Sunday 29 July 2018

The RNA Conference 2018 and A Reluctant Decision


All Indie authors of the Romantic Novelists Association
A couple of weekends ago, I went to my fourth Romantic Novelists’ Association Annual Conference. I hadn’t been to one for about four years and found, to my surprise, that I was quite apprehensive beforehand. As I’ve got older, I’d found that I’ve become less confident about going to such events. This one was in Leeds, a city I know well, having lived there for over 20 years, although I knew little about Leeds Trinity University, the Conference venue. The first problem I encountered was that it was located on a hill so consequently there were steps – a lot of them – not just outside but in the venue itself. For someone who’s ‘getting on a bit’ this was a bit of a drawback. But I coped. Fortunately, the accommodation was located quite close to the venue unlike the last one I attended where our accommodation was quite a distance from the venue. And at Leeds, the air conditioning worked! A distinct advantage in this heatwave. Unlike the Conference held at Sheffield in 2013 where the air conditioning broke down and the architect had designed windows that didn’t open! We nearly melted at that one, didn’t we, Sally Quilford?

The best thing about these events is meeting up with one’s writing buddies and meeting new one and this was no exception. With my ankle surgery last year and the extremely long recuperation period, I hadn’t been to any of the local chapter meetings so it was great catching up with friends from both Birmingham and Leicester. One of the highlights was meeting up with my fellow Indie members and celebrating with the inevitable glass of fizz – and goodies – as you can see from the photo. That get-together was so encouraging for me as a writer, especially as one of them, Anna Belfrage, known only previously from Twitter, said to me, ‘Oh, you’ve just published a new book, Entertaining Angels, haven’t you?’ (That’s now available as a paperback at www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D23NVJ4) And the advice from the lovely – and prolific – writer Freda Lightfoot, to get my earlier novels, presently gathering dust on a shelf, revised, edited and OUT THERE!
Part of my goodie bag haul plus one I bought

The worst thing for me was not being to participate in group situations because I couldn’t hear what people furthest away from me were saying. One of the drawbacks with hearing aids – and I wear two of them – is not being able to hear what people across the able from you are talking about. I found the celebratory Gala Dinner on the Saturday night particularly trying. With 250+ women all trying to talk at once, the background noise was horrendous. One of my table companions was making people laugh with some of her comments but of course I couldn’t join in because I hadn’t a clue what she was talking about. As a result, I felt isolated and quite lonely. Not the fault of my immediate neighbours who did their best to include me. It was the same at one of the workshops I attended, an absolutely hilarious one about how to write Sensual Love Scenes Without Stuffing The Turkey led by Liam Livings and Virginia Heath, where we were asked to get together in groups of three or four to ‘rewrite’ the mock sex scene they had just relayed to us. It just wasn’t possible for me and I had to excuse myself. And at another couple of workshops I attended, I couldn’t hear the speakers because they didn’t have microphones.

So reluctantly, I’ve decided that the Leeds Conference will be the last one I will attend. I’m still hoping to attend smaller get-togethers like the chapter meetings and I’m definitely going to be going to the RNA Afternoon Tea in York in September because that’s a smaller event too. After all, I must have been one of the oldest delegates. If not the eldest! As Bette Davis, the American film star, famously quoted, ‘Old Age Ain’t For Cissies!’

15 comments:

  1. Hi Anne, I totally understand your frustration at not being able to hear. It really is upsetting.
    At Chapter Lunches in Exeter, I find it very difficult to know what is being said, and it does mar our enjoyment.
    I shall look forward to seeing you at the Afternoon Tea in York.
    These disabilities do make us feel like not going ... Rosy

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    1. Sorry, Rosy, I've only just picked up on your kind message. For some reason, I didn't get the usual alert. Good that we caught up with each other at the York tea.

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  2. That's a sad decision, Anne. I enjoyed talking to you at the conference, and I'll look forward to meeting you again at the York Tea.

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    1. Sorry, Christina, I'm only just picking up on everyone's comments. For some reason, I didn't get the usual alerts. Good to see you again at the York tea and to meet your lovely daughter.

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  4. Anne, I understand this completely! I also wear two hearing aids, and have the same problems as you, especially if there is a lot of background noise or if I can't see the speaker's mouth (and therefore lip read a lot of what they are saying). It's the main reason why I decided that conferences and meetings with large numbers of people were not for me. Plus I find that people at these things love to STAND and talk, and as I have severe arthritis in my hip, I simply cannot stand for more than a minute or so. I would definitely have struggled with the steps at a venue like this.
    Maybe we should start our own 'meetings' - Oldies, But Not Cissies! - in quiet venues with no steps!

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    1. Hi Paula. Sorry but I'm only just replying to all the lovely comments I received for this post. For some reason, I didn't get the usual alerts. I know what you mean about standing. I can't do much of that either.

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  5. I understand Anne. You will be welcome at the Leicester Chapter any time, and Dave will always collect you from the station. I can’t say fairer than that.

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    1. Sorry, Lizzie, I'm only just picking up on these messages. For some reason, I didn't get my usual alert. As you know, I'm coming to the Leicester meeting on 5th October and thanks for the offer of a lift but I'll see how I go on the 5th. I will ask for next time though if I've a problem. And thanks again.

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  6. I'm really sorry you've made this decision, Anne, though I understand the reasons behind it. It was lovely to see you again and I hope we cross paths again at chapter events. S xx

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    1. Thanks, Sue, I'm only just picking up on these comments. For some reason, I did't get the usual alerts. Yes, it was good to see you again and I'm sure we'll see each other again somewhere.

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  7. It was a pleasure talking to you at the Leeds Conference, very best wishes with your new book and as Freda said - get the rest out there.

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    1. Thanks, Lynda, and apologies for not commenting sooner but for some reason I didn't get my usual alerts. Hope to see you again at a chapter event maybe?

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  8. What an interesting post, Anne. I'm so sorry to read, though, that the Leeds conference will have been the last conference you attend owing to the difficulties involved. It's lovely, though, that there are local RNA activities, and one can carry on meeting up with RNA friends, but in a smaller venue. I'm sorry to miss the York tea, but my younger son's first child is due that weekend, and my daughter-in-law's mother is in Australia. She'll come to England as soon as the baby arrives. Until she reaches England, I want to be around in case they need my help. So I won't see you there, but I'm sure that I will somewhere else. xx

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    1. Thanks, Liz, but I'm only just picking up on these comments. For some reason, I didn't get my usual alerts. I will do my best to attend more local events, ie Birmingham, Leicester (going there on 5th October) so won't be completely isolated.

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