I rarely need reminders about why I love what I do. Since the day I was four, learning to read perched on my father’s lap, his patient fingers running under the headlines of The Chicago Tribune, I was hooked. The day I could read those headlines to him, we headed down the block for my first library card, a trip we repeated every week until the day I headed to college.

My love of books has never wavered and I’ve never earned a dime doing anything that wasn’t connected to words, first as a journalist and then in publishing.

But this week, I had the rare experience of falling in love all over again. Leaving balmy Austin for the windy city, I was off to my second annual “Pow-Wow”, a conference run by 800 CEO READ where roughly 50 people from all walks of the publishing world gather. So nervous about my duty to discuss publicity and marketing, I admit I didn’t give much thought to the grander purpose at hand — the rare opportunity to spend two days with people who write, publish, edit, market, distribute and sell business books.

It didn’t take long to get swept away. In a day and time when social networking is the hottest buzz word and “relationships” are things that can happen virtually, it is a rare and amazing thing to spend face time with people who share a passion for books that collectively capture the best business ideas of our time. Gathered together in the kitschy, 1950s decor at Catalyst Ranch. we plopped into armchairs, around chrome dining tables, grabbing sodas from the old Frigidaire in the back of the room, got comfortable and started to learn from one another.

Nick Morgan of Public Words gave a captivating talk about how ideas can go from good to great. Susan Williams, publisher of Jossey-Bass, took us inside her world of acquiring and advocating books as they come to market. Ben McConnell and David Meerman Scott were among the experts who gave a great insider’s guide to the brave new world of blogging, while Todd Sattersten of 800 CEO READ served as host, moderator, interviewer and tour guide. There wasn’t a session where I didn’t see people taping away on their laptops to capture what was being said or waving their hands like eager third graders to ask a question. When was the last time you had THAT experience at a conference?

In a world where cut throat competition is celebrated and civility too often gets lost, it truly was magic to watch people who compete for contracts, shelf space, and media time, willingly reach out to those around them to offer insight from their own experiences that would help their colleagues. I’m guessing that no one left this two day session without learning at least one thing about publishing that had never crossed their mind.

Just as it was so famously suggested that it takes a village to raise a child, it sure couldn’t hurt to have this kind of community around when you next release your book into the world as a permanent record to be viewed, judged, bought, and read. Everyone can benefit from a hand at their back and this week, I think 50 people just got a safety net as they go bravely forth to bring us great books.

Thanks to Jack, Todd, Kate, Rebecca and the rest of the gang at 8CR for pulling off a great event!