Elaine Everest tells us about
Writers’ Holiday and its move to Fishguard.
 |
| The view from my bedroom window over Fishguard Bay |
Members couldn’t fail to have
seen the impressive advertisement on the back cover of so many issues of Romance
Matters. The Fishguard Bay Hotel, looking out over a glistening sea, well known as the home of actors from films such
as Moby Dick and Under Milk Wood was for the first time the destination for the delegates
of the summer’s week long Writers’ Holiday. Set in Pembrokeshire, so far west
that if we’d taken many more steps we’d have been on the ferry to Ireland, some
of us weren’t sure of what to expect.
Each year we’d travelled to Caerlon and
lived as students at the South of Wales campus near Newport that to suddenly
have our holiday moved could be the kiss of death.
Gerry and Ann Hobbs had assured
us that we would love Writers’ Holiday, after all it had been the destination
for their February writer events for many a year. We were still unsure. What
about the kitchen parties, the student bar, the male voice choir? Gerry assured
us nothing would change and we could still party in our rooms if we so wished.
I have to confess that he’d sold it to me as soon as he announced that the
Cwmbach Male Choir would be there to perform the last night concert. I sent off
my deposit.
 |
Fishguard Bay Hotel from across the bay
|
But how to travel to Fishguard?
In the past I’d been part of a road trip with other friends from Kent and once
we were in the car our holiday had started. Which reminds me, it’s very hard to
convince one’s husband that we are away for the week to learn more about the
craft of writing when Gerry called it a writers’ holiday! So, for the first
time a group of travelled by train. We set off two days early, only so that we
could avail ourselves of the cheap first class tickets. The plan was to write
and do a little sightseeing. Little did we know that as we travelled from Kent
we left the thunder and lightning behind and arrived with glorious sunshine
that stayed for the whole week so we spent more time being tourists and
visiting the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside than we did pounding the
keyboard.
Rooms were comfortable and the
staff welcoming. We found no fault with the varied menu and as most of our time
was spent on the verandah enjoying a drink whilst looking out over the bay with
friend old and new we couldn’t fault the company.
Courses, after tea events, main
speakers and other events were as good as ever, although due to the glorious
weather many delegates chose to drop out of the informal events and head for
the sunshine.
 |
| Kate Walker with some of her students |
My favourite course of the week
was with well-known RNA member, Kate Walker who took us through eight hours of
writing romance that culminated with eating chocolate and talking about sex.
Not bad eh? As usual Kate kept the pace up throughout the course and we left
with a folder full of hand outs and our heads buzzing. The pink Mills and Boon
pen was handy as well. My own notebook
had many notes on how to add romance to my current work in progress. I may not
have managed to write many words of the novel but my planning really profited.
RNA stalwart, Marina Oliver was
also there teaching a course on novel writing. Sorry, Marina, I really wanted to
attend but you clashed with Kate. Perhaps I will be able to make it next year
when you tutor a group on historical fiction.
The final night performance by
the Cwmbach Choir was as great as ever with an additional performance by soprano
and harpist, Joy Cornock, pure delight.
Already many delegates have
booked for next year. The courses are on the Writers’ Holiday website.
I hope to see you there!
Elaine
x
Elaine
x
This blog is brought to you by Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman. If you would like to contribute to the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com
