Yes, thanks for asking. I have a fair amount of new reading material. Later I will go into details.
You may have heard that AWP has found itself competing with Covad-19. I began hearing some talk a week ago about the outbreak (which seemed minimal at that point in the US), but was certainly on radars. Like most other writers I followed the latest CDC news and yes, even the largely suspect White House information.
On March 2nd it was announced that the Board would be issuing a statement on the conference.
By the 3rd, I was aware there were 11 confirmed cases somewhere in Texas. AWP Board Members were in contact with CDC and the Mayor's office. A The word was they were moving conference the size of AWP is certainly a financial liability and asset at the same time. In Portland last year I believe there were between 14,000 and 15,000. The thousands of exhibitors and time commitments by staff and even members is no small matter. Writers plan way in advance for panels, onsite and offsite readings, and there are an array of big name speakers.
The day before the event opens there is news that the Board of directors painstakingly ruled to move ahead with the event. I have to tell you, writers, AWP members, are social animals. It was suggested that while the conference was moving forward it was with the caveat to caution to curb the greeting enthusiasm. Such recommendations as loud enthusiastic greetings, no handshakes, hugs, or customary embarrass. Blown kisses only. Thoughtful nods. Wash hands regularly. Use hand sanitizers often. Keep your hands off your face, nose, eyes, you get the drill here - curb the socialization as much as possible.
But when the word can down that the event was a go, the board indicated that those who were coming could have their financial investment in AWP#20 applied to AWP#21 in Kansas City next year. In addition, this tweet was sent out by Diane Zinna one of the co-directors of the conference:
Diane Zinna @DianeZinna.
Mar3 I am broken-harted, but I resigned from AWP this morning over the decision to hold the conference. I will always love. this community and ask that you please be kind to the board and tiny staff, people who are working so hard and believe in you.
Diane is a very special person to many of us. She created the Writer-to-Writer mentoring program. I am an alumni of the Spring 2017 Session. She has nurtured the program and all of us along the way. This hit me very hard.
Still, I was preparing to leave at 5:45 in the morning. Besides packing, people that know me well, know that I would be would be up all night, watching Super Tuesday returns. Those that don't know me well won't understand this. But I rolled out of here at 3:00 a.m. for the airport dead tired, but trying to be upbeat.
I should have known it would be a bad morning when I parked in the econo-parking and caught the tram to the terminal. I realized I had left my glasses in the car. Inside I bought a pair of single vision. to get me through everything, checked my bag and ultimately boarded to the Conference.
I had known for days now that many of my friends were opting not to go. While waiting for my boarding I sifted through a number of Facebook and Twitter feeds. More were deciding not to go. Oh, I had some friends already there and I rationalized this would give me an opportunity to meet new people (which is always one of my goals). Then I saw that many of the presses were pulling out and that they were organizing an online or virtual book fair offering some of the normal conference discounts through Sunday.
I can't tell you the last time I flew and had a whole row to myself. I got my own row on the flight to Dallas where I would have a short layover and then on to San Antonio. This would have been great but the whole flight I was hot and the overhead blower was not helping. My ears popped and I felt miserable. My anxiety increased. Yes, I thought about. my age, and diabetes as placing me at a higher risk if I contracted Covid-19, but I hd been over that rational for days. What I was really starting to fear was getting to the conference and finding that it was a shell of what it should be. That some of the panels that were important to me had been canceled and God knows how many more would before it was over. On the layover I had tweeted some of my friends there already and they all had friends that opted out - pretty much said everyone was choosing to be non-judgmental. If you fell you needed to be there, it's your call. If you feel this one is not for you same. People said they would miss me but life goes on.
There was still the matter of my reading Saturday, and the hotel reservation. I called my wife and decided to convert my return ticket and fly home. I made the other calls to clean up the remaining conference details and was back in Kansas City later in the afternoon.
So my day today has been busy writing. Following details of conference. A hand full of things are being live streamed. Working on some ideas, and virtually shopping at the book fair. (which requires real money)
So here is what I have coming as far as new reading material. Some are supposed to be here by tomorrow evening, a couple are new releases for later in the month.
- Fieldnotes on Ordinary Love by Keith S. Wilson
- Soft Targets by Deborah Landau
- Father's Day by Matthew Zapruder
- I Live in the Country and other Dirty Poems by Arielle Greenberg
- In the Lateness of the World by Carolyn Forche
- Like a Bird with a Thousand Wings by Melissa Studdard
- Partial Genius - Prose Poems by Mary Biddinger
- Slide to Unlock by Julie E. Bloemeke
- The Long White Cloud of Unknowing by Lisa Samuels
That's the book purchases so far.
By the way - I am especially. happy with my writing so far today.
Will catch a livestream of the Keynote address this evening.
The one thing you cannot replicate besides seeing friends, is the swag. I will miss the #W2W Reception and the swag.
© Elizabeth McCrorie 
