FOCUS ON: Beverley Chapter

Today we welcome Ellie Gray who tells us about one of our recently-formed Chapters.

Enjoying afternoon tea

How long has your chapter been running?

We’ve been running for just over a year. It all started at the RNA Afternoon Tea event in York in September 2015 where we found, by complete coincidence, that five of us on our table live in or near Beverley. We all got on really well, swapped email addresses and kept in touch. Just after Christmas we agreed to have our own Beverley mini-afternoon tea just as a bit of a catch up. We all really enjoyed sharing information, ideas and experiences and to have this as a regular event. As the majority of us were members of the RNA, it made sense to have it as a local Chapter.

How often do you meet?

We meet monthly, on the last Tuesday of every month at 7pm.

Do you have a regular meeting place?

We currently meet at the King's Head in Beverley (our first meeting was in the Beverley Arms Hotel but, following our meeting, it closed down….. I think that was just a coincidence!). The King's Head is a good, central venue but it does tend to get a little busy and noisy so we’re going to explore other options.

How many members attend your meetings?

We’re quite a small group, and usually have between 6 and 10 people at the meetings but we have recently welcomed some new members and we’re looking forward to increasing our membership. This is another reason why we’re exploring other venues as it may be easier to manage if we have a dedicated room or area.

We have a mix of published, non-published, aspiring authors and a mix of RNA and non-RNA members – we’re a very open group and welcome anyone who is interested. Our only stipulation really is that non-members or anyone who is interested in joining or attending the group contacts either myself or one of the other members in the first instance so we can tell them a little bit about the meetings and arrange to meet them at the next meeting.

We have a mix of ages and currently all female! Male members are more than welcome though.

Is your chapter open to non-members of the RNA?

Yes, we’re open to non-members of the RNA and we’re a very open and friendly group, with no requirement for anyone joining to be a romance writer – we have aspiring writers, fantasy/sci-fi, domestic noir writers etc. Since joining the Chapter, at least one member of the group has now joined the RNA NWS so we actively encourage and support aspiring writers and those of us who are published are keen to share our experience and support.

Do your meetings include a meal?

Currently, our meetings don’t include a meal but, as we meet in a pub, I have to say there is often wine involved……

How long are your meetings?

Our meetings start at 7pm in the King's Head, Market Place, Beverley and tend to last a couple of hours. There is plenty of parking outside the pub or in nearby carparks and the bus and train stations are a 5 minute walk away.

Christmas with the
Beverley Chapter

Can you give an outline of speakers/guests you've had in the past year?
We haven’t had any speakers or guests but we have held our own event in Beverley called An Evening with Beverley Chapter. This was a small, ticket only event held in East Riding Theatre in Beverley. Tickets were free but the venue was small so we only allowed up to 15 guests. We had over 70 people wanting to attend so we are looking at holding another event later this year. Four of the Beverley Chapter members did a reading from one of their books and then held a Q&A session. It went very well and we gained a couple of new members from the event. The main draw for the event (and the probable reason for the large number of people wanting to attend) was that Val Wood is one of our members and obviously has a large fan base so this helped with our attendance, I think.

What do you have planned for 2017?

Hopefully, we will be holding another ‘Evening with Beverley Chapter’ event, and on a slightly larger scale this time as the last one was a success. We would like to continue building on our membership too.

What would you say makes your chapter of the RNA so special?
I think we are a really friendly and diverse group of people – both published and non-published, and open to writers of any genre, not just romance. The meetings are informal and relaxed and are a good place to share ideas and experiences and to gain advice in terms of any aspect of writing – there is a lot of experience there. We love to share successes at our meetings but there isn’t an expectation that if you join the group you have to be really focused on getting published; that’s not our way. It is a group where people who write can come and talk about their writing.

Does your chapter have a website, Facebook page or Twitter account?
We have a Facebook page – Beverley Chapter. 

Who is the contact for new members?
Anyone who is interested in joining Beverley Chapter or learning more about the group can contact Ellie Gray on elliegrayauthor@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for joining us. You seem to have had a very busy and successful first year. Wishing you and your members a successful 2017 and beyond.

Image courtesy of
MJ Everest

Natalie Kleinman writes contemporary and historical romantic novels. Her latest Escape to the Cotswolds, is set in the beautiful Cotswolds and is published by HarperCollins HQ Digital on 21^st June 2017.

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

FOCUS ON: Leicester Chapter

This month Lizzie Lamb gives us an insight into the Leicester Chapter and how it functions.

To begin with perhaps you could tell us a bit about your Chapter

The Belmont Belles has been running in its present form for about five years. We usually meet once a month but break in July and August.

Do you have a regular meeting place?

The Belmont Hotel, Leicester – hence the name.

How many members attend your meetings?

We have about thirty five ‘on the books’ and usually about 20 attend. Our meetings usually include a meal. The hotel serves full meals and bar snacks, so members can order what they want from the bar and a waiter brings it to the table.  

That sounds like an ideal way to enjoy a meeting. Is your chapter open to non-members of the RNA?

Yes, some of our best attendees do not belong to the RNA (working hard on them, though). Our meeting usually run from 12 noon until about 3pm

Can you give an outline of speakers/guests you’ve had in the past year?

Our meetings tend to be pretty informal and give writers a chance to get out and unwind. Although the ever lovely Carole Matthews was our guest for lunch and gave us a fabulous uplifting talk.

They've been busy, haven't they!

We have our October workshop, organised in-house - ‘Readers, where to find them and how to keep them!’ We may have some other speakers if time allows, but we like to keep things open ended and fluid.

What would you say makes your chapter of the RNA so special?

Everyone in the chapter, whether full member, NWS, associate, traditionally published or indie author all want to write and sell books, grow their readership, celebrate each other’s successes and take their writing to the highest level. We are all firm friends and every time we meet it’s like a class reunion.  

That sounds just like we would all like our meetings to be. Does your chapter have a website, Facebook page or Twitter account?

We have a ‘secret Facebook page’ where members can post anything they like about their writing, ask for help and generally keep in touch. Any new members who join the chapter would be added to this page.

Finally, could you tell us who prospective new members should contact?

Lizzie Lamb – cyberlambo@hotmail.com 0116 2217468

June Kearns – junekearns2@gmail.com

It’s always nice to hear about our close-knit groups who represent so much of the ethos of the RNA. Thank you for joining us.

Links:

http://tinyurl.com/SOTR2015 Lizzie Lamb’s recently published book, Scotch on the Rocks

The RNA blog is brought to you by 
Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the RNA blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

RNA Conference: Do’s and Don’t’s

For everyone attending this year’s conference we have invited NWS Organiser, Imogen Howson, to give a few pointers on what to expect and how we should conduct ourselves in the pursuit of a publisher or agent.

In the RNA, we’re very fortunate that agents and editors often attend our events.  This year’s conference, being in London, will have more industry professionals than usual—and lots of authors ready to take advantage of their expertise!

But, for an author who doesn’t yet have an agent or editor of their own, it can be intimidating to find yourself next to one at the bar or at the dinner table.  What should you do—ply them with gin and then forcibly thrust your manuscript into their hands, or give them one terrified look and slink away before they can speak to you?

Neither, hopefully!  Read on for a list of do’s and don’t’s for meeting agents and editors.

• Do be friendly.  No one comes to an RNA conference if they’re unwilling to talk to authors.  The atmosphere is usually very relaxed, and everyone will be happy to chat to you, even if they have to stare at your chest (I mean name badge) to work out who you are.

• Don’t worry about feeling shy.  A huge number of writers are shy, or introverted (or both).  It’s absolutely fine to start a conversation by saying, “Can I talk to you?  This is my first conference and I don’t know anyone.”  Or even, “Can I sit with you?  This is my sixth conference and I can’t remember who anyone is!”

• Do talk to anyone you meet, feel free to sit at tables that are already partially occupied, strike up conversations in the lunch queue, and sit next to strangers in the talks and workshops.

• Don’t interrupt an obviously private conversation.  If an editor/agent is head down in conversation with another author, try not to interrupt.  The conversation might be between an author and their own editor/agent, or it might be that author’s one chance to pitch their book to their dream agent.  Find someone else to chat to in the meantime.

• Do come prepared to talk about your book if asked.  Everyone you talk to will probably, at some point, ask what you write or what you’re working on at the moment.  If this person is an agent or editor, and you’ve prepared a few-sentence pitch that describes your book in a short, “hooky” way, you’ll be so pleased with yourself afterwards!  If you have to ramble for ten minutes, forget your heroine’s name, and go away realising you forgot to explain the main conflict, you won’t be so pleased.  A little bit of practice before the conference could pay off beautifully—and even if it doesn’t, it’s good practice for future events!

• Don’t do a hard-sell of your manuscript.  It’s absolutely fine to talk about your book at an appropriate point in the conversation, but plunging straight into your pitch isn’t the best way to begin.  And trying to insist that someone look at your book even if they’re showing no sign of interest, or have already said they don’t represent/publish that type of fiction, isn’t a great idea either.

• Do be aware of the genre, length and type of your book.  If a publisher only publishes short, light-hearted romances, they’re unlikely to be interested in a 100-word-plus gritty crime thriller, even if it does contain a romantic sub-plot.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell them about it if asked, but do remember that they’re unlikely to ask to look at the manuscript.  And don’t try to persuade them—they know what they can sell, and if your book wouldn’t do well with them, you don’t want to be published with them anyway!

• Don’t try to give agents or editors a copy of your book.  (Especially not a printed copy—nobody wants their luggage to end up heavier than it starts!)  Editors and agents have different submission guidelines, which they need authors to adhere to.  It’s not usually useful to them to be given a copy, whether print or on a flash drive.  If an agent or editor would like to see your book, they’ll probably give you their business card or email address or direct you to the submissions guidelines on their website. 

Finally:

• Do come to the NWS session on Saturday morning.  Imogen Howson, the NWS Organiser, will be there to answer any questions or concerns you have.

About Immi:

Immi combines writing young adult fiction, working as an editor for Samhain Publishing, and running the New Writers Scheme. Her latest book is Unravel, a YA science fiction romance. When she’s not writing, editing or taking NWS parcels to the post office, she drinks coffee, runs, cuddles cats, hamsters and teenagers (her own, not other people’s), and collects Sweet Valley High and Chalet School books. She can be found at www.imogenhowson.com and twitter.com/imogenhowson

Do you have any tips to add to Immi’s? Please add them in our comments section below.

Thank you, Immi. We are sure this will be extremely helpful to those attending.
 

Have a good Conference!
 

Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

I'll Drink to That!

Today we meet Karen Aldous 

Karen lives with her husband and dogs in the beautiful Kent countryside where they brought up their three children. She enjoys activities which can be shared with family and friends walking, cycling and skiing.

Inspired initially by Jilly Cooper, Karen continues to adore great stories and writers. She attributes her passion for writing to three Ps - People, Places and Property. Her career allowed her to indulge in them all, providing useful material for her debut novel, The Vineyard.

What gave you the idea for your book and how long did it take you to write?

Provence and the Riviera and imagining how lovely it would be to live there, but I didn’t want my main character to inherit a vineyard in France. That would have been too easy for her. I wanted her to be a completely independent single mum who was inspirational, creative and determined to provide for her child. It took me ten months to write altogether if I count the time actually writing and editing but it was in my head for about ten years.

Why did you decide on that particular location?

I chose the location simply because Provence is stunning and I would love to own my own vineyard there.
Cannes has a cosmopolitan and glamorous appeal, not only for my character but also to readers. I know I would want to escape there in a book. I actually used Meopham, my home village in Kent, as my setting. It has a vineyard, it's beautiful and one of my favourite walks goes down through a lovely valley. 

How did you carry out your research?I used the information I gathered whilst in Provence and revisited Cannes staying in the apartment which became Lizzie’s home. It was perfect because it was located within a community rather than the touristy areas. I also did a week-long Wine Growers course at Plumpton College in Sussex. The Internet too is an invaluable research tool; if there is anything it can’t answer, it will lead you to the experts that can.

How did you learn your craft?

I read a lot and over the years I’ve been writing on and off, starting novels or short stories but never really sending anything out. I completed a BSc Hons majoring in Psychology with literature because there were very few creative writing courses around at that time but I subscribed to Writing Magazines and read books on writing. There are so many more nowadays. However, in the last two years I’ve been much more focused on my writing, joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) and a novel class at The Write Place Creative Writing School, both of which have been invaluable. My weekly class improved my skills and motivation and the critiques I received from the NWS guided me to the professional standards I needed to attain. Both have been huge contributors to my writing confidence too; the helpfulness and friendliness of fellow writers has made learning my craft a real pleasure.

If your book was turned into a film who would you like to play the main characters?

Jessica Brown-Findlay or Emily Blunt as Lizzie, Jude Law as Cal, Sheridan Smith as Sophie and Emma Thompson as Lizzie’s mother Caroline.

Can you tell us something about your next book?

My next book is set both in London and, the beautiful Lake Geneva, the Swiss Riviera. Gina is fascinated by the Chateau de Chillon and its past haunting inhabitants. As she discovers more from one in particular, her life begins a path she could never have imagined.

If you were to take part in Desert Island Discs what would be your choice of book?

I would probably take the largest notebook I could to write in and write as small as I could because I wouldn’t know how long I would be there. But I know that’s not the point. I think it would have to be Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen provided the best template for women writers and it never fails to entertain as well as teach me

Thank you for sharing with us today, Karen

Amazon UK: The Vineyard

Blog posts are brought to you by Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman.

If you wish to have a book featured or contribute a craft item please contact us on:elaineeverest@aol.com