THINGS WE LEARNED...RNA CONFERENCE 2012

Things we learned on the Roadtrip to the RNA Conference

By Ruth Long, Denise Deegan, Jane Travers & Sally Clements

Ferry companies should not have a staircase reminiscent of the Titanic on their ships, nor should they show documentaries about exploring shipwrecks. Or have safety videos that seem to have been made by the same people as Money for Nothing by Dire Straits.

It is possible to eat your body weight in free mini pastries on the ferry.

Four Irish women in a car soon revert to stereotypes of parents & kids.

Wales does not exist in the rain. It is all grey. And invisible.

While some people discuss folklore, mythology and legends in the front of the car, some people throw jelly babies about in the back.

It is possible to eat your body weight in jelly babies.

The magic of an RNA conference means the moment we reached the Lake District the sun came out. And it was GORGEOUS.

Ruth and Jane work well together as navigator and driver, right up until the moment they arrive at the campus when they promptly argue about which entrance to use. They were both right!

Our reputations preceded us. (Oops! Blame Twitter. And the Roadtrip)

Do not mention anything unmentionable to Jane Lovering just before she gives a speech (Kate Johnson).

On Friday night we were the quiet kitchen. This had to be amended.

Ruth still believes we were the quiet kitchen on Friday night. Shh, don't tell.

The Sun always Shines on TV, and at an RNA conference. (Well, not always, but more than for the rest of the summer)

We don’t want another 50 shades of Grey conversation.

We are easily confused/bewildered/amused.

Jane Lovering can bring Jane Travers to the verge of an athsma attack in under a minute.

Ms Alison Maynard has a little cup.

On Saturday night we were NOT the quiet kitchen.

It is possible to drink your own body weight in wine. Though perhaps not wise.

It may not be possible to get up the next morning. Not all the way up.

There is a beautiful garden in Newton Rigg. With WICKERMEN in it. It is probably best that we didn’t discover this until we were about to go and were under time constraints.

Be careful when purchasing pasties. Very careful.

Wales is pretty in sunshine. And there. Which was nice as that’s where we were getting our ferry from. Phew.

No one is allowed to say “Nothing can go wrong now” until all the way home. ALL THE WAY HOME. And then some.

It is possible to eat your body weight in free cheese and crackers on the ferry.

The RNA Conference itself... we learned SO MUCH. And were awed by the kindness, generosity, friendliness and intelligence of everyone there. Thank you all so much. We will be back. (If this sounds like a threat... oops).

Juliet Greenwood Shares a Haven of Peace at the RNA Conf12

‘Have you seen the gardens?’ This was the question that passed me by several times before I finally followed directions through the Newton Rigg campus to this place that so many people were raving about. 

You see, I’d been so excited about going to my first RNA conference in years - and having decidedly second thoughts on the wisdom of actually leading one of the sessions - that I hadn’t looked closely at the Newton Rigg campus. Apart from actually finding it on Google Maps, that is. So it wasn’t until I made my way through a little green gate that it finally twigged that this was a horticultural college. And that the gardens were truly something special. 

On the other side of the gate lay beautifully kept lawns with swaths of meadow flowers and cottage-garden borders on either side. Ponds of all shapes and sizes, with clear water and water lilies in bloom, appeared between the beds. Further in, there were polytunnels crammed with healthy-looking flowers and vegetables that put my own poor version at home to shame. Cages enclosed blackcurrants and redcurrants, keeping them safe from human as well as animal temptation – including some very sleek-looking rabbits that kept on appearing on the lawns. And as for the herb spiral – I’ve been trying to make one out of stone, but this one was encased in metal, with herbs growing round the central spiral to a great height. I was left with a severe case of herb-spiral envy. 

The gardens weren’t just beautiful and practical, they were fun, too. A large willow figure fished in one of the ponds, while two others played badminton amongst the greenery. 
On the last afternoon of the Conference, I made my way back to the gardens to sit and absorb the weekend. It was a perfect place to contemplate. Green and peaceful. 

I have wonderfully happy memories of the RNA conference in Penrith. I came back refreshed and inspired and with renewed enthusiasm. And the college’s lovely gardens are definitely a part of that inspiration, too. 

I’ll be back ……

Juliet latest book...

2010 - Carys aggrees, with mixed feelings, to look after her mother after a fall. Once home she is haunted by old memories of a childhood sweetheart. How will she feel when they meet again? 1895 - Ann , destitute, stands on London bridge. She remembers her last visit to London, a spoilt aristocratic bride, sure of the power of her youth and beauty. Now the river seems like her only option...A powerful tale of two women struggling with love, family duty, long-buried secrets and their own creative ambitions. Can Carys follow the clues left by Ann and find her true path?

High Heels and Hangovers...Rebecca Leith talks about RNA Conf12 Gala

For many of us Saturday night at the annual RNA conference is all about shoes. This year was no exception.

After a day of interesting, informative and humorous talks and workshops, it was time to get glammed up for the Gala Dinner. I left my room in full control of my footwear and went off in search of friends, and wine, in the bar. 

It’s a long-standing joke that we’re often reduced to peering at the boobs of others – not because we’re interested in their cleavage – but in an effort to read their name badges. So much of our communication is done by e-mail or on social networking sites, we have to peer to make sure we’ve got the right person to fling our arms round before letting them know how wonderful it is to meet them in the real world.

In future I’m going to wear my badge on my back. People can then happily confirm it’s me – with the added bonus of being able to walk away if they don’t want to talk to me, as I’m not the cyber friend they thought I was. Nothing worse than, as is my case, myopically peering at someone’s name only to find it’s a case of mistaken identity.

Along with the conversation at the dinner the wine flows. In the past I have abandoned my killer heels, flinging them over my shoulder as I’ve surrendered in the battle of the bunions to walk bare foot back to my room.

The worse case scenario is being seduced by one of the many kitchen parties. The pain of the bunions forgotten as yet more wine flows. Walking home in killer heels should be policed – with friends removing your shoes if they deem you unfit to be in possession them. I’m amazed I haven’t been involved in multiple pile ups at various campuses around the UK as I’ve tottered home, arm in arm with new friends and old, all thinking we’re totally in control of our heels.

Then, of course, the next day there’s the hangover. Help is on hand to remedy this with housemates sharing alka seltzer, copious amounts of water and breakfast being provided by the venue.  It’s a time to share the woes of others – and join in hunt for much loved and admired shoes that, in a moment of euphoria at having pitched successfully to an agent or publisher, were thrown in the air in celebration to end up hanging in a tree or buried in a bush.

But it isn’t really all about heels and hangovers.  It’s about friendship, fun and learning.  It’s also an opportunity to celebrate our love for the RNA and what this wonderful organisation means to us.

PS I must add I got off lightly this year.  I walked back to my room in perfect control of my footwear, didn’t get lost and didn’t wake with a hangover!

First Time Attendee Impression – Sue Fortin, NWS, One Ninth of The Romaniacs

Why hadn’t I been before?

Last year I joined the RNA under the New Writers’ Scheme and although I was kept up to date with what was happening via newsletters and Twitter, I didn’t feel totally connected. I was new to the RNA, I was new to Twitter and despite everyone being very welcoming and friendly, it was still only through social networking and I didn’t have that belonging feeling.  So when it came to book for conference last year, well, I didn’t. I mean, I wouldn’t know anyone, would I? Everyone else would know everyone else and I’d be there on my own.  I enjoy meeting people but it’s not in my nature to randomly strike up a conversation with someone I don’t know, so I didn’t go.

What changed my mind?

Afterwards when I saw everyone’s tweets, read the blogs and saw all the photos, it sounded and looked like everyone had great fun and I did wish that I had been brave enough to go. When I was on a workshop run by Sarah Duncan, both she and another writer said how warm and welcoming the RNA Conference would be and that I really should consider it for 2012.

So this year, with the back-up of my fellow Romaniacs, I took the plunge and booked my place for Penrith. 

Even before the weekend, I was made to feel very welcome, firstly, by Jan Jones through reassuring e-mails and, secondly, by the e-mails that circulated for First Time Attendees. It was comforting to know that there were actually many others in the same position.

So, what did I think of the Conference?

FAN – TAS –TIC!

All the talks I attended were brilliant. I can’t thank the speakers enough for the hard work and effort they had clearly put into their presentations – the advice invaluable.  Talli Roland’s talk was excellent, lots of tips for getting internet savvy. Nell Dixon’s talk was equally beneficially – the dreaded editing process, which now I perhaps won’t fear quite so much.  What can I say about Jane Wenham-Jones’ 9 a.m. Sunday morning slot? Laughter is certainly the best medicine for a slightly fragile head.

I had two 1-2-1 appointments with editors, which although daunting, turned out to be very relaxed affairs yet still maintaining a professional air.  Something else I worried far too much about.

Not only did the talks and presentations all live up to and beyond my expectations, but the social side was brilliant too. It was lovely to see so many people I had met in the past year at the RNA winter and summer parties, plus friends I had made through Twitter and Facebook.  The whole conference had a lovely re-union feel about it. 

What did I get out of Conference?

1.       Excellent advice

2.       Opportunity of 1-2-1 meetings with editors

3.       Friendship

4.       New laughter lines

Will I go again?

Most definitely.

Alison Maynard on the RNA Conference 2012 Gala Dinner

The social side of the RNA conference is a big part of the appeal. We go to learn. We go to get updates on industry trends, but we also go to relax and spend time with like-minded people who will admire our pretty shoes. For those of us married to sensible engineers, any comment on our shoes that doesn’t start, “Don’t you already have some like that?” is particularly appreciated.

Saturday night’s Gala dinner is the big opportunity to glam up, get your tanned bits out (fake-tanned this year obviously), drink some wine, eat some food and just have fun. For me, this year’s Gala dinner turned into a particularly fabulous night, because my short story, Feel the Fear, was announced as the winner of the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy. I started hyperventilating as soon as my story was announced as one of the top three. Fortunately, the people on my table were kind enough to remind me to breathe, and I was able to collect the award without fainting in amazement or falling off my heels.

The night after that is a cheery blur. There were lots of congratulations. There was quiet marvelling at the names, the proper grown-up writer names, already engraved on the Elizabeth Goudge cup. There was at least one moment of being made (forced, absolutely and completely against my will) to drink champagne. There was discussion about whether the champagne would taste better if I drank it out of the Elizabeth Goudge cup. But more than anything else there were new friends, genuinely chuffed to be there for someone else’s happy moment, with no jealousy or resentment, but lots of laughs and encouragement and pretty pretty shoes.

Editor Note: I couldn't resist posting these photos of Alison...her delight should be bottled!

A First Timer's View of the Conference by Jean Bull

The board said Platform 3b - Glasgow Central, calling at Penrith. Penrith! The RNA Conference! I felt as if I’d been thrust through the wall to Platform 9¾!

I’d only decided to go last month; an online RNA friend, Rosemary Gemmell, had asked me if I was, and I thought why not, at least I’d know someone, but now I wasn’t so sure. I needn’t have worried though. Jan Jones welcomed me with a big smile, and handed me my name badge with First Conference on it so everyone would make me even more at ease.

However, it was scary entering the room full of writers, talking as if they’d known each other all their lives. The noise was phenomenal! I recognised some names because I’d read their books and their knowledgeable emails on romna. Help! But then I spotted Rosemary, and I was soon part of the crowd. That evening, I met up with some other first timers; Anna Scamans had sent out an email to all the newcomers so we could get in touch in advance.

The Gala Dinner was the highlight with everyone dressing in fabulous clothes, and unbelievable shoes, and I believe that some even partied on into the small hours! 

The sessions were inspiring with people like Nell Dixon and Henriette Gyland, to name just two, who were equally happy to share our table at mealtimes. And I came away fired up to write this blog, enter a partial manuscript for the NWS this year, and get my novel finished!

All too soon we were ferried to the station in taxis, like the end of term at Hogwarts, sorry our short time at the conference was over and looking forward to next year in Sheffield. Thank you to everyone who made it such a success.

Jean's Gipsy Moth available on Amazon Kindle 
http://jeanbullswritingblog.blogspot.com/

Rowan Coleman's Thoughts on Her First RNA Conference

Tamsyn Murray, Rowan Coleman and Cally Taylor

There are many reason why, after being a member of the RNA for ten years, the 2012 summer conference was my very first, and it has absolutely nothing to do with having recently had twin baby boys and needing some sleep. It’s a little bit that I’m quite shy about joining in, and that after spending a lot of time locked up in my office writing a novel and conversing mainly with under threes, when people do let me out in public I talk far too much and far too loudly without stopping to take a breath (some of you may have noticed that…).

However, after spending a weekend in Penrith I really do wonder why it’s taken me so long to go. What a wonderful time I had!

Before going I was a little alarmed by the kit that conference experts told me I should take, especially by Liz Fenwick’s twitter musings on whether or not to take wellies. I worried that I might be going to some sort of romance boot camp, and that there might be marching and maybe enforced group hugs. Well, I needn’t have worried, there were plenty of group hugs, but none of them enforced, and as lovely Miranda Dickinson said, what incredible value the conference brings. Not only a weekend away, with lovely people but the sheer volume of knowledge, expertise and experience concentrated in one place, is worth its weight in gold. Highlights were many, but my favourite were Talli Roland’s clever and incisive talk on online marketing, Tamsyn Murray, bringing me up to date on ‘going all the way’ in YA, Jenny Barden’s fascinating talk on researching historical romance, Kate Harrison’s pertinent discussion on the future of women’s fiction, and Julie Cohen turning a whole room of grown women into weeping wrecks in just over four minutes, with her Pixar presentation. And also the wonderful inspirational energy I got from an audience (and a very glamorous vending machine coffee in the rain) with the amazing Carole Mathews. Everyone I spoke to was so friendly and welcoming, but I especially enjoyed chatting to Freda Lightfoot and Nell Dixon who were so generous with their knowledge and insight.

It’s an incredible feat of organisation, and I am in awe by the fantastic job that Jan Jones did, I still owe her a very large glass of wine for putting up with me and all my questions with unfailing good grace (sorry I didn’t find you at the right time, Jan). Over all I came back from Penrith feeling like part of a family, which of course I’ve been a member of for a long time, but now I know exactly how wonderful it is. And next time I shall endeavour to do better with my shoes, as the ones I took this time were all together too sensible. 

Rowan's latest book...

'You are a remarkable woman and you deserve all the happiness, contentment and love in the world. I, for one, know that I have never met anyone quite like you.'

When Rose Pritchard turns up on the doorstep of a Cumbrian B&B it is her last resort. She and her seven-year-old daughter Maddie have left everything behind. And they have come to the village of Millthwaite in search of the person who once offered Rose hope.

Almost immediately Rose wonders if she's made a terrible mistake - if she's chasing a dream - but she knows in her heart that she cannot go back. She's been given a second chance - at life, and love - but will she have the courage to take it?

Out 27 September 2012

About Rowan...

Rowan Coleman grew up in Hertfordshire longing to be a writer despite battling with dyslexia. After graduating from university she worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years before winning Company Magazine Young Writer of the Year in 2001. Her first novel 'Growing Up Twice' was published in 2002.

Rowan has gone on to write twelve novels for adults including the international bestsellers 'The Accidental Mother, The Baby Group' and 'The Accidental Wife' and eight novels for children and teens, including the paranormal adventure novels Nearly Departed and Immortal Remains under the name Rook Hastings. Her books are published around the world in several different languages and her latest book 'Dearest Rose' is out in September 2012. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband, and four children and is working on her next novel. 

Rowan will be teaching at the Faber Academy Get It Written

RNA Conference 2012 - The Shoes of the Gala

It was a fabulous evening and wonderful shoes were out in force!