RNA York Tea 2019

It's many years since I'd visited York and on Saturday, accompanied by my daughter, Jo, I returned to attend the annual RNA York Tea. Memories came flooding back as we walked from the station in brilliant sunshine. The event was held in the beautiful Merchant Taylors' Hall, a medieval guildhall near the city wall in the Aldwark area of the city. 

Walking in, it was good to be greeted by many faces I already knew from previous RNA events but by the end of the afternoon I'd been able to meet in person many more writers I follow social media. We were seated at circular tables and served a wonderful afternoon tea with a wide range of delicious sandwiches, cakes and scones. And there was Prosecco!

This year for the first time, the Joan Hessayon Award was presented at the tea. If you are not a member of the RNA and not familiar with the award, it's one given to members of the RNA's New Writers' Scheme whose manuscripts have subsequently gone on to be published as debut novels. The award is sponsored by Dr David Hessayon in honour of his late wife who was a member of the RNA for many years and a great supporter of the scheme. This year there were fifteen contenders and the winner was Lorna Cook for her novel, The Forgotten Village. 

Lorna receiving her award

The novel '. . . is set in the real village of Tyneham in Dorset, requisitioned in its entirety in World War II and never returned. The story moves between 1943 and present day as secrets about what happened on requisition day are finally revealed.' I'm looking forward to reading it on my holiday next week. Huge congratulations to Lorna!

Before leaving, I had a photo taken with all the Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction authors present. It was so good to meet Marie Laval, Sharon Ibbotson and Angela Barton for the first time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day - it has a definite date on my calendar now. Thank you to everyone for making Jo welcome, too. Congratulations to John Jackson for his efficient organisation to make the York Tea a very successful event. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed my account about attending my first York Tea. What event have you attended lately where you got together with fellow writers? Did you get to talk to any you'd only 'met' on social media?

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