Yes, it's true. After a heady weekend at the Festival of Romance, I'm definitely not feeling the Monday love this morning. However, it's all worth it, because it was such a nice weekend. A Regency county home, lots of lovely writers, a ball with chocolate, wine and jazz... honestly, can one really ask for more?
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| Helen Hunt gives the first session of the conference, a very informative hour on writing short stories. |
Friday kicked off sunny and cold, and the short journey north of London flashed by in a hangover-induced haze. Note to self: do not drink with Twitter pals the night prior to a conference! I managed to rouse myself to take part in a self-publishing panel that morning. Several fascinating panels and one chocolate-tasting session later, and the day was done.
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| Festival Goers! Back row: Celia, Nell, Fiona, Sarah, Liz. Front: Catherine, Sue. |
Saturday dawned not quite so hungover, thank goodness. Although I tried my best to get out of the author fashion show (Marilyn, anyone?), the MC was a tough taskmaster and a few hours later I found myself parading in front of a packed room in full Marilyn gear. Thankfully, I was joined by fellow authors dressed as chickens to waitresses, and we were all very well received!
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| The short-list for Best Romantic Read: Carole Matthews, Fiona Harper, Sue Moorcroft, Me!, Juliet Archer |
Later that evening, we all dressed in our finery for the Ball and awards ceremony. A big congrats goes out to Sue Moorcroft, who won Best Romantic Read, and Jean Fullerton, the winner of Best Historial Read. I was honoured to have been short-listed.
Sunday, I crawled home and collapsed on the sofa. And I'm still in recovery! Excuse me while I go lie down... Have a great Monday, everyone.
Pleased you had a good week-end.
ReplyDeleteNow have plenty of rest and recall those good memories.
Take care.
Yvonne.
Sounds like you had a great weekend. Now you have a great week too.
ReplyDeleteI love the dress and red hair! Sounds like a fantastic weekend. I hear you though...now that I am in my 40s, I swear it takes a week to recover from "fun" weekends! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great weekend. However, the Air Supply reference will stick with me all day. And not in a good way. LOL
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a fun weekend, Talli. A weekend you will always remember. Check your messages on facebook, I sent you a message.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful and restful day!
Ooh, you were nominated in the same category as Carole Matthews!!! Wow! Hope I can attend the next such event... Montreal needs these!
ReplyDeleteLots of writing buzz going on there. Good times, definitely!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had fun! AND you look fab in the new green dress and red hair!! Congrats on your short list nod!!
ReplyDeleteWOW What a weekend ..... crammed full of learning, writing and sparkling evenings. You look fabulous in your green dress and looks like red hair. (?) Cheers.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it so much! Welcome back--even if it IS Monday.
ReplyDeleteTake a rest. You deserve it.
ReplyDeleteYour hair looks amazing! The weekend sound like it was a blast :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad it was a great weekend! Happy resting.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun weekend! Yes, I think you should take it easy. :) Starting rather slow myself this Monday morning...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a you had a great time! And how fun that you got to connect with some of your Twitter pals.
ReplyDeleteYa lost me at the chocolate tasting : ) I love the red hair!
ReplyDeleteAwwww look at you and your red hair!! WOW!!! Yay!!! Look at your red hair!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a weekend!! Oh but look at your hair!
Take care
x
awesome. Looks like you guys had a blast! And I almost didn't see you, redhead! :D Grest times~
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I wish i'd attended the festival of romance it sounds fab. Congrats on being shortlisted. It sounds like you had a great time. :O)
ReplyDeleteA ball with chocolate sounds wonderful. It sounds like you had so much fun. Enjoy your recoup. :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a lot of fun, Talli!
ReplyDeleteNow get some sleep! You deserve the rest!
Sounds like you had a great time, I love your new hair colour, really lovely.
ReplyDeleteHope you recover soon:)
Sounds like a fantastic weekend - but exhausting!
ReplyDeleteLove the red. Whoo. :)
What a fun time. You look very cute.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like an intense weekend! I think you not only win the award for best romantic read, but best dressed as well. You look absolutely fabulous in that picture!
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
Conference are loads of fun, but oh so tiring. I've had to watch out for the after hours bar chat, lolol! Boy, those gals can drink!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had some fun time. Perhaps a nice cupcake will put you to rights?
Hugs.
Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE
Sounds a fabulous weekend - wish I'd been there! Love your green dress (and your red hair of course).
ReplyDeleteTalli, I hope you had a day full of rest. Sounds like it was a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great weekend, lovely to see you as always Talli x
ReplyDeleteHaha .. hard task master in the MC!! - you loved it and was glad i made you do it - you looked fab!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog.
xx
Sounds like it was a wonderful, but exhausting time. I love the pictures, especially the last one, you look so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI think we should seriously consider writing a script featuring all those characters from the fashion show....
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being short-listed! How cool!! :) P.S. I love the pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteWine and romance were made for each other, though I suppose both can leave you with a nasty hangover. Congrats again on being shortlisted. I bet it was an amazing weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteAlkazelser anyone?! Glad you had fun!
ReplyDeleteLaura x
PS loving the dress!
It sure sounds like a great weekend and worth a tired Monday.
ReplyDeleteAww! It sounds like you had a great weekend, despite early mornings. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour hairstyle looks beautiful and really suits you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had such a wonderful weekend.
Seems like you had a lovely time. Thanks for sharing photos of all my favourite authors!
ReplyDeleteHi Talli,
ReplyDeleteAfter a hectic weekend like that you do need time to recover!
You look great in the photo!
You look sharp, Talli! Hope you've recovered.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're so tired but I'm sure this was a weekend you'll remember for a long time. Looks like you had fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a great rest! Sounds like a fantastic time. Rest up! I need you for my chick-lit reads. :P I know, I'm selfish. Bad AA.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it was an interesting experience. I think it'd be fun to meet all those different writers; going to literary events like that one makes me feel good because it lets me know that other people feel the way I do about writing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic time!
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteConferences are so much fun!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a GREAT time. With all that creativity and love, I can certainly understand you feeling a bit deflated this Monday.
ReplyDeleteI hope all of us can put that smile back on your face...WE all LOVE you!
Wow, that's a hell of a weekend! I recommend doing nothing for the next few days to recover :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you had an awesome time.
Conferences can be as exhausting as they are full of fun. Enjoy your time of rest.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being on the short-list for Best Romantic Read! I like your new Bond Girl look! Julie
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you at the weekend and loved the new hair! Well done on dressing up as Marilyn Munroe.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic weekend - and congrats on the short-listing!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the shortlisting and on dressing up as Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteHope you've recovered by now. :)
sounds like a great weekend - hope yho have recovered now!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've had a fantastic weekend, Talli! I'm so jealous! You definitely deserve a good rest x
ReplyDeleteIt sure sounds like an informative and good time!
ReplyDeleteThis all is absolutely fabulous! I wish I lived closer to you!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was great fun!
ReplyDeleteOh sounds like a great weekend! (Lovely hair color too!!)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had quite a weekend!
ReplyDelete