Book Blogger Retreat Ideas

[Trish Collins]

Okay people! I need your help.

I want to go full steam ahead on the book blogger retreat, but I need help! So I thought you could help me decide what it will be like.

It will be in Portland, Oregon on July 18th and 19th.

Saturday will most likely be 10-4, and Sunday will probably be from 10-2.

I'd like to have some authors come (I have a few in mind who live up in that area). I thought it would be fun just to have someone moderate a discussion, but mostly let the author talk and let the bloggers lead the direction of the discussion. Good idea? Bad idea?

I also thought I'd have some panel discussions, but I'm only anticipating 15-30 people showing up, so would that be weird having four people out of 15 doing most of the talking (worst case scenario)??

We'll have a meet and greet Friday evening, for those of us there early. We'll also do something Saturday evening, probably something with dinner/sight seeing/Powell's and other bookstores.

Okay, hit me with your ideas and any questions. I've kept my thoughts pretty bare bones so I'm sure you'll have questions!

[bethany (dreadlock girl)]

authors are great and all.....but honestly the part I am looking forward to the most is just talking with you all. I know that you will plan an excellent event, it will be so fun.

I can't wait!! Thanks for giving us dates to put on our calendars :) YAY!

[Amy]

This is very exciting!!!

You know, I read on another blog where they were trying to plan a bookbloggercon just thought I'd mention it.

I'll get back to you with ideas. Maybe we could do a white elephant book exchange? :)

[Trish Collins]

Do you know which blog?

[chrisbookarama]

http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/2009/01/proposal-for-book-bloggers...

[Maw Books]

I was going to mention the same thing. I think she's going with Atlanta.

[Tia Nevitt]

You guys look like you are a bit further along in the planning stages than we are. I had quite a bit of West Coast interest where people weren't able to travel very far. I'll mention your idea when I put out my next update. I'm trying to get a newsletter started now.

Here's where we're doing our planning:

BookBloggerCon

Thanks for the link!

Tia

[Maw Books]

Wow/ So exciting. This is a huge project Trish. I was a conference coordinator for two years before becoming a SAHM, so if you need any specific help I'd be glad to help.

So, I assume we would do this at a hotel? If you block out some rooms you usually can get a group discount. When we make reservations we would just have to mention that we are with the group. Usually hotels release the holds a certain number of days before the event.

I'd love a meet and greet Friday as well as doing something Saturday evening.

Another question: family friendly? During dinner, etc? Meet and greet? I'm sure my husband can find something to do with kids while I'm doing other stuff, but I don't really want to travel alone. I've never been to Portland and if we decide to go it will probably be our family vacation for the summer. Plus, there are huge nurseries and gardens out there another huge deal for me personally. Not sure if we'd actually be able to go yet but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would travel with kids.

I think it is a great idea to have some authors there. We had a author at our Utah Book Bloggers Bash and it made a huge difference. From what I can tell people loved having him there. It would be fun to have a variety. A children's author, a YA, adult fiction, non-fiction, etc.

I would enjoy having a few workshops/topics of discussions planned. Not breakouts per se because there probably won't be enough there but I'd love to come away with some substantial ideas.

Door prizes, etc. Always fun.

Cost? Registration fee? To cover costs of meeting rooms, etc? I'm sure you'll figure this out but I'm assuming you aren't footing the bill here.

[Bermudaonion]

I'm trying to look into costs to see if I can afford this - what hotel would you recommend to be where all the action is? I looked at the bookbloggercon thing and while it would be very close to me, I'm not familiar with any of the bloggers who are involved because they read different genres than I do.

[Tricia]

I'm with you 100%. I want to go where I know the bloggers, but Portland is so far! I'm not going to be able to commit one way or another for a little while...but I really want to be there.

[Trish Collins]

Don't look in a hotel quite yet. I'm working with Jill from Under the Dresser on this, and she's going to try to get us a block of rooms with a discount. Since the holidays are over, I'm going to try to move as fast as possible on this. I'll let you know asap, but if may be a few weeks before I have that info.

[bethany (dreadlock girl)]

oh,let me know when you do!! :)

[Stacey @ book:thirty]

Oh, you guys are killing me! We moved from Portland to Houston at the end of 2007, and I haven't been back there to visit since we left! But...I'm sure my family would mutiny if I decided to fly back just for that (and who can afford to fly 7 people?!). Still, I'm going to keep my eye on your plans, just in case all the planets align and I get some million dollar check in my mail. :)