BATW members are on the move from San Francisco to Oregon, Iran, Sicily, Japan, and Mendocino.  Support our local independent bookstores and let’s work together to get ready for 2010. Dora Solomon, assistant curator at the CJM (photos by John Montgomery) BATW’s April meeting took place in San...

Contemporary Jewish Museum (photos by John Montgomery) April, 2009, BATW meeting at the CJM In a light-filled meeting room at the new Contemporary Jewish Museum on Mission St. in San Francisco, nearly 35 BATW members munched on a hearty continental breakfast and shared news [below] at the April 18th...

Marc Longwood shares some money-saving information for writers doing research: How much does your cell phone company charge you for 411 service?  Mine’s a buck a call.  So I was so happy to discover Free 411, where you get the same directory assistance for free with one caveat, you have to listen...

Thanks go to Marc Longwood for sending a link to Steff Green‘s informative article “Writing Bio-logy” about the importance of writing good — and appropriate — biographies to go with your articles.  Steff says, “Your author bio introduces you to your audience and establishes...

Along with several other Bay Area Travel Writers, I have begun writing for Examiner.com, an online news source that receives more than 7,000,000 unique visitors each month in 57 major media markets around the country, and is adding 500,000 new unique viewers each month.

David Page, late for dinner, after a spring ski into the Sierra ghost town Bodie, 2008 (photo by Burke Griggs) Congratulations to new member David T. Page, author of Yosemite & The Southern Sierra Nevada: A Complete Guide (Countryman Press, Great Destinations/W.W. Norton), who won two awards from...

Renata Polt‘s article about the newly reopened California of Sciences first appeared in culturevulture.net in October, 2008. The environmentally friendly and newly remodeled California Academy of Sciences (photo by John Montgomery) The newly remodeled California Academy of Sciences, located in...

David Page’s wild adventure story “Skiing California’s 14ers” about Chris Davenport, Christian Pondella and John Morrison skiing peaks along the crest of the Sierra (and a few other places) originally appeared in Eastside magazine (Spring 2009). Alpinist Chris Davenport carries skis toward...

[Ginny Prior's article "Adding Animals to Vacation Accommodations" appeared in the Hill Newspapers in the East Bay and on contracostatimes.com on April 9, 2009] I’ve never understood the attraction of pet-friendly hotels. I go on vacation to get away from my pet. Like Ginny's cat, website editor...

United States Capitol (photo by April Orcutt) The travel industry employs 7.7 million Americans, generates more than $740 billion in spending annually and will play a critical role in driving America’s economic recovery.  To discuss this unique role that travel can play in strengthening the American...