Monday, August 16, 2010

The Girl Who Spread The Lurgy...

Otherwise known as The Conference Delegate Who Kept Kleenex In Business.

That's right... I hit RWA Oz on Thursday laden with the most shocking cold I'd had in a long time, so I want to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone I passed on the shocking cold to. Send me your snail mail addie and I
'll post you a box of tissues :)

Did I let the Cold From Hell ruin my weekend? No siree!

The conf was as fabulous as it always is, but this time it was even sweeter cos I had so many good writing friends I got to catch up with. Always awesome catching up in person with the delightful bloggers Becca J Heath, Leah Ashton and Janette Radevski,
my other CPs Melissa Smith and Joanne Dannon, my lovely email buddy and now rooomie Cathryn Brunet and of course finally meeting the gorgeous Jackie Ashenden (who I felt like I'd known for a lifetime). Was also fabulous and awesome to share one night with my good friend Fiona Lowe and to meet people I'd met online via the loop or email but hadn't met
in person until the conf. Too many to mention, so I'm not even gonna try.

Enough with the name dropping, hey?

The whole weekend was fabulous - being in the company of other writers
is always inspiring but my favourite session would have to be The A to Z of Writing Life by Jessica Hart. She is one very funny and down-to-earth lady and I reckon her local pub will be famous after her talk. If only I could remember its name.


I hope to write more about what I
heard/learnt at the conference when I'm feeling a little better but I'll leave you with some pics from the Fancy Dress party on Friday night. Apologies in advance if Blogger won't let me position them properly!

The top pic is of Jackie, Janette and me.

The middle pic is my lovely CP Melissa Smith and moi!

The bottom pic is me with three of my fave writing people - Becca, Jackie and Janette before the conf... pic was taken by the gorgeous Cathryn!

10 comments:

Jackie Ashenden said...

Well, sod the workshops etc, the best part of my conference was meeting you and Janette!! And I too felt like I'd known you for years and years. Felt very sad when it was over and I had to trudge back over the Tasman.
Was also fab meeting the other lovely Aussie writers who came too.
And you did SO well with that cold! What horrible timing eh? Honestly though, you may have felt like death but you certainly didn't look it.
Wasn't Jessica Hart great? I think City Screen was her favourite bar...

Janette Radevski said...

Oh, don't we look flash! I am having Rach & Jackie widthdrawl symptoms (that must be WHY I now have a cold)

Yes I think it was city screen for bevvies and otto's for coffee. If I am ever in York, I'll know where to go for both my loves!

Angie Peters said...

Hope you feel better soon, Rach. Sounds like you had a fantastic time, regardless. Great pics! I can live vicariously through your blog since I didn't go to the Conference, LOL.

Looking forward to more blogs posts about the Conference :)

Rachael Johns said...

Ditto Jackie - the socialising is THE most important part of conference :) Ahh... City Screen - that's right. I was thinking Silver Screen and knew that was wrong!

I'm having withdrawl symptoms too - so unfair you both live sooooooo far away!

Angie - hope to see you in Melbourne next year... and I'll definitely endeavour to post some more once I'm fully recovered :)

Scarlet Wilson said...

Pictures are fab! Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly, nothing worse than taking ill at something you've looked forward to for so long. Well done for keeping up with the class!

Lacey Devlin said...

Aww get well soon Rach! Nasty bug! Loved the pictures, it looks like it was so much fun :)

Cathryn Hein said...

Was a great weekend with you, roomie, despite the snuffling!!

Hope you're on the mend.

Rachael Johns said...

Susan - thanks for the commiserations, am slowly on the mend. Cheated again for the class though and didn't hand in a rewritten piece :)

Lacey - it was awesome. You're coming to Melbourne next year, aren't ya?

Cathryn - hope I didn't pass the lurgy onto you! :(

Lacey Devlin said...

Lordy I hope so! I'll probably still be depressed about missing this year's by then so I'd hate to spend another year like that :)

Eleni Konstantine said...

There were quite a few people supporting Kleenex Rach, but you really did hold up really well, especially doing your Bootcamp Marilyn bit!!! Was nice to meet you in person and Janette and Jackie at the e-list dinner. Hope you all feel better now.