Why I Love Attending the PSWA Conference

Today we leave for Las Vegas, our first destination my sister's home. We always schedule the trip so we spend the first and last day with my sister and her husband.

Tomorrow we'll be headed over to the Orleans Hotel and Casino, first to check-in, then to go upstairs and begin checking in attendees for the conference beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a get-acquainted reception at 6 p.m.

This will be my final time as chairperson of this conference. I've been the chair since the reorganization of this group, when it changed from the Police Writers Club to the Public Safety Writers Association. (PSWA). If all goes well for me and my family, this will not be the last time I attend.

I've attended and will continue to attend other mystery and writers conventions and conferences over the years, but this one is special in many ways.

I've made so many friends in the public safety field that I would have never met in any other venue. This conference is smaller than any of the others offering a real opportunity to network with one another. Everyone is willing to share their expertise whether it be in one of the law enforcement fields or mystery writing.

I met and became friends with Billie Johnson, publisher of Oak Tree Press, at one of the PSWA conferences long before I signed a contract with her to publish my Rocky Bluff P.D. series.

Some of my friends from the mystery field have joined me in attending the PSWA conference, which has added to the fun.

And probably best of all is the fact that at each conference I learn more and more about different law enforcement fields. Not only is the conference educations, it's downright fun!

Yes, I am looking forward to the next few days and participating in the PSWA conference.

Marilyn

PS  To any would-be burglars, a heads-up. We are leaving behind our burly son and all his pitbulls.