As I’m a big girl now I decided I could go to the RNA Summer Party on my own, despite having never been before and not knowing anyone there. I don’t think stalking famous authors on Twitter counts! I had purchased new shoes for the outing which were lovely, but were very uncomfortable (they were killing me, to be honest, and it was a slow and painful death!) It’s fair to say that I was a little bit apprehensive and expected that I would quietly observe the evening and then go home, happy that I could at least say I had attended.

Au contraire ! I had the good fortune to sit next to two other RNA NWS members at the AGM and we quickly bonded, over not having a clue
what was going on or who anyone was. As the party got underway we shyly stood out of the way and played ‘spot our writing heroes’, as worthy authors with the right credentials to be there arrived (unlike us, who haven’t actually finished writing anything yet!) I am both amazed and delighted to say that the authors there were incredibly friendly. Countless people proactively came over and introduced themselves, having spotted the tell-tale signs of new writers afraid to gate-crash the small groups of chattering authors. Each one had a similar tale to tell, that they too had once been in our position and some also passed on words of wisdom which we lapped up. A few glasses of wine and some mini fish and chips later, we were bold enough to approach the likes of Rowan Coleman,
Jenny Colgan, Carole Matthews, Julie Cohen, Talli Roland, Michele Gorman, Margaret James and Trisha Ashley. No really we did! And they were absolutely lovely, even when the wine was talking and we were being just a tad too enthusiastic about shoes, they were still chatty and friendly. I came away rather tipsy, but totally inspired to write and with a lovely pink lanyard that I will treasure. More than ever I am desperate to be an author, especially now that I know that they are not too dissimilar from me, the main differences being that they are published and have better shoes!

This week has been my last week in the office before taking a four month career break. To say that I have been excited is as big an understatement as to say the economy is a tad under the weather right now!

My excitement has manifested itself in a number of ways but mainly in me grinning like the Cheshire Cat with lock jaw and skipping around the office! You may think I'm trying to be all writer-like with my last statement and trying to paint a picture for you, but the truth is that I have actually been skipping around the office! You know the kind of half walk half run thing that little girls do. I have to say it is just the most fun thing ever!

WHY DO WE STOP SKIPPING WHEN WE GROW UP? I have no idea, because it's brilliant! You cannot help but smile whilst you are skipping and 99.9% of those that witness the skipping will be forced to smile too. The very small percentage that don't smile are the ones who need to try skipping the most!

So in summary, have I had a productive week? Probably not but have I generated a sense of fun in my office? Definitely! Make sure you have a skip today, go on you know you want to and you won't regret it!