And now, from the "Does the universe look after me or what!" files, I've got some good news to share.

In mid June I'll be in 'the big apple' representing Queensland speculative fiction authors at the Queensland Writing Showcase, an initiative of the Qld Government designed to entice New York publishers and agents to purchase/represent our fab local talent.

How cool is that?

Wow that news is real COOL!!!! Congratulations.
Chantellie

WOO HOO Louise!

Congratulations and yep the universe surely does look after you as long as you believe it will. YAY and wow what a trip that will be. I'm sure you'll have heaps of fun and hey airline food - hmm is that the thing one has to endure for one's art?

Sure to be a fun trip - though are you able to schedule in a week's sleep after your return?

Very very happy for you Lou.

Cheers,

Nicky

Wow Lou! That is fantastic!!!! I adore New York, have been there twice and think it's the most fabulous city on the planet. I hope you have time to see Central Park, a Broadway show, Bloomingdales, a Yankees game, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty... Okay, now I'm just being silly! If you saw all that the people you have gone to meet would never see you!

Hope you have a ball!

Ally
http://www.allyblake.com

Thanks for the congrats, guys, but I must say I'm a tad nervous about the whole thing. Not the Showcase, that will be fine. It's the whole "travelling overseas for the first time" thing.

Any advice on travelling and on New York in general would be most appreciated - where to stay, what's a Must See while I'm there, things to look out for... like getting kidnapped on the subway! - What is it with people and horror stories? It reminds me of when I was pregnant and every woman who'd had a horror labour just had to describe it to me in detail. So now I'm hearing everyone's horror travel stories. A nice travel story would be welcomed at this point

But if there are important safety travel tips, please pass them on too, either posted here or to me privately at mail@louisecusack.com

Ta

Sounds wonderful Louise, and ignore the horror stories, like those pregnancy stories they are few and far between and mostly exagerated. (although I could tell you my horror pregnancy story- lol)

Having travelled often and overseas I can share a few of my own travel trips.
Take with you on the plane a bag with the following;
- change of clothes
- toiletires, but avoid anything that sprays or is sharp
- chewing gum or sucking lollies, something to help your ears if they pop. This might happen at any time, not just take off and landing
- notebook and pen (there is always something worth noting down)
- a good book to read, or two. I usually take one I'm really into and another that is just for fun
- carry all your passport and money with you, preferable on your person, but leave some money in your suitcase
- have warm socks and a light jumper or jacket or even a shawl. Airplanes can get cold.
- a bottle of water, so you don;t get dehydrated.

- take walks around the plane when you can. Go to the toilet often and take the long way back.
- eat when food is offered, or at least take it and stash it for later. You won't get another chance.
- talk to the person beside you, but respect them if they wish to sleep
- sleep when you can or want to, try to adjust your body clock to NY time in the plane.

- Know exactly what luggage you have with you and in the hold, mark each one with a disticntive ribbon (all the same). Lock them all, but be prepared to unlock them and show customs what's in them.

- enjoy yourself, and look at the plane trip as an opportunity to observe and discover new things about people and thier habits.

- take the camera on board, if it's new learn how to use it. in any case take photos. Last time (pre digital) I went to UK I took 2 rolls of file before we even landed. Make sure you have recharagble batteries and spares and the charger. Make sure you have two memory sticks and big ones. Or if it's a film camera lots of film.
- take a plug converter (easily picked up at any duty free store, and even at the airport in Australia. But not easy to find overseas.

- take your PC - you never know when a plot bunny will hit.

As for NY itself, I've never been. But see as much as you can.

good luck and have fun

Catrin

Hi Lou,

I've not gone to mainland US but have friends living there or who visit often. I'm not sure if this is still being done - be aware you may be asked for fingerprinting (as a record) and you will probably have to take off your shoes to go through security checks. I had to do that both international terminals and internal domestic ones at Hawaii (fairly standard procedure).

I'd be more than happy to check with my sister who goes to NY as often as she can (from Paris - it's not that far - more of a time issue for her) if there are any MUSTs. Sure there are heaps of those given your free time and interests.

It is like pregnancy stories - I remember being nervous (& travelling solo with an under 10yr old to boot) but it's really designed for all the non-regular travellers

Cheers,

Nicky

Lou, New York has changed sooooo much from how it was 10 years ago. Since Mayaor Rudy Guliani it has become much safer.

David Letterman used to get half his jokes from the hookers and rats in Times Square, but now Times Square is Disney shops and Broadway tickets. My hubby and I have walked the length of Manhattan and been to every subway stop and never had a fright.

The subway is also really safe. So many people about. If you don't have one of those flat purses you can store on a chain around your neck and tuck under your clothes - get one! Great for spare cash, passport etc...

I'd just do as you would do here, which is the mistake a lot of tourists make.

Soooooo jealous!

Ally

Thanks so much for that info, guys. I've created a "Travelling Tips" file and am filling it with those sorts of helpful bits and pieces. Nearly everyone I'm met has said "Drink lots of water on the plane!" so that's clearly a must. Now that most of my travel details are being organised I'm starting to get excited, rather than remaining at 'anxious'. It will be a huge adventure and I know I'm going to love it. It's just moving past the palpitations to the WooHoo! stage.

But I'll get there

That's amazing, Louise, terrific news! I ahve a couple of friends in NY so I'll see if I can't get them to go along... :-D

It feels like such a short time ago I was saying, "It's nine weeks away, plenty of time," and now it's only TWO weeks until I go.

Thankfully I'm over the anxiety and starting to feel very excited. Can't wait to get back and share all my news (after a good long nap!)

Louise

Have fun!

You'll be able to tell us all about it at YOTN (which I just signed up for).

Lou, I can't believe that time has come around all too quickly. Are you all prepared? Passport? Tickets? Camera???

I'm so excited and can't wait to hear how it all goes!

Ooh, and another thing - you should go into the tourist centre at Times Square - they have free email there. You line up and can only use it for ten minutes but its grand. And there's a booth where you can send a video message via email! You should send one to your kids. They'll think it a blast!

Ally

Thanks guys, yes I'm getting very excited. I've got my passport, tickets and hotel booked and I'm organising a lovely new digital camera this week - Yay!

The time will just fly by

I can't wait

Thats great Lou Good to hear. I hope you have fun.
Sorry I have not been but I have been busy with writing, working and a few other things. It never ends argggh.

Nan

Yay Lou!

The time is going to fly and before you know it July will be here. Enjoy every experience - I'm sure you'll be absorbing well into the year as you recall small and large memories of the trip.

Looking forward to seeing piccy's.

Nicky

Nine sleeps to go and I'm unbearably excited already! Lucky I've got heaps to keep me busy or I'd go nuts

(picking up my new camera today - yay!)

Hey Lou!

Good luck in the Big Apple! I was there just 8 weeks ago. It was like being in the middle of everything all at once.

Just do three things while you are there.
#1 - Horse and carriage ride through Central Park
(at this time of year it will be glorious... and expensive)
#2 - Times Square at night
#3 - Statue of Liberty on the first ferry

Ooo.. almost forgot. #4 - Hersey's store, Times Square. Chocolate heaven!!!

Don't catch a taxi from the airport! (Unless all of your expenses are paid for) They are crooks! Catch the airport train and connect up with the subway. Get off at Howard Beach or Jamaica, at the end of each line, and it will connect nicely to the subway which will take you all the way in to Manhattan. It's US$2 to get on the subway, US$5 on the airport train (only on the way back) OR a massive US$45 flat rate in a taxi (does not include tips which should be a minimum of US$5)

And watch out for the homeless, especially around the Times Square district. They can be somewhat pushy, especially when you are trying to have a meal. We only went to McDonalds once and vowed never again, the food was great, but we were harrassed 4 times in 10 minutes.

AND WEAR GOOD WALKING SHOES! Buy some if you need. Skechers is on 40th or 41st street, I think (across from Lion King and not far from Times Square). They have really good shoes at great prices. About $40-50US. If you're time bankrupt, you'll struggle to get to the outlet stores.

Lou, forgot to ask... Are you flying Qantas or United? Are you flying out Friday or Saturday?

And the airport train is for JFK airport. If you're going to LGA or EWR I have no idea. Heh.

And for hotels.... AVOID THE COMFORT INN, JAMAICA!!! It's cheap and oh so nasty!

Thanks for that info, Mick.  I've added it to my "travel tips" file which I'll be rereading on the plane.  I'm flying out tomorrow morning with Qantas all the way to New York, so I'm feeling quite relieved about that.  I've nailed down the last-minute details of the Showcase and am looking forward to meeting the New York agents and publishers who represent and sell speculative fiction.  It will be great to present to such a targeted audience.

I'll pop back here when I get back in ten days and let you all know how it went

Louise

 

Just a quick post to see if you are indeed back yet? I thought you were getting in this month or was i mistaken?

It took me a week to get over it!

Yes, I'm back and what a trip. New York was incredible, and although that was ambitious for my first overseas trip, I was really only overwhelmed for the first day (that place is so busy, so noisy, so....overwhelming). After I found my feet I was trotting around everywhere, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Central Park, a Broadway Show. I had the best time sightseeing, then it was time for the business end of the trip and that was pretty darned incredible too.

Lunch at the 21 club was superlative. The food was incredible, the surroundings impressive (it was the place where Humphry Bogart proposed to Lauren Bacall) and the company was incredible. Representatives from Publishers Weekly, Ace Books, Bantam Dell, Bobbe Siegel Literary Agency, Del Rey Books, Eos, Fort Ross Inc - International Rights, Harlequin Enterprises, Linn Prentis Literary Agent, Liza Dawson Associates, Lowenstein-Yost Associates Inc, Ralph M Vicinanza Ltd, RMA Tor and Warner Books. I felt like I was in the most influential room on the planet! And I had their complete attention for almost an hour. It's like... imagine your best possible day.

And they loved the presentation, they were interested in the books and quite a few of the authors have already had contacts made and are in negotiation. I'm really impressed with the Qld Government for putting this on. They've given ten local authors a huge leg-up in the industry and that's just gold. Even those who don't get picked up immediately have had their name and their work presented to the top agents and publishers in our genre in the US. Word of mouth.

Anyway, I felt very happy with how it went and with how easy it was to travel overseas. So, just exactly as everyone had predicted, I've caught the "travel bug" and am now wondering where I'll go next year

That sounds like an awesome place and purpose for going there. Queensland certainly are most helpful with their writers, for ive never heard of any other state doing what they did!
Have you had any interest from USA? Its such a huge market to break here i hate to think what its like in America.
As for the travel bug, your in trouble now! Ive done my fair share of traveling, so know exactly how you feel. But with 17 countries under my belt, I only want to keep going and even return to some countries for second (or third) time to see more. Goodluck on deciding the next step!

Timna, I'm so forgetful lately! I forgot to mention that I now have a New York agent who specialises in fantasy. I had a meeting with him in New York while I was there, which was great. He and Selwa had been in negotiation for some time and it all came together just before my trip. So how's that for the universe looking after me, in the same month as I get my US agent I get a trip to his city so we can meet.

Doesn't get much better than that!

It's early days yet, but he's quite keen on my work, and (naturally) hoping to sell it into the US market. So when something comes of it, you guys will be among the first to know

Lou!!!!!!!!! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! And you got to see some of the great highlights of a great city!!! and super huge congrats on the NY agent. Wonderful wonderful news!!!

What Broadway show did you see?

Ally
http://allyblake.blogspot.com

Ally, it was "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" which I adored as a movie. The lead character was played by the same actor (don't know his name) who was Keira Knightly's cowardly dad in Pirates of the Caribbean. He was a hoot and the actor who played the Steve Martin role was brilliant as well, both as an actor and a singer. I laughed so much I had tears in my eyes. It was really good.

His name is Jonathon Pryce! And he is maaarvellous. He started int he original "Miss Saigon", in the movie "Brazil" and is just a dream.

That would have been hilarious!

Ally