We’re talking travel blogging at South by Southwest

Well, hurray for success the second time around….

Last year, I sent in a proposal for a travel blogging panel at SXSWi (the South by Southwest Interactive tech/online media conference) here in Austin, Texas, but it was not selected.

I only pouted for about a week, really.

Always bull-headed, I tried again this year and re-submitted my proposal, since I figured that it was a good idea that deserved another try.

The conference organizers apparently agreed; I just got an email telling me that Blog Highways: Travel Blogging for the Wanderer is on the docket for the next SXSWi, to be held in downtown Austin March 13-17, 2009.

My outstanding co-presenter will be writer/photographer Pam Mandel —  she is the BlogHer Travel Editor, writes and takes photos on Nerd’s Eye View and corrals a lively crew of bloggers on the Travelblogger’s Forum.

There will be a gaggle of experts in the audience as well to lend their insights and advice; I hear that Condé Nast Traveler‘s Wendy Perrin may attend, and Leif Pettersen of Killing Batteries unless he’s stuck in Italy during March updating the Lonely Planet Guide to Tuscany (let’s see….Austin or Tuscany? Hmmm, tough call.)

Thanks to all who have supported this idea and left wonderfully supportive comments through two Panel Picker iterations, and I look forward to seeing all of you in person at “South by.”