George Kirk Children's Author
  • Home
  • Me
  • Storyteller
  • My Awards
  • My News
  • My Poems
  • Contact Me

Conference Catch-UP

11/15/2014

5 Comments

 
You don't have to travel far down this blog to discover just how much I love the SCBWI annual conference in Winchester. Where else can you hob-nob, chit-chat and pow-wow with so many authors, editors and agents? Not to mention catching up with all your on-line author pals. There are industry panels, workshops and intensive sessions a plenty, just pick the ones that best suit you, plus the chance to have a professional 1 to 1. The conference has never failed to recharge, inspire and open doors for me.

But this year there was a difference. I was no longer just a delegate but a member of the committee with the fancy title, 'Assistant Conference Chair.' I have to say, despite the name, I really didn't get to sit down much! With the introduction of the new PULSE stream, it was our biggest conference yet. 


There was not one, not two but three key note speakers. Cathy Cassidy, Nick Butterworth and Sally Gardner all reduced us to tears, be that through emotion or laughter they had a lot of time, wisdom and passion to share.
Photos by Candy Gourlay
After a  busy Saturday on campus it was straight on to the Guild Hall for a spooky Mass Book Launch. A chance to celebrate the many achievements of our members and volunteers and (after a glass of wine to build courage) pitch wonderful story ideas to the new wave of industry professionals who had arrived especially for the party. 

I believe for some people the party went on till 3 in the morning! I gave up at 1, after all I had another busy day ahead.

Sunday dawned, delegates arrived and, despite lack of sleep, everyone's enthusiasm remained in tact. I spent much of the morning preparing for the 'What Teachers Want from School Visits' panel that I was chairing. I've never chaired a panel like this before. Nervous?Me?

Terrified actually, especially when I spotted Sally Gardner in the audience! But encouraged on by our lovely guests Joy Court, Trisha Adams and Adam Lancaster it flowed smoothly. In fact we could have talked another hour, but there was lunch to be had, awards to award, intensives to finish, thanks to be said and cake to be eaten.
Photos by Candy Gourlay


As I waved goodbye to delegates and speakers leaving to do battle with the Sunday replacement bus service I was very glad that I had manged to wangle a day of work and have an extra night. There was time to celebrate with the last scoobies standing before collapsing into bed ready for the long journey home in the morning. Yes, I was shattered, but also creatively recharged by the experience. I have manuscripts to polish and pitches to follow up. 

But while others suffer the post conference sadness that follows after saying goodbye to friends for another year, for me the conference is still going on. I'm still sending thanks and replying to e-mails, I'm beginning to go through the feedback to look at what we can do even better next year and, most excitedly of all, I am already talking with people about what date next years conference will be. So while I get on with all that, I'll leave you with some of my favourite pictures from the weekend.

See you next year!

With thanks to Candy Gourlay for allowing me to use some of her photos. You can see more of her wonderful conference photo journalism here and here.
5 Comments
Candy Gourlay link
11/15/2014 01:23:40 am

Great wrap up, George! So much fun ... another year to wait till the next one. Oh what to do!

Reply
George
11/15/2014 01:25:14 am

Errr.... organise it maybe?

Reply
Kathy evans
11/15/2014 07:03:41 am

Thanks for posting this George - what a sport Nick Butterworth was, amazing picture..hee hee :)

Reply
Marnie Riches link
11/15/2014 04:55:48 pm

A great blog post, George, with some amazing visual reminders of what a fabulous weekend it was. You did a tremendous job.

Reply
Charles Cooks link
11/21/2020 05:21:44 am

Hello matee great blog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    George Kirk

    A little blogette where I keep you up to date with my happenings as and when they err... happen!

    Archives

    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    April 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Andrew Holland
    Arty Party
    Badge Competition
    Celia Rees
    Children In Need
    Debi Gliori
    Derian House
    Dragon Art
    Dreams Campaign
    Ellie Ansell
    Funeverse
    Funny Poem
    Funny Poems
    George Kirk
    Horse + Bamboo
    How The Library (Not The Prince) Saved Rapunzel
    Janet Foxley
    Library
    Manchester Children's Book Festival
    Manfred Cat
    Man Up Manfred Cat
    MCBF
    Muncle Trogg
    Mythical Maze
    National Libraries Day
    Nick Sharratt
    Owl Poem
    Owls
    Piboidmo
    Pirate Poem
    Pirates
    Poem
    Poetry
    Pudsey
    Puppet Festival
    Rebecca Ashdown
    SCBWI
    Speak Up For Libraries
    Squeee
    St. Mary Magdalen's Penwortham
    Story Teller
    Story Time Marathon
    Summer Reading Challenge
    The Boo
    The Funeverse
    Trail Blazing
    Twit To Who
    Undiscovered Voices
    Wellington Literary Festival
    Wendy Meddour
    Winchester

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.