The Get-Away by Angie Ledbetter

I'm in New Orleans and it feels surreal to be here. I have not been away from home in a really long time, so it took a day or so to begin to relax, to stop the constant worry over my kids and family. "What if something happens while I'm gone?" I've been asking myself. But since I committed to attending this writer's conference eight months ago, I might as well enjoy it to the hilt and try to have a little trust and faith. And if I'm needed back home for some reason, I'm only an hour away. This circular reasoning makes me feel a little better; a little more able to relax and enjoy the rhythms of a strange, good place for awhile.

The conference is being held at the Monteleone on the edge of the famous French Quarter. I wish everyone could visit here with its gilded appointments, luxurious rooms, view of the Mississippi River, rooftop pool and revolving bar - the Carousel. Horse-drawn buggies wait out on the street to take visitors and tourists to famous places. Five star restaurants and delicious hole-in-the-walls are steps away. A lone saxophone player makes music a few blocks down. In this area at least, Katrina's devastation is not noticeable.

I appreciate this vacation from reality and the people who have worked so hard to put the conference together, especially friend and writer, Deborah LeBlanc. I'm very grateful to be with friends, to have time to recharge my batteries, to meet with other crazy writer people, to pursue my dreams and goals. Thank you to the service industry people who made my trip wonderful. You made the hotel live up to its image -- "New Orleans' Timeless Address." I enjoyed learning a bit of your stories, and if I were a millionaire, I'd share my largess with you!

If you ever get a chance to visit New Orleans, consider stopping over at the Monteleone for a night, a meal or a drink as you spin slowly and unnoticeably around. You won't be sorry. http://http//www.hotelmonteleone.com/

Funny Women by Barbara Quinn

I spent a few days at an Algonkian Pitch & Shop Conference in New York City. This is an intense four day workshop where participants learn to perfect a pitch for a novel, and then give it to a series of editors. One of the best parts of the experience was being in close contact with a group of very funny women. I love humor, and being around funny women is an uplifting experience. I was with a group of 16. 15 of us were women.

Women love to laugh, love to have a good time. There’s a long tradition of female comics. I always loved Lucy, Carol Burnett, Goldie Hawn, and shows like The Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore, and Designing Women. Now we have Tina Fey and 30 Rock, Sarah Silverman and Amy Pohler, and many, many more. I’ve been influenced by funny comediennes since I was a kid. And I strive for that type of humor in my own writing. I learned from these women who had great timing and instincts for getting people to laugh. And I learned at the conference too. The conference was a lot of work, but it was worth the struggle. I came away with a much improved (and funnier) pitch. And soon the manuscript will be on its way to the editors who requested it.

Thank you funny women! Keep on cracking those jokes. Lots of us are listening. And some of us are learning too!