Hey KY/Southern IN/Southern OH, care to greet?

[RLB]

And anyone else close I might've missed.

I've seen some interest in the Ohio thread from people wanting a more southern locale. If anyone is up for getting together in Louisville (or possibly Cinci), let me know (PM or respond here) and maybe we can organize something.

If this thread withers, dusty and unloved, I'm considering the trek to Columbus.

[Little Red Barn]

I can do those Rach!

[PattiTheWicked]

Depending on dates, I could make either Louisville or Cincy.

[maestrowork]

I'm in Cincy.

[Shwebb]

Cincy is a bit far, for me--five hours. As much as I'd like to, I'm not sure how feasible it would be. I love Cincinnati! If I was able to come, it would probably be a matter of bringing the whole family. I might be able to convince my husband to take the kids to the zoo or the museum, or something.

[maestrowork]

Come down for Riverfest (Labor Day). It's a HUGE deal here.

[Williebee]

I'm in SIllinois, so L-ville is 4 hours, E-ville is 2 hours, and E-lvis is just down the road at the K-Mart. So, depending on the date....

[tjwriter]

I'm in Evansville, or rather around. At least it's where I work.

I might be up for some action since that's pretty close.

I am:

About 2 hours from Louisville

About 3.5 hours from Cincinnati

About 2.5 hours from Nashville

About 2 hours from St. Louis

and

About 3.25 hours from Indy

[RLB]

Thanks for the responses. I'm up for either location. How do the rest of you feel about driving, etc?

Here's a few Saturdays I could do it in the next couple of months. We are going to Europe on vacation in Oct, so unless y'all want to meet me in Budapest, most of that month's out for me...

September 22
September 29
October 27
November 3

I'm imagining we'd meet at a Panera or Starbucks, but if anyone has alternate venue suggestions, feel free to speak up (and if it winds up in Cinci, I'm not familiar with the town at all). As to what we'd do, let me kow if you have any ideas. I'm hoping our sparkling forum conversational skills would translate well into an afternoon of hanging out. Plus I think it'd be cool just to meet other writers.

If we can agree on a locale and date, I'll send an invite PM to others in the area who have chosen to make their location public on Maryn's list.

Rachel

[joetrain]

if its later rather than sooner i could probably find a place to crash in louisville. it would be a few hours but there's some folks there i'd like to see. they might even have a boat by then.

[MichaelDeVere]

I'm in the Cincy area if this group ever decides to get together.

[mscelina]

Heck, I'm half an hour away from Columbus and two hours away from Cincy. I could do either.

[bluntforcetrauma]

if its later rather than sooner i could probably find a place to crash in louisville.

Try the Watterson Expressway! Lots of good crashes there!

[bluntforcetrauma]

I'm:

90 min from Cinci
90 min from Louisville
30 min from Indy
3 hours from Chicago
3 1/2 hours from Columbus, O.

By plane it's a different story.

[Komnena]

Try the Watterson Expressway! Lots of good crashes there!


I 65 is better for both quality and quantity of crashes.

[bluntforcetrauma]

I 65 is better for both quality and quantity of crashes.

Yes, but I've spent many a joyful hour traipsing up and down I-65 going to and from Alice Cooper shows! Damn near got killed on Watterson last June! Kentucky Kingdom sucked big time anyway.

[SmartAsh]

I'm in Cincinnati and would love to meet other AW members. I could also go to Louisville... most of my family is there and I should visit more often anyway...

[bethany]

I'm in Louisville

[bluntforcetrauma]

I'm in Louisville

My 17 y.o. daughter is named Bethany. How about that Sam Watterson EXPY? Anyway, I have only good things to say about Jewish Hospital. They are a fine institution. There's also a nice store down in Louisville that actually carries shoes for my size 13 feet!

[bethany]

My 17 y.o. daughter is named Bethany. How about that Sam Watterson EXPY? Anyway, I have only good things to say about Jewish Hospital. They are a fine institution. There's also a nice store down in Louisville that actually carries shoes for my size 13 feet!

I learned to drive on the Watterson, back when it was perpetually under construction.

[bluntforcetrauma]

I learned to drive on the Watterson, back when it was perpetually under construction.

That was a crazy period! How long was that fiasco? 20 years? You deserve a medal.

[MichaelDeVere]

Cool! Looks like there's a few more fellow writers in the area that would be up for a meet and greet sometime this spring.

[bethany]

That was a crazy period! How long was that fiasco? 20 years? You deserve a medal.

Pretty close- but both of the good malls require a drive on the Watterson- so what is there to do? :)

[bethany]

Will Lavender is in this area, and there are a couple of YA writers in OH/Indiana.

[bluntforcetrauma]

Pretty close- but both of the good malls require a drive on the Watterson :)

*BFT slowly backs against the wall, trembling...*

[MichaelDeVere]

What's a "mall"?

[bluntforcetrauma]

What's a "mall"?

In a word...HELL!

[bethany]

I would never write a book without a mall scene. But then, my books are primarily set in high school, which is more hellish than the mall, by far. You can leave the mall and it isn't called cutting....

[Sage]

I'm in Columbus

[bethany]

Sage's book has a scene in a mall... (just saying).

[MichaelDeVere]

Just think, we owe it all to Thorstein Veblen.

[Sage]

Sage's book has a scene in a mall... (just saying).
The new one might too :D

[brittanimae]

Stop this all now. Stop it I say. Because I used to live in Cincy but now I live in Saskatechewan, and I have the feeling there isn't going to be any kind of get together here. :(

[MichaelDeVere]

I had three cheese coneys from Skyline for lunch today. :-)

[mscelina]

I'm not particulatly fond of Skyline myself. Don't know why; I even prefer Hormel's to Skyline.

And why in the world would we go to a mall for an AW Greet? Granted, a bar is probably out but I'd be willing to host an AW all-day picnic or something. *grin* I'd get to make my daughter mow the yard and whine about housecleaning *drools* and that's worth any inconvenience.

[RLB]

Geez, where were all you people last summer when I started this thread? Unfortunately, I don't live in Louisville anymore, though it's a great town and I am fond of the Watterson. Good luck with the get-together and I'll be with you in spirit.

I'll have to start trying to rally the Chicago people. Then after I move from here they'll be ready to greet...

[My-Immortal]

Geez, where were all you people last summer when I started this thread? Unfortunately, I don't live in Louisville anymore, though it's a great town and I am fond of the Watterson. Good luck with the get-together and I'll be with you in spirit.

I'll have to start trying to rally the Chicago people. Then after I move from here they'll be ready to greet...

Hmmmm.....I wonder what this says about you.

:)

(just kidding!)

[Shwebb]

I'm two hours away from Columbus, 3 hours from Cleveland, 5 hours from Cincinnati or Indy. I always love meeting other AWers.

[Komnena]

There's always Conglomeration, the SF convention April 18-20, in Louisville.

[justme]

I'm in Louisville.

[maestrowork]

Cincinnati/N.KY.

[ajkjd01]

Dayton here!

I'm up for meeting with others!

[sandyn]

I was born in and lived in Northern Kentucky until age 21 when I married and moved to Cincinnati. My sister still lived in N. Kentucky and my children and grandchildren in Cincinnati. I left Cincinnati in January, 1999 and moved to Florida and from there fulltime RVed until settling in Las Vegas in 2006.

Where are you Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati folks from?

[Elonna]

Did this ever come to pass? If not, let's do it! KY side of Cincy here ;)

I wouldn't mind organzing it if people agree on the Cincy area. If someone wants to organize it somwhere else, have car, will travel :tongue

[Shwebb]

There are some folks getting together in October in Louisville. Mostly those who hang out in the Ray's House of Love thread. Louisville is around five hours away, same as Cincy--but I won't be able to make it. Dammit.

Columbus is always a bit more doable for me--it's only two hours away. As is Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Canton.

[Grrarrgh]

I'm in Cincy - I'd be up for something!

[bethany]

I'm in Louisville (still) but I haven't heard anything about...anything.

[kristie911]

We have a gathering planned in Louisville the weekend of October 17-19. Most of us met in the HOL (Ray's House of Love in Office Party if you're not familiar with it) but we're a very friendly bunch and would like to meet everyone.

I'll post the details of the weekend shortly.

[kristie911]

Here are the plans we have so far for our Louisville weekend!

We are staying at:

Hyatt Place Louisville-East
701 South Hurstbourne Parkway
(sorry, I didn't have the number handy but it shouldn't be hard to find)

However, upon making reservations for a room a couple of weeks ago, there were only a few rooms left.
So (thanks to Maryn’s diligent searching) here are some other hotels in the area in case you’re interested in joining us.

Courtyard by Marriott-Louisville East
9608 Blairwood Rd. (502) 429-0006

Days Inn-Hurstbourne
9340 Blairwood Rd. (502) 425-8010

Holiday Inn-Hurstbourne
1325 S Hurstbourne Pkwy. (502) 426-2600

Homewood Suites by Hilton-Louisville East
9401 Hurstbourne Trace (502) 429-9070

Red Roof Inn
9330 Blairwood Rd. (502) 426-7621

Residence Inn
120 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy (502) 425-1821


Most of us are staying for the weekend and we’re planning on a dinner gathering on Friday. Lunch and a crit group on Saturday, plus some general site seeing and fun stuff. Usually a nice (but not expensive) dinner and hanging out. On Sunday we meet for an informal breakfast, though some of us sleep in, and then we sort of filter out at our own pace. Some have flights to catch, I have a 12-hour drive back home, some have shorter drives.

If you are interested in joining us for a fun weekend, or just the day, let me know and we can fill you in some more. Come join us!!

[Maryn]

If you're in reach of Louisville, we really hope you'll consider coming. The first time the House of Love met, I expected it to be interesting, and it was--but more. Lots more. I had a really good time. I can't remember the last time I voluntarily slept so little because I didn't want to miss anything.

It doesn't matter if you've never set foot in the House of Love. (And why not? Everybody's welcome.) It doesn't matter if you're especially friendly with any of the regulars there, or know who qualifies as a regular. Totally doesn't matter if you're a 'serious' writer, self-published, a wanna-be, or a budding failure. Or whether you do fiction, inspirational essays, screenplays, or poetry. Or whether you're a party animal or a shy wallflower. Or whether you're exactly as you present yourself to be here at AW. (My name, for instance, is not Maryn, and I neither hold the sun nor am fond of your patootie [avatar references, if you don't often cross my path].)

What does matter is that for one weekend, you'll be in the company of smart, friendly people who totally get it, in terms of what being a writer means. If you want to, you're welcome to share your writing for honest, yet tactful critique, which is quite different face to face than online. Anonymity can be arranged easily and is not a big deal. (See the details for sharing work for critique here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2730988&postcount=55053).)

Come on, say you'll come! It'll be fun, I promise, and you may even find that sitting in on the critique session, even if it's not of your work and you don't do any critique, improves your own work. We can all learn, right?

Maryn, quieter than you'd think

[kristie911]

Maryn said it so much better than I did. :)