Okay, I’ll admit it: I’ve totally flaked out this last week, but I’ve finally recovered enough to give you the lowdown on the UK Meet.
It was FABULOUS!
What, you want more? Oh, okay then…
Bruin Fisher and Anna Martin arrived at my place right on time early Friday afternoon. Of course, I wasn’t packed yet (blame the fact I’d decided to make my own dress for the Saturday night), so I ran around like a blue-arsed fly while they had tea with my husband.
I had a really pleasant journey up, chatting to Bruin (an old friend) and Anna (a new friend). When I arrived in Brighton, though, I suddenly got the fear and wanted to hide in my hotel room. The responsibility of being one of the organisers suddenly hit me. What if it all went wrong? Fortuanately, my roomate and good friend Jamie was there to talk me into heading down to the bar.
Of course, once there all my nerves evaporated (some beer helped!) and I had the great pleasure of finally meeting Jordan Castillo Price, one of my all time favourite authors. She was every bit as lovely in person as I’d hoped. It was great to see so many faces from last year, as well as all the new ones, and everybody seemed to be getting along famously. I was also really excited to meet Tam and Katherine Halle, both of whom I’ve been friends with online for ages, and Shelagh who beta read The Hot Floor for me, and Lillian Francis who I edited in the Lashings of Sauce anthology 
People split in various directions for dinner, and I chose fish and chips. I sat with Larissa, Ingrid, Anne Brooke, and the lovely Kat and Agnes Merikan. We had great fun talking about all manner of stuff, including Rule #34, which I was unfamiliar with up till that point (hard to believe, I know!)
Larissa, Ingrid and Anne Brooke
Kat and Agnes, who together make up KA Merikan
Later we all headed back to the hotel and packed the swag bags, then descended on the bar again. I was getting pretty exhausted by this point, but I do remember hugging Aleks Voinov and Blaine D. Arden. I also got to meet Elyan Smith, who is a lovely guy and talented writer.
The Saturday passed in a bit of a blur for me, I’ll admit. I was supposed to be keeping things running to time in the smaller room as well as joining in on a couple of the panels. There was plenty of discussion, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Jordan’s keynote speech was fascinating, especially when she read out her early rejection letter from a gay press (not enough “stroke value”), and showed us a genuine early digital book (on a CD Rom and you had to print it out yourself!)
Finally the main event was over, and the bit I’d been most looking forward too arrived: the evening’s entertainments! We started out in Ole Ole Tapas Bar (after getting lost in The Lanes), which had fabulous food and gorgeous staff. I began knocking back the beers and chatting to everyone close enough to hear (it was very noisy and closely packed): Jordan, Katherine, Lillian Frances, Felicitas Ivey and her partner, Tia Fielding, Anna Martin and Liam Livings.
Just before eight we all finished up at the tapas and people split off in various directions. I was with the hardcore party crowd headed to the cabaret show at the Proud Brighton Ballroom. It was a beautiful venue, sumptuously decorated and with all the staff in costume. Sadly the lads were fully clothed, but at least they looked smart in their suits!
The burlesque show was fun, although the line up had changed since I booked the tickets and there was no longer a male striptease. Ah well. We all enjoyed the humour and showgirl glamour of the acts, along with the cheesy Rat Pack compere. I’m just going to let the pictures speak for themselves:
Tam Ames, Clare London, Jordan Castillo Price
Amanda Earl, Anne Brooke, Melanie Tushmore, me, Anna Martin, Ingrid
Jordan Castillo Price, Jay Rookwood, JL Merrow
Agnes Merikan, Melanie Tushmore, Kat Merikan
Jordan and me
I felt positively overdressed alongside the staff!
This wasn’t everyone who was there, but somehow Jenre and Lavinia Lewis escaped my camera. If I’ve forgotten anyone else I do apologise, but I was quite tipsy by this stage in the day!
After the dancing like fools at the post-show club, Clare, Jordan and I headed back to the hotel and the stash of beer in the boot of Clare’s car. Unfortunately Clare had forgotten to bring a bottle opener with her, but I demonstrated my ability of open a bottle with a teaspoon and we were sorted. Clare drifted off while Jordan and I sat up chatting about all manner of stuff until some ungodly hour of the morning.
Sunday dawned with me feeling remarkably chipper, so a hungover Jamie threw pillows at me until I left the room with my unreasonable perkiness. Sunday was a day for chatting to people in the lobby as they left, and I managed to catch up with the few people I hadn’t chatted to the previous day–I can honestly say, I think I managed to speak to every single delegate over the weekend, even if it was only to say a brief hello. Phew!
After Jamie left and I’d checked out of our hotel room and moved my stuff to Tam’s room (my final roommate of the weekend) much of Sunday afternoon was spent in the hotel bar chatting to Tam, Clare, Jordan and Larissa. We then went out in the evening to a fabulous retro, steampunk-esque pub called The Mesmerist where we had the most delicious food (no apple crumble, though!), followed by a hotel room natter with Clare, Tam and Jordan.
Tam and I both managed to wake up and get our train on the Monday morning, and I then headed over to Wales to join the rest of my family for a week’s holiday.
And, that’s all folks! I’m now immersed in planning next year’s event up in Manchester in July. Watch this space
I should do my regular Monday stuff too, which is to say that I’ll be posting links to the Hot Pressure blog tour all week, and that tomorrow not only does The Hot Floor come out, but I’m blogging over at Cole’s Armchair Reader about macramé of all things. Those who read the novel will find out why ;P
Ohhh. Some great pics there. You can tell that’s before we’d had too many cocktails at the club as I still had my sweater on. LOL My later pictures show us all a little worse for wear.
You’re such a floozy, jumping from room to room, sleeping around.
You are incredibly perky in the morning. The phone rang to wake us and you were like a spring, sitting straight up while I was still getting my eyes open. It was great fun and I’ll hope that next summer I can swing it again, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Hehe – I saw your pics go up the other day, Tam! And yeah, I think I forgot all about my camera as the evening progressed
I’m not really a morning person. I’m just used to being woken up at 6 (or earlier) by Daisy, so anything later counts as a lie in!
I do hope you can come next year. I have a feeling it’s going to be even bigger and better planned than it was this year
She’s horribly perky in the ungodly hours of the morning, isn’t she, Tam?
Jo, you were just lucky I didn’t have anything heavier or pointier than pillows within reach!
Ooh, getting all murderous now, are we?! You’d better watch it in Manchester. No wine for you, missy
I really enjoyed the meet. It was lovely to meet you, and so many other writers I enjoy (and some I’d not come across before, but will be looking up!). I snored most of the way home on the train – 8 hours sleep over the weekend was not enough! Still, there’s life in the old dog yet and I’m already looking forward to the next one
Yay! And next year will be much easier for you to get to, after all
It was great to meet you too, Shelagh. Sorry we didn’t get more time to talk. I was utterly overwhelmed for most of the weekend and just let myself be swept along by the tide of people. Everyone seemed so lovely, though. Best weekend I’ve had in years!
Oh you guys and gals looked so freaking fantastic! I better start saving up to visit in well… maybe 5 years.
Aww, thanks, Cleon! It would be great to meet you
Looks like it was fun, I’m still hoping Katherine and Lillian will post something from it
*Looks around hopeful, in case they’re around*
Yep, it was great fun! I wish I’d had more time to spend with both of them. We sat on the same table during the meal but it was so noisy I was having real problems hearing anyone who wasn’t directly opposite or either side of me. Maybe next time…
I swear I’m going to post something this week. I’ve got no deadlines I’m trying to meet so *fingers crossed*
I will believe this when I see a post
What deadlines? Something new brewing? Or was it your alteregos deadlines?
*snort* pfffft ;p
Not my alter ego – something new
I’m having trouble writing anything atm let alone a meaningful blog post. And everyone has blogged so much more eloquantly than I could.
Some people have written wonderful, heartfelt posts about the panels and overall atmosphere, haven’t they? I’m afraid mine was more about the evening, but I suppose that was because it was when I really started to unwind. I’d be interested to see your thoughts on it, though, should you ever get around to writing that post.
I don’t need eloquant, just some of what you did and thought of it and maybe, if you’re OK with it, some photos
Pretty please?
Great stuff Jo!
It’s cool to have a nice photo together with Agnes. We usually travel just with each other, so we rarely have a photo actually together 
:***
I can send you the jpeg if you like – there were a few other pics with you in too, but I thought it might look a bit creepy if I posted loads of pics of you both! You were the two most photogenic people there, though
That’d be fantastic! If you could send them to the email I gave on here
<3 :*
Sending right now
You mean you made this fabulous dress yourself?! O_O You’re pretty talented…
I did indeed! Finished it off on the Saturday morning, actually, just before breakfast. That was cutting it fine!
It looks like a good time was has by all. I am very jealous. *g*
It was a fabulous weekend. I’m sure many people got more out of the panels, but that part all passed by in a bit of a blur for me. It wasn’t until I got to the restaurant that I felt I could finally unwind
Now it’s my turn to feel jealous of everyone going to GRL!
First, WOW what an amazing post, I’m sure mine will be lame compared to this LOL. So detailed and just so you LOL.
I had such a blast at the meet, dinner on Saturday was especially fun. The hubs and I are going to try out a tapas place here in Germany – as soon as we find one
And WOW you made that dress? It was GORGEOUS.
This is such a fantastic recap of the weekend. I’m so glad I was able to attend, and UGH I’m really hoping I can attend next year. *fingers crossed and praying to the moving gods*
And seriously, finally meeting you in person was one of the highlights, you are just so energetic and so fun
I wish we could have spent more time together, but what we did get was fabulous 
*HUGS*
Tapas is one of my favourite sorts of meal, but I’ve always had them bring it all out at once before. It was great to get it in courses!
I was thrilled the dress turned out so well. My dressmaking skills are definitely improving
I’m reeling at the idea of being energetic. I was probably running on manic energy all weekend! And it was lovely to meet you and Lillian at last
Hear hear for the appreciation of your dress. It was gorgeous.
Aww, thanks Lillian! I think I’m going to have to make that pattern again in some different fabrics. It’s a good one.
I’m glad it wasn’t only me and Katherine who got slightly lost in the Lanes.
The tapas was amazing, even if having all of us crammed into that small space was very noisy.
It was a brilliant day and great meeting you, it’s just a shame we didn’t have a chance to chat more.
Hehe – from what I’m hearing, EVERYONE got lost in the Lanes!
I know. It was so busy I didn’t get to spend much time chatting with anyone on the Saturday. I think I had the more involved conversations on the Friday eve and Sunday, when there was more time to think and not so many people around. Next year, maybe?
Next year? I certainly hope so. And Manchester will mean staying the weekend!
Staying somewhere is always more fun!
Well we really had a blast on Saturday night and by the look of the photos’s I may have had a few too many, and the statement is OMG does my bum look big in that photo or what!!!!!!!
Oh well role on next year
It really doesn’t look that big – it’s just the way you’re standing. Should have cropped it, shouldn’t I?
Oh yes, next year. I’m really looking forward to getting to Manchester and checking out the venues!
The Meet was utterly smashing this year!
Wasn’t it just? I’m not sure how we’re going to top it next year, but we’ll try!
Oh woa! I completely missed this post! *headdesk* Awesome and awesome pictures! It was such a good weekend, I can’t wait for Manchester!
Thanks, Larissa!
Manchester is going to be great fun! Jamie and I were checking it out earlier in the week. Will blog about it, with pictures, later today
Great pics Jo. I’m not surprised that the panels got a bit blurred in your memory. The Team did an excellent job with the organisation of everything and I’m really grateful for all your hard work as I had a great time. I got lost in the Lanes too, but found enough other people to follow to get there – I think it was one of those places that you couldn’t find until you had a large enough group, some sort of magic filter makes it appear then.
Do you think that in a few years we’ll have expanded to a two day event that lasts a week to allow some nattering time?
Looking forward to Manchester.
Thanks Mara–it was an awful lot of work to make it happen, but fun too
I wouldn’t be surprised if that Tapas bar had some kind of a magic filter going on… And next year will be two days officially, with optional events on the Friday too. Hopefully the social side will be even stronger, as we’ll be so close to the gay village and all the fabulous venues there.