Join Our Community of Dog Lovers!

Subscribe now so that you get email alerts about all new content and/or updates from Champion of My Heart!  +

FREE e-book "8 Things to Know About Veterinary Care"

April 28, 2011

Today, I fly to New York City so that I can speak at the upcoming American Society of Journalists and Authors conference. My topic is finding and maximizing your blogging niche. But, first I have a long travel day ahead.

With help from a writer friend who also works as a travel agent, I got a good deal on a direct flight from Denver to New York City. I had to pay a little extra to fly nonstop, but a shorter overall trip combined with less stress and no connection worries made sense.

You probably know this, but I’m not a big fan of the urban landscape. It’s a bit like taking Lilly into a loud, crowded dog event. I suspect it’s gotten a little weirder for me since we’ve been living in a rural spot since 2001. I can go 7, 10, 14 days without leaving the house or seeing anyone but Tom and the pups. So, suffice it to say, that I’ll get more human contact in the next 4 days than I’ve had in many years combined.

Oh, boy!

dog blog champion of my heartMountain Girl Goes to the City, Day 1

As soon as I arrive, I’ll speed my way to the hotel in midtown Manhattan, where I’m sharing a room with my colleague and friend Kerri Fivecoat Campbell, who asked me to speak and who will moderate the session I’m doing Saturday. Kerri blogs about animal rescue and about her life, living in a tiny house in the Ozarks.

Because hotels in the city are silly expensive, sharing helps both of our travel budgets. Plus, even though we’ve known each other for years, we’ve never met in person. So, it’ll be fun to share our city adventure.

Thursday night, I’m also excited to have dinner with one of my longtime editors. She lives just blocks from the hotel and has promised to bring one of her dogs over to get me. She’ll leave her fearful pup at home, but I’ll get to meet her before we go grab dinner.

Mountain Girl Goes to the City, Day 2

I saved Friday for a couple of important meetings that alas have fallen through, leaving me deflated, but I’m going to have fun anyway.

I’m having lunch with one of my young, hip, urban friends who works at a law library near my hotel.

Dinner will include several fellow pro-writer pals and blogger friends. Nothing better than spending time with your mentors. Truly.

Mountain Girl Goes to the City, Day 3

Saturday, I speak first thing in the morning, then I get to attend the conference and take a bunch of other classes. Not sure, yet, what I’m doing … other than collapsing … Saturday night.

I’m trying to convince a friend who lives in Connecticut to take the train down to the city, but if she cannot, then Kerri and I might fit in a dinner.

Mountain Girl Goes to the City, Day 4

Sunday, I’m SUPER excited to have brunch plans with Sam and Marge. So, I’ll spend time with them in the morning, then hustle my way back the airport for my flight home.

Stay tuned for photos and all that, after I get back and get some rest.

***

I’ll probably be too busy and too tired to post anything tomorrow, so have a great weekend.

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. Well this post and my site have two things in common

    “NYC” and “Mountain” 🙂

    Shivki…

  2. I can empathize. We live in a rural setting now, so every time I’m up in the city, which is getting rare but does happen, I feel overwhelmed by all the loud noise.

    Glad you had a good time at the conference!

  3. Hi Roxanne! How have I never been here before? I just read through many of your posts and can so relate!:) I hopped over from Margeblog, which I love, and am happy to find a new, well written and informative blog!

    I too am a country girl who avoids the city. Unfortunately that’s impossible since I live smack in the middle of one.LOL Still, it’s no NYC and I don’t think I would really love to go there at all!

    I have a fearful girl, Maizey. We are working on her dog reactivity and she is at the point where we are even trying a class, but it’s hard some days. I really appreciate what Sam said about you knowing how to greet Marge in the proper way for a fearful dog. It’s so true that people don’t understand dog behavior enough and it’s always nice to hang with someone who knows how to help our fearful dogs.

    Glad I found your blog! I’ll be back to see what’s new and catch up on the past posts.:)

    1. Thanks so much for popping over to visit, after hearing about my adventure in NYC to see Sam and Marge. Living with our fearful dogs is indeed an adventure. I wish Lilly and I had the same agility successes that Sam and Marge enjoy, but in our (apparent) failure we’ve found a shared calling that’s taking us in a new direction. Oh, we still train and all that, but we’re finding grace in our missteps.

  4. Actually, I think Western Mountain Girl (Roxanne) adapted to the big city better than Southern Mountain Girl (Kerri). It was a blast sharing a room with Roxanne and she did a fabulous job on my panel!

  5. Hi Roxanne!

    I’m with Innova Natural Pet Food, and we love the blogs you write about dogs. I’d be pleased to have you join our Innova blogger outreach program. In an effort to spread the word about Innova and its availability in more stores than ever before, we’re gearing up to provide sample kits to selected bloggers with some exciting Innova goodies like free product coupons!

    If you’re interested in receiving this sample, as well as additional information and potential future partnership opportunities with Innova and the other brands owned by our parent company Natura Pet Products, like EVO and California Natural, please contact me at marketing@naturapet.com.

    I hope to hear from you!

    Best regards,

    Stephanie on behalf of Innova Natural Pet Food

  6. Roxanne,

    Absolutely delighted you are here in NYC. You gave me a solid idea I can use tonight:

    Choose my angle… Primary, secondary, tertiary.

    Narrative
    How to
    Be the change

    1. Thanks so much, Jason, for your energy and enthusiasm. I am SO glad you got some ideas you can put to use right away. Enjoy the rest of your NYC adventure. It was terrific to meet you.

Comments are closed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Free!

Stay Tuned for Something New!

big things in the works ... promise

Success message!
Warning message!
Error message!