What a fabulous Weekend!!


Just wanted to share a quick post letting you know that I am back (and tired!) from the fabulous Romantic Novelists Association conference in Caerleon, Wales. And what a conference it was! I travelled up on Friday with my writer friend, Alison Knight and as soon as we arrived, the madness began. It is manic, but fantastic and it is rare not to see anyone without a smile on their face.

As usual the sessions given by agents, authors and publishers provided a wealth of information as well as entertainment in a lot of cases. Of course, I am not sure that anyone can beat the endless laughter that fabulous author & publicity expert Jane Wenham-Jones continually and effortlessly supplies. The woman cracks me up! What I would give for a quarter of her confidence, lol!

I learned a lot, laughed a lot and drank a lot... but more than anything it was the joy of meeting up with new friends and old that makes this once a year event so fantastic. It is so amazing to be in one place with so much continual support, encouragement and understanding. Granted, us writers are a strange bunch but my god, do we want success for others as much as we do ourselves.

One of my highlights was able to catch up with my friend and favourite Victorian saga writer, Jean Fullerton who is one of the loveliest and most down to earth people I have ever been fortunate enough to know. If you want a damn good read set in Victorian Eastend London, check out her books on Amazon, fabulous! Especially the hunky Patrick Nolan in A Glimpse of Happiness, don't even get me started....

This conference was a lot different for me than last years because for the first time, I managed to pluck up the courage for a pitch to a publisher - that publisher was Mira Books UK. I was so nervous before hand. I felt sick, scared and at one point ready to run out of the door in the opposite direction. But luckily Janet Gover was on hand to help me get through it with her tips and encouragement. Thank you, Janet, you are fantastic! Janet is Australian but living in New York. Look out for her releases in the future my American friends, they are on the way!

I am thrilled to say the pitch went well, very well...the editor asked to see my full manuscript, eeeekkk!!! So yes, I am busy, busy, busy polishing that baby and will be sure to let you know any further news if and when I can.

In the meantime, I'll start planning what to wear to the Winter Party in November... ; )

12 comments

  1. Lovely post, Rachel. I enjoyed the pictures, too. So nice to see your smiling face. I've never been to a writers' convention, although I belong to RWA and several of its chapters. Sounds like you had a blast.

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  2. That was really fun to see. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Congratulations on the request for your full manuscript! Good luck!!

    The conference sounds like fun. Although if I were lucky enough to visit Wales I'm not sure you could keep me indoors.

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  4. Woo! Great pitch success! Sock it to 'em Rachel! I'm green with envy this week with all the conference feedback. Hope to make it next year...(start saving now!!)

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  5. Thanks for stopping by everyone and the congrats for the pitch! I was so unbelievably nervous, i can't tell you.

    Rachel x

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  6. Glad you had a great time. Congratulations on your request for a full. That's awesome! :-)

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  7. I'm glad you had a great time. Conferences always recharge the batteries, don't you think?

    Good luck with the manuscript!!

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  8. Rachel...but doesn't it feel so GOOD after you've pitched a ms and know you actually did it? Sigh. I wish more conventions were in the American Midwest (Illinois) where I live. I love attending them. Good luck on your full manuscript submission. I'm busy (inbetween rereleasing my old novels) writing a batch of paranormal short stories myself. A writer's life is never dull, is it? Warmly, Kathryn Meyer Griffith rdgriff@htc.net

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  9. Thanks for the congrats, Pamela!

    Hi Kim! Great to see you here and thank you for the good luck. I am terrified, lol!

    Kathryn, this is usually the only romance one of its kind in the UK but I think we have another one taking place in October but I can't make it : ( It's so great being surrounded by people who understand you!

    R x

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  10. So great that the editor requested your full mss! Keeping fingers crossed for you. :)
    Sounds like a wonderful conference. Wish I could've been there!

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  11. Great stuff, Rachel!
    I found out their membership runs from Jan-Dec, so once January comes along, I'll probably sign up. :)

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  12. Thanks, Cate! I wish you could've been there too!

    Silke, definitely sign up - I haven't checked but if you're not published it is the best organisation in the country, just for their New Writers Scheme only. If you are published, you still have so much to gain from the insider tips and help you'll receive as well as all the fabulous social events.

    Feel free to email me with any questions!

    R x

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