Folks, we’ve got some exciting news on the LP 2010 front.
First, we’ve confirmed John E. Miller and Pamela Smith Hill as guest speakers.
Miller is the author of at least three books and numerous articles about the Wilder-Lane women and their legacies. And Hill recently published the first new biography of Laura in quite some time. Both will be featured speakers at next summer’s convention.
In other news, we’re talking to HarperCollins about sponsoring one portion of the conference. One of their New York Times-bestselling authors, Wendy Corsi Straub, is a fellow Laura-lover who will include LP as a stop on her book tour next summer, speaking about her passion and travels with her sons to the Little House sites. Additionally, Alison Arngrim has a new book through HC out next summer; if our dates line up, and the stars align, she’ll stop here, not just for a book-signing, but to perform her one-woman show.
Finally, I’ve arranged for housing for next summer. Attendees have a choice between securing their own hotels–we’ve reserved room blocks at the nearby AmericInn as well as secured special rates at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Mankato–or staying right on campus. For $110 per person, attendees can have one bed in a four-bed suite in our new Julia A. Sears residence hall for all three nights of the conference. This price includes all meals, so it’s a steal. (I’d start talking to three close friends about sharing NOW though. We’ll try to coordinate roommates as closely as we possibly can.) Each suite shares one bathroom.
What do you think, folks?
As always, leave your comments so we can incorporate your ideas into summer planning.