I stepped out of the mirror in a very pretty hotel, I'd been to the Hotel before, a place called the Tanaya lodge, but this was the first time I was going to actually sleep in a place higher rated than the super six on hotel drive.
The air was a good twenty degrees colder at this elevation than down in Fresno, and the air was cleaner. I and my friend checked into our rooms and unpacked for the night. We were here to come to the Fourth Annual Yosemite Writers conference held at the Tanaya. Every year it has been better, and this year was no exception to the rule.
The first day was uneventful, since we got there late and mostly relaxed, the conference hadn't started yet. The second day, I was up early, I couldn't wait, I'm not generally a morning person but I was out of bed and out to start the day.
I started off with a continental breakfast and then went into keynote speaker, and then Sharpen your hooks. The food was very good.
Lunch was a catered affair, and the food was good, but I was not as impressed as I thought I would be by the Sirloin wrap, which I found a little bland, but the cheesecake dessert more than made up for it.
There were two more sessions, and then we were on our own. We retired to our rooms to write or to relax, and I curled up with a DVD.
Saturday I was again up early and down to hear the speaker. Once again, it was keynote, and then morning session, and then lunch, another catered affair where we got to hear some of the contest finalists entries. The pesto pasta was killer and I have to admit I ate the whole thing along with the sort of cheesecake dessert that came with.
The evening sessions were mystery sessions which I loved, I got to talk to Hallie Ephron and even got my book signed by her.
Sunday came all too soon, and the keynote started a bit early, so I missed the first part, but I found David Morrell to be not only an educated keynote, but a fun man to talk to. His ideas were simple and well-explained. And he gave us anecdotal evidence of why we should or should not follow his advice. I would recommend the conference to any writer, and the lodge to anyone looking to get away from it all.
I found the staff helpful, there when you needed, and not visible when you didn't they took special requests with gusto and made it clear that they lived to make guests happy. Over all, I would have to give the conference four mirrors out of five. Join me tomorrow when I visit the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad.
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