An RNA Author Outing

As you all know I love an Author Outing and if you throw in a smoked salmon sandwich and a fruit packed scone I'm first in the queue for the bus! Consequently last Saturday's RNA Chelmsford Chapter High Tea in Colchester was right up my street and I put my name down for a ticket as soon as the event made an appearance on social media.

As with anything that features the RNA logo, the afternoon didn't disappoint, in fact the whole day was a treat because I had the pleasure of traveling with my new bff Jenni Keer. Jenni, like myself, belongs to the rapidly expanding Norfolk Chapter and is a member of the New Writers Scheme. I'm not going to tell you too much about her because she is joining me on the blog next week, but needless to say the train journey from Diss to Colchester was packed full of author chat and laughter.

The event itself was in a stunning Georgian building, The Minories which had a garden to die for and supplied high tea and fizz, (for those lucky enough not to be driving) to around, well I didn't actually do a head count, but probably around thirty of us.

As ever it was wonderful to catch up with old friends, put real life faces to Facebook thumbnails and meet new authors. Jean Fullerton, as beautiful as ever, kept us all in check and chatted to Jenni and myself about the importance of conflict within a plot amongst other things. I'm certain she doesn't realise it but everything Jean says is insightful, helpful and knowledge. I always learn something when I see her and this occasion was no exception so thank you Jean.

Guest of honour for the afternoon was lovely Victoria Connelly, another author who definitely knows her onions! Victoria gave a wonderful speech about the importance of actually writing books and keeping our work at the centre of everything we do, especially now when it is so easy to waste precious writing time fiddling about on social media and writing blog posts that no one will read. (Apart from this one of course).

After her wonderful talk and fascinating insight into her broad writing career and publication journey, I finally got to have my fangirl moment and grabbed the opportunity for a few minutes chat. A long term reader of Miss Read and a seasoned chicken keeper, we had lots to talk about it was lovely to finally meet someone I have so long admired.

Before we knew it the afternoon was over and it was time to head back to the station to catch the train home. Needless to say Jenni and I had twice as much to chat about on the return journey and I am already looking forward to the summer party in a couple of weeks time. In fact, I'm now off to book my train tickets!

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

H x