Wednesday, February 15, 2017

FOCUS ON: The South and West Wales Chapter


It's a great pleasure to welcome the South and West Wales Chapter today. Michaela Weaver has very kindly dropped in to speak to Jean Fullerton about their meetings.
Welcome, Kaela! 

How long has your chapter been running, Kaela?
helena fairfax

It's been running in different formats for over fifteen years!

How often do you meet?
Currently we have monthly meetings scheduled, but we may revise this to quarterly.

Where is your regular meeting place?
We meet in Cardiff and Swansea

How many members attend your meetings?
We are expanding our group. We have 19 members in our Facebook Group. Meetings are normally attended by 5-10 members.

Do your meetings include a meal?
As people are travelling a distance, meetings are held with an optional lunch. The Swansea meeting is at Morgan's Hotel and includes a two-course lunch

Is your chapter open to non-members of the RNA?
We are open to established authors who are non-RNA members, and those considering the NWS are welcome to attend a taster meeting

How long are your meetings?
They typically last from 12-2.30 or 3pm

Can you give an outline of speakers/guests you've had in the past year?
I have just taken over as lead for this Chapter. Hazel Cushion is running a workshop/talk in March on Author Marketing. We hope to have regular speakers from now on.

What do you have planned for 2017?
We have monthly meetings scheduled right through the year. These can be found on our Facebook Group. Anyone in the RNA is welcome to join the group.

What would you say makes your chapter of the RNA so special?
As we are a Welsh Chapter I have to say, the 'hwyl' which is Welsh for fun!

Does your chapter have a website, Facebook page or Twitter account?
We have a Facebook Goup

Who is the contact for new members?
I'm the contact, and new members can contact me at kaela_weaver@btopenworld.com

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RNASWWales/

Thanks so much for joining us, Kaela. Wishing you and your members much 'hwyl' at the next meeting!



About Jean:

Jean was born in East End of London and spent all her career as a district nurse in East London but is now a full-time writer. Wedding Bells for Nurse Connie, is her current release. Her next novel Pocketful of Dreams, set in the turbulent years of WW2, is due for release in June 2017 and is the first in next East London series.
Her first series with Orion Fiction was set in the Victorian period after which she jumped forward to post-war East London.
She is a proud graduate from the NWS and passionate about the local chapters, which is why she has taken on the role of Chapters Liaison. 


This blog was prepared by blog team member, Helena Fairfax



3 comments:

Sandra Mackness said...

Thanks, Helena and Michaela! It was a lovely surprise to see our chapter featured on the blog. We're looking forward to a busy and successful 2017.

Jan Baynham said...

It's so good to see our Welsh chapter featuring on the blog. I always look forward to the meetings and catching up with everyone's writing news. Unfortunately, I have to miss February's meeting in Swansea and seeing our West Wales members again as I'm off on holiday that day. Here's to a very successful 2017! ��

Hywela Lyn said...

Lovely to learn more about the south and west Wales chapter. I lived in rural mid west Wales most of my life and worked at the UCW, but moved to England on my marriage. I really miss Wales and always enjoy coming back when I can. Nice to know there is such a thriving writing community there.