#samplesunday Crucifox

What's next in store, Tushmore? ;p  #SampleSunday

Crucifox #1 will be released in March 2013, which is also my birthday month :)

I can confirm the boys are champing at the bit to get out, and to keep them quiet, there will be a new Crucifox short story released on Valentines day in February. 

(Don't expect too much romance tho, they are a bunch of goths after all!)
 

As if I haven't had enough of rockers, I'm also writing a spin-off band from the Crucifox tours... as well as random paranormal and fantasy WIPs that will hopefully see some light in 2013!

Roll on next year.


For now, here's a snippet from Crucifox #1...

 * * *

  

Our first gig wasn't exactly the blaze of glory I'd pictured in my mind. The venue was rubbish; a long, thin pub, which basically meant the stage was also very deep and thin. There was no way to arrange our equipment on the stage unless we put my guitar cab and Ritchie's bass amp in front of Jamie's drum kit. 

As we set up for sound-check in the quiet, empty venue, Jamie shook his head at the ensemble; he and his drum kit would be completely hidden from view. “This is just...I mean, this is really unfair,” he said.

“Never mind!” Spider chortled. “No one wants to see your ugly mug anyway.”
Jamie looked upset. Ritchie pressed his lips together, clearly attempting not to laugh. Brandon, subtle as a sledgehammer, guffawed loudly. 

He wasn't laughing later, however. After getting all dolled up, high heels, PVC trousers, lipstick and all, we got onstage – Jamie concealed by the amps – and played to an audience of precisely seven people. Four of which were the headline band, two were the bar staff, and the final body was Spider, who'd pulled his bar stool into the centre of the floor to watch us, laughing his head off. 

It would have been the most depressing gig I'd ever played – and that included playing shitty little cider fares with my parents in the pissing rain – but so many things were just plain hysterical, that I had to laugh. It was either that or cry.

“Treat it as a practise,” I said to lads between songs.
“Huh?” Jamie tried to peep over the amps. “What'd you say?”
“Nothing!” I called 

Despite having no audience and forgetting half his lyrics, Brandon did get into the swing of things. I knew he'd be great onstage. Not great, fantastic. He had the right attitude and all the right poses that came with being a self assured, pompous git. Shame we didn't have a decent stage for him. This one was so small we kept treading on each other's toes. 

After we'd finished the set, and Spider had given us a standing ovation, we packed down our equipment then settled at the bar for a much needed drink. The headline band set up, and people started filing through the doors to watch the show.

“Typical,” Ritchie muttered.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“This band won't be as good as us!” Brandon declared, leaning against the bar.

We watched the band. Brandon was right; they weren't as good as us. Their singer was too shy; a wallflower in comparison. I took a sidelong glance at Brandon, who was in the process of chatting up two girls on the other end of the bar. No wallflower there, I thought. We definitely needed a bigger stage.

 * * *

 

Tush's Ten with Azalea Moone & The Last Road Home

I am very pleased to welcome Azalea Moone to play Tush's Ten Questions! 

Azalea has a brand new release out, 'The Last Road Home', which I absolutely loved and, quite frankly, wanted to know more! If you love carnivals and handsome bad boys, step right up! 

Five Q's about the author

1. Who are you, and where do you come from?

Let’s see. I’m a 30 – something year old from Nebraska. It’s kind of boring here so I fill my time with writing hot M/M erotic romance. Oh, I guess it’s not all that boring, we do have a Carhenge. 

 

I don’t live anywhere near it, but I’ve been on a vacation just to see it. No, I live on the opposite side of the state, closer to Lincoln. It’s still boring here. I also have a couple of kids, a cat, and a boyfriend, so when I’m not writing, I’m usually pulling up the pants of the family and running the house.

2. What inspires you?

Fellow authors. Seriously, I have met some wonderful M/M romance authors online that really inspire me. I could name names, but the list would go on, and on, and on…

Music also inspires me. No matter the genre, the beat, or the meaning, a single song can inspire a complete story, or my life in general. It’s really been something I turn to for everything since I was little.

3. Describe your writing style in three words:

Sensual, slow, and hawt.

4. What's next in store for you?

A lot. Right now I’m pounding away at edits and working to sub a few manuscripts. I’ve really been interested in urban fantasy and you should see more of that genre in the future from me.

5. Read any good book(s) lately?

The book I just finished reading, Power Play: Resistance by Cat Grant and Rachel Haimowitz. The entire book is one great big mind fuck for both the readers and characters. It’s one of those that you have to know what’s going to happen next, though, and I’m anxious to read the next book.

Five Q's about the book

'The Last Road Home' 

 

1. What inspired the idea for your story?

It’s simple really. I spent about nine months on the travelling carnival and decided to write something involving the carnival.

2. The cover is gorgeous. Who are your two main characters?

The main character is Brett, who’s just left home to escape his parent’s conservative ways. So when his car breaks down several thousand miles away from home, he meets Ryan, a sexy bad boy type. Ryan is on his way to go to work at a carnival and offers Brett a job and a chance to make some cash. And… a lot more.

3. The story is set in a travelling fun-fayre. What made you choose this setting?

Again, I wanted something I was familiar with. Since a small scale like the one Brett and Ryan are on is like a little community, there’s tons of drama that I can tap into. Also, the lights, the sky wheel, the sounds, I think Brett is just as amazed by it as I was. 

 

4. Running away with the fayre; what's the appeal?

To get away. From what? Everything. I ran off because I was sick and tired of the crappy little town I was living in… oh, and I had my eyes on a certain guy. But after getting out there, I learned it’s not a vacation since you have to set up, tear down, be out all day in the heat, then deal with drama if you’re on a smaller show. But it’s awesome travelling, going to different towns, and seeing all sorts of different people.

5. If your book was a movie, what would your budget be, and who would play your characters?

It’d probably be one of those low budget, college elective movies. Seriously, though, some of those are the cutest and best gay flicks I’ve seen. I don’t really have anyone I’d desired to play Brett and Ryan so gimme a couple of hot college guys any day.

* * *

Thanks for playing Tush's Ten!

Excerpt:

I blinked in shock as the bright red Honda pulled up beside me. “Hey, buddy, need a ride?” the driver called as he leaned out of the window.

The roaring engine awoke me from my daze. I hoisted my tired body from the ground, and grabbed my suitcase. “Sure.”

This was completely unbelievable. A dream come true. In all these hours, I’d never thought there would actually be someone out here, travelling in this God-awful heat.

“Throw your stuff in and come on.” A smile spread on the man’s lips as he motioned to the back seat.

I threw my case next to his luggage and hurried to sit in the front passenger seat. “You’re a lifesaver, man,” I said, the words muffled as I slipped my shirt over my head.

He pulled out onto the road and a warm breeze from the open vents blew across my sweat covered face. I inhaled a breath of the musky air, wishing it was cooler than the outside air, before I hung my arm out of the open window.

“Sorry, no air. You look like you can use a drink, though.” The man waved a bottle of water out to me and I accepted. “What are you doing sitting beside the road, anyway?”

The water was lukewarm as I chugged on the bottle. “Car. Broke. Down,” I said between gulps.

“Oh, damn that sucks.” He shook his head. “So where ya going?”

“Don’t know.” I wiped at the remains of water left on my lips.

God, I needed that drink. Now that the world didn’t appear foggy, I saw, in close range the man who had saved me from heat exhaustion.

His short, dusty blond hair ruffled in the wind. A cigarette hung from slightly parted lips—the breeze threatened to stifle it. He wore a sleeveless shirt, the sides torn down from the armpits, exposing his muscular arms and a peep of his slender stomach.

The man looked at me briefly before turning his eyes back on the road. “Are you a loner, then?”

“Sort of.” I choked out, exhilarated by the thoughts of him running through my head.

Maybe it’s just the heat getting to me.

* * *

Check out more on Azalea here....

TheLast Road Home on TEB

AzaleaMoone

How To Market Yourself in Social Media

How To Market Yourself in Social Media:

Tips for Using Facebook & Twitter

A quick how-not-to promote online:

Barge in without introducing yourself, slap your promo up without engaging with anybody, slink off quietly without a backward glance.

A quick how-to promote online:

Introduce yourself, say hello, engage in conversation, find common interests, be polite. Have fun!

Facebook

Watch the 'Facebook' episode of Southpark for amusing satirical comedy: the concept of Facebook as a dinner party, with people standing around chatting. It's a good analogy to remember, as your Facebook profile is NOT your property. As with any free to use site, you are sitting at someone else's table, at THEIR dinner party.

Spam

To reduce chances of spam, adjust your settings. Go to Home, and drop down menu on top right, then Account Settings. Adjust accordingly, but be aware you will still receive promo here and there (not to mention Facebook advertising!) because – much like any dinner party – you can't stop people in a free speech environment telling you about their stuff. One man's meat is another man's poison, and vice versa.

Angry? Chill out. Getting angry with spammers is like road rage; ultimately, you only serve to wind yourself up. Just calmly delete the spam, or block the person if needs be, then adjust your settings where you can, and carry on.

Keep calm and carry on, as they say.

Remember, you are on a social networking site. Facebook was built for networking, and now is primarily used for advertising. If you want total control of your own content, build your own website.

Facebook has user profiles, fan pages, groups, and events. You can create any of these yourself, and run them yourself. Look at your peers; who has what? Which do you think is most effective? Is it really worth having a user profile and a fan page? If you want to keep your user profile reasonably private, then make a fan page and have that as public content for your fans. There are lots of combinations, and you have to find what works for you.

Photos

Be aware that anything you upload to Facebook may be used by them and their dubious copyright / data selling rules, which change as often as the wind. Keep it in mind. Copyright your own content, and make sure the first place you upload is to sites that allow you to keep your copyright. In other words: artist friendly.

Always read the small print for each site to see who owns the copyright once you've uploaded content.

Like it? Then say so!

Facebook is a social networking site. The clue is in the title. SOCIAL. So chat, make friends. You don't have to comment on everything, but instead of just clicking the LIKE button, why not make a comment, too? Engage in conversation as you would at a dinner party. Meeting someone new, striking up questions and chat, can lead to new contacts.

Friends

The concept of FRIENDS and online friendship isn't quite the same as in real life. For instance, say I've just added someone to my friend's list that I've never met outside of the internet. Are we friends? No! Because we've never met! We're barely acquainted. Anyone can pose as anyone else on the internet, so it does pay to be careful.

Just because you are e-friends doesn't mean that person is ACTUALLY your friend, or you can trust them. Don't get caught saying something you may regret later. Unlike in real life, your conversations online can be screen captured, printed, linked to, and made viral in the blink of an eye. It's up to YOU what you choose to share. If you're embarrassed by something, then don't post about it. Simple as that.

Manners

It may not be real life, but manners still apply! Would you barge into someone else's conversation to shout “BUY MY BOOK!” in their faces, then promptly turn around and 'leave the conversation'? Hopefully not! Treat online life like a dinner party, and remember your manners.

Sharing

What you share is up to you. You're probably here to promote your book, and that's all well and good, but it doesn't have to be all work and no play. Those who get the most out of social networking are those who can happily balance chat with, “Oh and by the way, you might find this of interest...”

Think about your content. Are you going to be a dedicated 'promo pitcher' with an ultra professional approach to branding? Or are you going to chat, have a giggle, and engage with your fellow writers and readers?

It can be both.

And your online chat time doesn't have to be every day, you could even set aside a specific slot for 'social time' like real life coffee mornings. Or hook up to an 'app' like Hootsuite that will connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts, and post scheduled tweets for you, allowing you the time to go off and write.

What to share?

What are you sharing? Your views and religious beliefs? Do you need to get political? Think about it. What are you essentially here to do? Gain new readers and fans for your stories, perhaps? What are the chances of ALL your fans having the same personal, private views as you? Remember, you don't have to share everything. And you don't have to get really personal in order to show your personality.

In other words, don't over share, then later regret it. Think before you post!

Twitter

The over sharing instigator! Again, think before you post. What are you posting about? Aim for 50% promo, and 50% content.

What is promo? Telling people about yourself. Links to your book, your blog, etc.

What is content? Something of interest, that would interest/benefit others more than you.

What's the point of Twitter?

Another social networking site, Twitter allows posts in 140 characters (unless you apply for TwitLonger). Depending on how many people (or 'tweeps') you follow, the stream of posts you look at can be very fast paced. You could think of it as like an Instant Message/Text stream. Shorter, faster, snappier.

Twitter is for chat. So, join a conversation! Again, dinner party etiquette applies. You don't have to say, “Good afternoon, mind if I join your conversation?” as that's too formal for fast-paced Twitterers, but a polite, “Hi, nice to meet you!” won't hurt.

Hashtags

You can join in chats by looking up hashtags. For instance, #writing

Why not read the #writing topic, and check down the stream of tweets from people? This is how you find people of interest (apart from stalking celebs!) and people to follow, and how new followers can find YOU.

Followers

Someone is following you. No, don't panic, it's only on Twitter! A follower is the Twitter version of 'friend'. You cannot send a DM (direct message) to someone unless you're following each other.

Don't assume that because someone is following you, they automatically pour over every single tweet you make like it's the gospel. You still have to work at keeping people's interest, maintaining your relationships, and basically keep chatting.

Ever been stuck next to someone you didn't want to be? You're not going to hang around, are you? It's the same for social networking. Now, no one is expecting you to be a court jester, so don't feel pressured to be funny/witty/amazing every hour of the day, but just be aware. It's like having your 'party head' on when you go out with friends. You're not going to sit there and whinge at them about your tax bills or house work, are you? (Are you???) Hopefully not! Treat it like a tea party, a chat room, a place to build your contacts and followers, while also having fun.

Spam-bots

Mind the spam! Spam-bots are like other spam online; basically, an automated profile that adds random 'friends' on sites, then bombards you with BUY THIS NOW crap. Again, getting angry won't stop this from happening (welcome to the Internet!) just delete, block, and adjust your settings if necessary.

You have the option of making your tweets private. This does mean that no one can retweet you to their own followers, however.

What's your name, again?

Assuming you have more than one online profile, it would make sense to keep the same name. Your name is your brand, and having a simple username makes it easier for people to remember you. How can I recommend a writer for people to follow if I can't remember their complicated username?

The same goes for websites. Look at corporate branding, and how they use one name, one main logo, colour scheme, and it's the same across the board.

Conversation

You're still at a dinner party. So, LISTEN! No one likes to see a glazed look in their audience's eyes. Listen, respond, ask questions, and before you know it, you're having a conversation.

Unfollow

To acquire followers, you do need to start following people yourself. There needs to be a reason for them not to unfollow you. A lack of activity & constant self-promotion are two big ways to lose followers, or have people not follow you back. Show a little personality!

Hashtag For Writers To Use

From the website Daily Writing Tips, they list all the important hashtags required for joining in writer related conversation. The list will change, as new hashtags are invented and used all the time.

The great thing about hashtags is that Twitter didn't invent them, they were started up by Twitter users, and are now a main basis for search engines. So, use them! Make your own, too.

Good hashtags are:

#writing

#writetip

#wip

#reading

#SampleSunday

#selfpublishing

#MentionMonday (This is pretty much populated by Indie Authors mentioning each other.)

#fictionFriday or #fridayFlash

#KindleUK

You can also promote other Tweeps by using #FollowFriday

Imposters

When engaging in conversation, be wary of people claiming to be who they're not! It's happened using hashtags like these:

#AskAgent #AskEditor

Because there are some people out there who feel the need to pose as someone important, either to make themselves feel better, or to take your money. Again, it's back to the fact that anyone out there on the 'net can pose to be anyone else. So have your wits about you, and don't automatically trust everyone.

It pays to be cautious.

If you want to engage with agents and editors, why not research online certain ones you're interested in? Target your search, find out their websites and official Twitter accounts. Do they chat online? If so, then join in! Many publishing houses host online talks in varying forms, and it's up to you to find out where, and join them.

How are you doing?

So, now you're a prolific Tweeter, how do you check your promo radius? Use Tweetreach.com.

There are other sites or 'apps' you can use to check your combined promo radius online, especially for linked accounts, or networked blogs. Apps need to be approved by you before they're allowed access to your profile.

Above all, it really is important to have fun while you're networking online. It's still a dinner party; you have to flit around like a social butterfly, and engage people. If you enjoy chatting, this shouldn't be a problem for you.

What the internet and social media has allowed us – promoters – to do now is tell people about our stuff without standing in the freezing cold handing out flyers, or walking all over cities plastering posters to walls.

Yes, I used to do that. No, I don't miss it! Be thankful for your social media, because I know I am.

* * *

www.melanietushmore.co.uk

Review of the UK Meet 2012

Review of the UK Meet 2012

Arrive

So, to Brighton! It was wonderful to catch up with the people I normally only get to chat to online, and a real treat to meet new acquaintances, too. I arrived with Lavinia Lewis, where we met reader Amanda, and writers Anna Martin and Tia Fielding. We joined in the informal meet in the hotel bar Friday evening, where there was lots of fun chat, then onto dinner. We chose The Lion & Lobster pub, just around the corner.

Back in the hotel bar, it was another fab chance to chat to those who fancied a late night drink, and it was a pleasure to chat with everyone. I only wish we'd had longer! Lavinia and I went back to our hotel, which was just around the corner. This hotel has what I called the Austin Powers bathroom. Bet you're jealous!

(Note: no, I'm not actually sitting on the loo, as one of my --male-- friends asked. *rolls eyes*  )

Saturday

An early start – and lots of coffee! – saw us all registering our names, then piling into the main room, a grand meeting hall in the hotel. We arranged ourselves around white clothed tables, which almost had me in mind of a wedding, all eyes to the front as the charismatic Charlie Cochrane took the reins, and welcomed us to the Meet. I have to say, the entire atmosphere felt very warm, accepting, and fun. A little banter in between the important messages was also very sweet, and smiles were never far from people's faces.

We started off with 'Novel Openings', a panel of writers sharing the first couple of paragraphs of a story. It was interesting to see how different people expressed their writing differently. A cool little snapshot of how writers start off, and draw readers in. Reviewer Jen also gave us her insight on what would interest her, as a reader. Great start to the Meet.

After a break for coffee and tea – and a sneaky biscuit for me – it was onto the next panels, and time to choose which ones to go to. This, for me, was a total surprise, as I hadn't realised there would be two separate rooms to visit, with dual panels going on simultaneously. I had a Crystal Maze style panic about which to choose, as I always want to absorb as much information as I can when the opportunity is there. Alas, I had to pick a panel, as walking out during a talk was frowned upon, and rightly so.

For me, I had to miss the 'Fanfiction' talk in favour of the 'Where do you get your ideas?' panel, mostly because I knew my writer chum Blaine D'Arden was on it, and I wanted to hear her speak. Listening to the panel was a lot of fun, and no one was doing any condescending lecturing; each writer was simply explaining how they got the idea for a specific story, which was like a 'behind the scenes' look. Doubly interesting if you knew the writer, and the story they had chosen, like Blaine D'Arden's The Fifth Son, which for me is one of my favourites, so it was a treat to hear more about it. (Incidentally, I was chuffed to bits to get my print copy of this book on the day, signed as well!)

Now, join me in damning my crap memory, and me for not taking notes as it happened, because when I try to think about each panel right now, I've kind of forgotten who was on which one... Suffice to say I was terribly excited – like a kid at Disneyland! – at seeing so many friendly faces/exciting new faces, and it didn't help my memory whatsoever. I will say that I did enjoy each panel enormously, and everyone who spoke had something interesting to say. I'm only sorry that I can't for the life of me write feedback or review individual speakers. Next time, I'm making notes! Live and learn.

The next panel was another choice; I could have gone back upstairs to the main room for a panel on LBTQ themes, but I chose to stay downstairs for 'Taking the plunge, the new author's guide to getting published', mostly because another writer chum, Becky Black, was on this panel, and I wanted to listen to her. The panel was great, a very good idea, and one I hope will continue to make an appearance at the Meet in various forms. Anne Brooke also gave some great advice, and people in the audience also had tips to share, and it was lovely to see the support offered and taken from all sides.

Break for lunch! Incredibly important, and I must say the hotel's buffet was fantastic. I love finger food anyway – vegetarian – and was pleased to see a lot on offer. Nice, relaxing lunch; I sat at a sunny table with Anna Martin, Tia Fielding, and Tia's sister.

After lunch, downstairs was the panel 'Tropes, keeping the genre honeymoon fresh', but I was due upstairs in the 'Online marketing' panel, as I'd offered to help give tips on how to use the dreaded Facebook and Twitter. Lucy Felthouse and Jordan Castillo Price led the panel, and did a fantastic job of introducing the concept of social media; important points like blogs, newsletters, and just generally keeping in touch with your readers in an easy, accessible way, without being pushy.

The underlying message was exactly the same as my own points for using Twitter or Facebook, and that is not to push your 'buy my book' slogan on everyone you meet without even saying hello, because a rude message won't reach readers. Manners and common sense are the only tools you need to get ahead online, the rest you can pick up. For those who are interested, I'll be posting my guide to using social media – Facebook, Twitter – in my next post.

Next, it was time to choose which panel to attend. I was sad to miss lovely Clare London speaking on 'The two edged sword: pitfalls of getting published', downstairs. I wanted to stay upstairs for the talk on 'Publishing, the way forward', as Ariel Tachna from Dreamspinner Press was leading the panel. Being published with Dreamspinner myself, meeting the DSP team and listening to what they had to say was important for me.

Really interesting points from Ariel, and the rest of the panel – DSP editor Anne Regan, and DSP writer Sue Brown – on e-publishing in general, and some of the different ways people are predicting the market will grow. I liked the optimistic approach to e-publishing, and the good points raised.

Then we had the bubbly and sharp Cameron Lawton (my new best friend!) who herself said she was on the panel to offer a different point of view, which was: be wary about rushing into self publishing. Cameron went on to give examples of her own self publishing steps – very generous of her to share this – and what she perhaps would have done differently if she'd known a bit more about the industry at the time, or hadn't been impatient. At least, that's the message which came across to me. All very good tips for budding authors, too.

This panel was very interesting, and I did enjoy it, especially Cameron's talk. I think, personally, this panel could have benefited from another angle to add to the self publishing topic; i.e. self publishing can be good, too. As ever, with panels, when people in the audience ask questions, the topic can stray a little, like any normal conversation, and go off in different directions. Mostly the chat galloped toward e-book publishing in general, and of course everyone was asking Ariel and Anne their views on the market and how DSP has developed since its start. (For me, I didn't realise DSP had launched a YA line recently. Now I know!)

Perhaps, in future, because the topic of self publishing is so vast – there were many self published authors in attendance, too – 'self publishing' could benefit from its own focussed panel, to give everyone more time to discuss this very important topic. Because self publishing is growing along with ebooks, and it would be great to see the whole topic represented; self publishing certainly isn't for everyone, but there's no harm in everyone knowing all the facts, is there?

That's my two cents!

So, tea break!

After tea, there were some one to ones for budding authors downstairs. A nice idea, I thought; possibly something to expand on in the future? Or even as an aside event? Upstairs was 'Buffet or Banter', which I didn't really understand, I must admit, but was basically different themed tables where you could join in the different discussions. By the time I'd worked out that each individual table was supposed to discuss one topic only, I'd already spotted Becky Black and Stevie Carroll, and wanted to chat with them. Also on the table, I'm pleased to have met Elin Gregory at last. As a table, we pretty much just chatted about what we fancied, which I really enjoyed. So, thank you everyone, for a good chat!

After the banter finished, key note speaker Jordan Castillo Price took the floor, and gave a wonderful talk on how she started out writing; her first forays into e-book publishing, sharing so many amazing stories and insights. Lots of food for thought, really enjoyable, and a very optimistic outlook.

Actually, all in all, there was optimism firing from all the panels and talks I saw, which I'm so happy about. It was a really good, buzzing atmosphere throughout the day, largely in part to the moving around and mixing things up. Really enjoyable. And the writers who were so willing to offer advice -- Jordan Castillo Price, Aleks Voinov from Riptide, and many more -- was very generous.

Meet captain Charlie took the helm again, and wrapped things up, highlighting the key points raised. Especially when discussing how the UK Meet had grown in only three short years, from a small meeting in a local library, to around sixty-ish people last year – my first Meet – to over a hundred this year, in a swanky hotel, with sponsors and prizes galore.

Almost a little scary, when you think about it, but a lot exciting.

A well deserved round of applause for the Meet organisers: Charlie Cochrane, Jamie Merrow, Clare London, Josephine Myles, Alex Beecroft; beautifully organised, jolly well done. Also everyone who spoke on panels, you all did such fabulous jobs, and I loved listening to what I heard. The people who donated to the swag bag, and raffle prizes. Dreamspinner Press, who offered and shared so much, which was a wonderful experience for me and the other Dreamspinner authors, I'm sure.

Another highlight for me, and I feel they deserve a special mention, was meeting the Polish writer duo, K.A. Merrikan, and Agnes Merrikan, who both looked super cool in their matching skull print dresses. Writers to watch, for sure.

All in all, I had the chance to speak with amazing and interesting people, you were all wonderful. I had an utterly brilliant time, and could have happily listened on and nattered with you all for the entire following week! Those that I didn't have a chance to chat with, or even chat longer with, I'm gutted about that, and really hope we can catch up next time, or at another event.

So there we have it, my thoughts on the UK Meet 2012.

Questions for you:

If you attended the UK Meet this year, what was your favourite panel? And how do you think it differed from last year?

Even if you didn't attend, have you been to writer meetings or conventions before? What do you like and/or dislike about them? Have you never been to one, but really want to go? If so, what puts you off going?

Thanks!