Time to book travel

In this budget-busting economy, it's always good to find ways to save. One way right now is to book your travel to Seattle now.

Airlines are desperate for business, and are offereing up some tremendous bargains, most of which extend through March or April. For example, Virgin America is offering flights from SFO to Seattle for around $140, great for anyone heading up from the Bay Area.

Virgin is also one of the few airlines without tons of dishonest fees, such as American, United, U.S. Airways, and others. (Southwest is the best in this category.) I urge folks heading to the conference to choose to do business with companies that are honest with their advertised pricing, that include their CODB (cost of doing business) in their prices, and that don't tyr to nickel and dime (and dollar!) you with added costs once you've made the commitment.

Me, I'm driving up.

Out of the box, ready to go

It's just mid-December, more than 3 1/2 months until the 2009 WritersUA conference, and here we are, up and running. Bookmark this URI now so whether you're at the conference or just want to be here (hopefully the former), you'll get the latest information photos, and more. I'll be posting here several times a day, often from within sessions.

I hear it's been snowing in Seattle proper. The last time the conference was there, I remember coming into Sea-Tac on final approach and seeing the countryside south of the airport blanketed with snow. A late-winter storm had turned the city white--although it was not long before it all morphed into brown slush and runoff.

No, it doesn't always rain in Seattle.

And after having lived in the Pacific Northwest for more than a decade, I can tell you with great confidence that the chance of rain in late March is far, far greater than that of white flakes falling from the heavens.

So, just as a reminder, the first early discount deadline is this Wednesday, December 17th. Go to the WritersUA conference site for details.