This has been a great week. I was in Switzerland from February 5-7 for the Geneva Writers’ Conference, which is a great place to meet fellow writers and to get inspiration. The dedicated team of organizers did an amazing job, and I am already looking forward to the 2012 conference!

Here is a description from the site: Despite the frigid weather and grey skies, the Seventh Geneva Writers’ Conference, held at Webster University, Bellevue, Switzerland, was another huge success. 205 writers attended – participants, committee members, instructors, and panelists – coming from 42 countries.

I met one of my dearest friends at the Geneva Writers’ Conference in 2006 and met my agent Laura Longrigg there in 2008. This year, I was able to read from my novel Moonlight in Odessa, proof that great connections are made during this weekend. Here is what agent Jane Dystel said about the 2010 conference: ‘I had such a wonderful time this weekend at The Geneva Writers’ Conference. What an extraordinary group of people – instructors, participants, just everyone.’

On February 11th, I traveled to London, where I was interviewed by the legendary Jenni Murray on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. We talked about everything from Tobacco Brides to modern-day email-order brides to Daria’s appalling taste in men. I also got to listen to a snippet of Jane Collingwood reading Moonlight in Odessa. She did a marvelous job of making each voice distinct.

To listen to Woman’s Hour: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/03/2010_06_thu.shtml

To listen to Moonlight in Odessa on Book at Bedtime, beginning February 15: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qnztc

To learn more about the Geneva Writers’ Conference: http://www.genevawritersgroup.org/conference.html