RNA Conference 2024 #RespectRomFic
On Thursday last week, I travelled down to that London and beyond for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Conference. The conference itself runs from Friday lunchtime until Sunday lunchtime but there's an option to tag on the Thursday night which I took advantage of this year and last because I live a bit far away and can't get there for the start if I set off on the morning.
I'd arranged to meet my lovely friend, co-founder of the Write Romantics and fellow Boldwood author, Jo Bartlett, for lunch. Two trains and two tubes later, we met at Waterloo Train Station. I've never been there before and had no idea it was quite so big. Here was me thinking London Kings Cross was enormous! We'd booked a restaurant near the station but didn't realise it was quite so close and ended up walking round a couple of different blocks before Jo got up the restaurant's website on her phone and recognised the photo as a place we'd passed right at the start of our wanderings. Oops! Lesson learned for both of us to check directions more closely. That said, the restaurant didn't actually open until noon and we were there 10 minutes before even after our false starts so we wouldn't have been able to get in anyway. And our detour took us to the London Eye so a perfect opportunity for a selfie.
Our lunch was absolutely delicious - highly recommend Azzurro - and it was so good to catch up. We had time for a cuppa afterwards but didn't want to venture far, especially when I had a suitcase, so we returned to the station and went to Starbucks where Jo got the drinks while I secured a table. She returned with a little surprise - a gorgeous gingerbread bear. He didn't last long!
We grabbed selfies under the clock and I went to catch my train to Egham in Surrey. I'd worked out that there were fast trains there with a few stops which would take about 40 minutes and slow trains with a gazillion stops taking about an hour and had even been organised enough to write down some times for the fast trains but it never entered my head to look at the end destination which isn't ideal when you're at an enormous station with two different sets of platforms and your geography of the south isn't great. Typically I picked the wrong set of platforms and there wasn't a train at the time I'd picked but there was a train going to Egham so I had to accept that it was going to be the long journey for me. That might have been a good thing, mind, as it started raining but stopped by the time I arrived at Egham. If I'd caught the fast train as planned, I'd have got wet. Little wins!
I'd decided to walk to the university campus where the conference was being held – Royal Holloway University, especially as there was no sign of any taxis around and I have no idea how to use an uber due to living in an area where they don't operate. The joining instructions said it would be about a 25-minute walk which didn't bother me but it turned out to be a bit of a killer because it was uphill and so, so warm. By the time I arrived, I was a sweaty mess and, after checking in, had to open my window and lie on my bed with a handheld fan attempting to cool me before I was good for anything else!
The conference was amazing, just like last year. I can't praise Virginia Heath and her team enough for the incredible work they've done in creating an event that is so warm, friendly and welcoming that it doesn't matter if you're there on your own – you'll soon be included and make new friends. The inclusion of a quiz on the Friday night and BBQ and disco on the Saturday mean that everyone has something to do and newbies/shybies aren't sitting in their rooms on their own feeling lonely.
The timetable itself was packed with interesting sessions with something for everyone, no matter what stage of their career they're at. I might be writing my 25th book right now but there's always scope for learning, no matter how many books you've written, and I picked up some gems from every session I attended.
I also ran a session. Last year I presented The Long and Winding Road to Publishing Success where I talked about my own personal experience and the many bumps in the journey, inspiring attendees to keep going. This year I ran a 90-minute workshop on Tugging on the Heartstrings – all about how to make your writing emotional. I wouldn't say I set out with the aim of making the attendees cry but the fact that many did was strangely pleasing as it showed that I'd tugged on their heartstrings. I had some wonderful feedback at the event and look forward to the official feedback.
I made new friends (shout out in particular to Cath Hill who was randomly allocated the room next-door to me and who became a fast friend), caught up with old friends and met some virtual friends I've longed to meet IRL, a particular highlight being finally meeting the fabulous Heidi Swain who was as lovely in real life as I'd hoped.
The grounds were beautiful although it was quite a trek up to the building where we ate and enjoyed our evening entertainment. My calves were certainly complaining when I got home! I loved the bear and carved wooden owl – perfect for my books.
Cath and I explored the most stunning chapel but my photos really don't do justice to it. I particularly liked this dedication on the wall to one of the former tutors. Feels like there's a story in that!
The accommodation was really comfortable. It's student accommodation so it's basic but a special treat this time was a double bed. Starfish!!!
Boldwood Books sponsored the drinks reception on the Saturday night and it was lovely to catch up with the team. We didn't manage to get all the Boldwood authors attending in the same place at the same time but I think they're all in at least one of the photos (photo credit to Boldwood).
Thank you to everyone who was involved in pulling this event together, to all the staff at Royal Holloway who were so friendly and to a wonderful author called Charlotte who gave me a lift into London, cutting my journey down to two trains and a tube instead of three trains and two tubes. Sooooo grateful, especially in the sweltering heat of that day.
A big hello to everyone I met – too many to name check and always that fear I'll miss somebody out! The next conference will be in 2026 and I'm already looking forward to it.
Big conference hugs
Jessica xx