. I have a hard time “dressing up” ideas. I’m hoping there’s enough attendees so that the panel of bloggers actually have someone to talk to. 
Bethany from B&b ex libris has a connection at Powell’s and is hoping to get us an insider’s tour. HOW COOL IS THAT? That’s something that would be an evening thing, paired with dinner or something like that.
ANYWAY, what I’m asking is: Is there still interest in this? Is there anyone particularly good at planning that wants to help (I do have a few helpers right now, but the more hands, the lighter the work)?
::tap, tap, tap::
Is this thing on?
| Tags: book blogger retreat 52 comments »
March 18th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Ooooh! I’m definitely still interested and probably even more excited about it now
I’ve always wanted to go to Portland.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
[...] Trish has posted an update on the proposed Book Blogger Retreat! I want to go so bad…anyone else thinking about going??? Possibly related posts: [...]
March 19th, 2009 at 4:35 am
I’d love to go, but I’m going to have to say no. That’s a long way for me to travel. Plus, I’m spending enough to go to BEA! Great idea though and I wish I could be there.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:49 am
I’m definitely interested, although I don’t know if the dates would really work for me. I grew up near Portland, so the place works, just not sure about the dates.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:58 am
If I lived closer I would certainly be there!!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:07 am
I’d love to do it, but this summer isn’t great for me. At that point I’ll have a 1 month old and we are already traveling from Chicago to SoCal at the beginning of August, so I definitely can’t fly halfway across the country with the baby twice (and you all probably don’t want a 1 month old there anyway).
March 19th, 2009 at 5:20 am
I would love to go, but won’t be able to since I’m going to BEA in May.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Oh I would love to if Portland wasn’t the absolute farthest away place from me! I would love to go to Portland, it sounds a-mazing! But I don’t think I can make it. Next year we’ll have to do it closer
March 19th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I’d love to but I’m already travelling to the US in September and I can’t do it twice a year (it’s just too far away from Germany to just hop over). It’s a great idea.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I’d love to hear about the retreat after it happens…I unfortunately am facing serious cutbacks at the office and am hoping to have money this year to live. I hope you all have a great time…sounds like it will be great fun!
March 19th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I would be TOTALLY interested…except I’ll be at Oxford for the month of July. Still, I hope you guys have a wonderful time! Maybe I can participate in the next one!
March 19th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Well I’M still interested. I’ll be in school this summer, but I’m sure I can skip out on a bit. I’ll look into buses to get me down there.
March 19th, 2009 at 7:56 am
This would be so fun! Unfortunately, living in TX, I wouldn’t be able to make it. Have a great time, though!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Sounds super, but I won’t be able to fly out. Hope you all have a fabulous time.
March 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I would LOVE to go, except that I’m going to Chicago for BlogHer’09 the following weekend, 7/24-25 (bought my ticket months ago, and I guess that was a good thing, because it’s sold out now!), and time and money won’t permit two consecutive out of town trips. Bummer. I’d love to visit Portland.
Since I’ll have to miss this, I’m glad that some of us will get to meet up next month at the LA Times Festival of Books – see you there, Trish!
March 19th, 2009 at 9:31 am
*boo hoo* I would love to go, but I don’t even live in the US, and am at the other end of the country! Otherwise I’d try, because I want to support this. I’ll spread the word though, so anyone interested can hear about it.
March 19th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I won’t be able to make it to Oregon, but would love to be involved in a follow-up. Maybe in Texas?
March 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I do HOPE to attend … can’t say for sure just yet, but I’m hoping. It’s a bit far from Maryland after all.
March 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am
A bit far from Virginia, too. I’d LOVE to do the Powell’s tour. I’m jealous already, of everyone who can go. Someone will have to set up an East Coast one someday…
March 19th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
This sounds like so much fun! I’d love to do it, but those dates won’t work for me. Such a bummer! But I’ll still be reading all about it on all of your lovely blogs.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Yay! I’m so excited that it’s going to be in Oregon (could have something to do with me living in Oregon)! I will set aside those days.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
How do you do all that you do?! You are nuts!
You know I am out- baby and all. But maybe next year. But what a great idea Trish!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
The more and more I think about it, the more I’m just not sure. If we were to meet up to coincide w/ the LA Festival of Books (as it seems like there are a lot of you going already) then I would be SO tempted to go. But then again, I’ve never been to Oregon either . . .
March 19th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I’ll be there!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
If I didn’t live on the East coast I would be there in a heart beat. Sounds like a great time
March 19th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I wish. I’m not yet able to travel on my own, but I only have one more year till I’m an empty-nester and then maybe . . . if I’m not busy working to put him through school.
March 19th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
hmmm..i’ve always wanted to visit portland…and i don’t work in july. our last two road trips took us across country, just not far enough north. i’ll think about this…
March 20th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Hey! I might be able to come, actually! I have a friend in Salem I was planning to visit, so that could work out. Now … any possibility of arranging for “host families”?
March 20th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Alas no. I’m heading to Chicago for BlogHer in July. I’ve had it booked since before Christmas.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Oooh, that’s definitely a possibility, depending on finances. I’m only 8 hours away from Portland, so could possibly drive over.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
If my permanent residency acceptance just happened to coincide with this date, that would be really cool. (I have to go spend a couple days in the States and then re-enter Canada as a perment resident after the application is approved. They call it the Run Around the Flagpole.)
But I don’t know what the odds are of that. Does it say something about how long the residency application queue is that my visitor record was extended for a year, even though I only requested 8 months (and they’re only supposed to give you 6)?
March 20th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I am still very interested. There may be a conflict that weekend but I will try to work it out.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:04 am
[...] is trying to organize a book blogger retreat in Portland in July (including a trip to Powells!). Check out her post and let her know if you’re [...]
March 21st, 2009 at 9:34 am
I’d be very interested in attending this! I think Portland is a two day-ish drive from here, so it’s do-able for me.
March 21st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
If I can wrangle the days off, I will definitely be there! What fun!
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:43 am
Not really possible for me, but then no location would be right now except maybe Denver. I WISH I could though.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I would definitely be interested in this…I have a new puppy so I will have to see how this will work out as she will be very young still. Possibly I could just fly to Portland for the weekend and leave my hubby home…but, I’ll keep this on the calendar as a DEFINITE possibility. THANK YOU for organizing it!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Trish – this is a great idea, and you’re brave/bold to take the reins in starting it! I’d love to join you all, but I’m doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk the next weekend (July 24-26), and my family would flip if I suggested that I’d be away two weekends in a row (that’s not flip in a good way, like doing backflips with joy. It’s “how could you think of leaving me alone with the four kids AGAIN!?”). I’ll have to settle with reading all your blog posts about the retreat!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Great idea!! I’d love to come, but I’ll have to see if I can make it work – it’s a little over a 3 hour drive, with a 2 year old in tow. . . . hmmm.
I’m getting something together here in the Seattle area with Miriam from Hachette, June 22nd, if you are interested, let me know!
~ Wendi
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
OH, how fun. The dates don’t work for me though, boo hoo. ONe of my best friends lives in Portland so I’d have a place to stay but I can’t make it that weekend. Will just have to be happy with the Fest. of Books!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Trish, this is a great idea. I wish I weren’t 3,000 miles away. I’m hoping that bloggers in the mid-Atlantic area will be able to get together — at least for a drink — at one of the big literary events in Baltimore, the CityLit Festival in April or the Baltimore Book Festival in the fall. Have a great time.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I’m super jealous because I’d LOVE to be a part of this but I am out of vacation time until 2010.
Sooo if there’s another one NEXT year (or if you randomly decide to switch it to Chicago) I would love to participate.
Sorry… I will be there in spirit, though!!
March 24th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I am interested. Just have to see if I can budget for the trip. I have never been in that part of the country and the chance to see Powell’s, oh WOW! I am going to check airline prices right now!
March 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Of course I’m interested! And right here in the Rose City! I can walk to Powell’s, so sounds pretty good to me. And a tour would be nice, since I still get lost in The City of Books (the free maps handed out at the door help).
Let me know if you need local helpers.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I am definitely interested. I have a friend out there and I can swing it. Let me know what I can do to help.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
That sounds like so much fun, enjoy
April 6th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Interested
) Need more details though… and I’d be happy to help plan. I used to coordinate trainings through hotels and get good deals and such, so if you need help, I’ll help – even if I don’t end up going! (I kind of miss the whole hotel negotiation thing)
April 14th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
me me me still interested!
April 14th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I’ll ask my mom and see if I can.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hi Trish — I put a post up on Rose City Reader to generate some more interest. I don’t know if it will, or not, but maybe a few more people will hear of this event. I am really looking forward to it. Of course, I live in Portland, so it is easy for me.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I heard about your attempt to get this coordinated on Rose City Reader’s Blog, and live here in Portland as well, so I would totally be up for any kind of book blogger retreat held here.
I would be willing to help get things coordinated on this end as much as you needed as well, and have over the past few months made pretty strong connections at most of the major indie bookstores here including Powell’s that may help in any kind of events you wanted to do at them. Also I have developed good relationships with some local authors as well, that I could try and get at any readings you wanted to hold.
Just let me know what I can do to help! Love the idea!
May 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I am very interested in this retreat, since we have family in Portland! I’d love it!