Is anyone else going to the Society of Authors AGM on Monday the 25th Sept? It's a good do: they get all the boring AGM business out of the way in the first half hour, and then have drinks and an excellent panel discussion of some hot book trade topic - this year it's how to get the best out of agents and publishers - followed by a nice fork supper and a chance to meet each other. One of the fun things is that lots of Soc of A members don't live in the creative writing ghetto we wallow in, but are real people, which makes a nice change. Only the supper and drinks cost anything and if you aren't a member but know one, they can bring you in as a guest.

Emma

Possibly. I'll have to see where I'm to with work nearer the time, and knowing my luck all the places will have been taken by that time! It sounds like a really good do and it'd be great to meet up with some fellow wwers. There's also a really interesting one on the 9th for children's Writers - with Korky Paul, Lucy Holden, Steve Skidmore and more - so I might also have to evaulate the cash situation. SO little time, so little money, so much to do. That's what being a writer's about though, innit!

Nik.

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Sorry that post was so poorly written! No excuses! ;)

Emma

I hope to go, as I'm about to apply for membership.

Jim

Jim, good, we must say hello.

Nik - it's in a different place from last year, so I don't know how much space there is, but you can always ring them up to find out if they're expecting to be full: in my experience they put it on the form if places are limited.

Emma

I’d love to, but it would mean taking two days off work, and it’s not an option in September as I’ll be organising a massive stocktake.

However, the Authors North autumn meeting is in Harrogate, October 14th, and I've just reserved a place there. Can anyone else make it? Nik??? Big attraction is Ann Lingard, founder of SciTalk.

Dee

As much as I'd love to (and Harrogate would be quite convenient for me) I'm going to have say no. Oct 14th is the first date of my book tour so I'll be otherwise engaged. It's not that far off now at all - just today I bought myself a viking helmet to use as a prop!

Nik.

Viking Helmet - damn! I knew there was something I'd forgotten to pack. I did have one as a child, I remember, bought with a birthday token, and I'm sure it's still somewher in my mother's house.

Dee, that's a shame. Your stocktake sounds grim. Maybe another year.

Emma

Nik, what a shame. Seems we’re destined never to meet.

Emma, it’s not grim but, as we’re currently holding about 2.5 million quid’s worth of food, it takes an awful lot of counting.

Dee

I still haven't joined! I know, I know, don't tell me off. I've been meaning to. If I get my act together before then, I'll try to make it. It sounds like it could be fun. And it would be good to catch up with you and Jim again.

I'm glaring at you now, Roger... Besides, it's quite fun.

Dee, no, it's not grim when it's your own business, which I guess in a sense it is.

Emma

Roger - go on, give it a go ... having said that, my application still languishes for want of a few bawbees. Never mind, payday soon, and I'll send it off then.

Jim

I've also got an application pending, so, if I'm a member before the 25th, I may turn up. Maybe one or two of you there.
Tony


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I think there should be a 'see' in there somewhere.

'See' is always tricky with people you only know cyberly. (If that's not a word yet, it's copyright .) But one of the Soc of A's minor merits is that they print the name-labels big enough to read without looking too much as if you're sizing up other people's chests.

Emma

I understand from the membership criteria that "self-published" authors cannot join?