Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Harrogate: Have Pictures, Will Post

This is the fun side of the Harrogate reflections - the photos. But did I tell you the UK was having a heat wave? And no air conditioning. OMG, I thought I was going to evaporate. One of the best moments was when it started to rain, and I had to laugh at all the tough crime writers dashing inside. This was, after all, England. It's like a person from Vancouver staying in because of the rain - when would you get out?

So, the big post is now up at Killer Year. And there's something in it that hits to how I felt and what I thought about the unique challenges for debut authors like myself, so it isn't just recap of what happened, although that's certainly there.

I hope you have a chance to drop by and leave me a note here or there, or in both places!



With Val McDermid. Oh, yeah, it was too fucking hot to be England, so you’ll see a lot of rosy cheeks in these photos. It wasn’t just the booze, I swear.




Stuart may have made Val McDermid lose her breakfast, but I survived.



With Vincent, of the Dragons Fandago blog.


The charming, funny, extraordinarily talented Mark Billingham.


The Billingham Babes. Sandra, Helena, Mark, Jayne and Betty. What a blast to meet all of you!

Day Three in the Bar, with Simon Kernick (the look on my face says it all. About the bar, not Simon.)


Quiz Night. 2/3 of the team. Notice Steve Mosby managed to avoid the photo? Sneaky.

The All Night Party Animals




It seems strangely appropriate that this photo is a bit blurry. I was tired. But it was a beer and bacon breakfast for us.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool photos, Sandra.

How did I manage to avoid that one at the pub quiz by the way? Was I taking it? My memory's only good for the middle eight hours of every day.

James Goodman said...

Ah, it looks and sounds (from the post below) like a grand time. I simply must make one of these at some point. :D

Erik Ivan James said...

The recovery prognosis is...how many weeks?

s.w. vaughn said...

Silly people. Don't they know you're supposed to dash out INTO the rain when it's hot and humid, not retreat from it?

Sounds -- and looks -- like a total blast, Sandra. I am vicariously thrilled about your trip! Woot!

Sandra Ruttan said...

Steve... I don't know. You're sneaky!

And if your memory is only good for that much, you've forgotten the strip tease you did with the Scandinavian fellow from Thursday? Maybe I shouldn't mention it.

James, I recommend a conference. Heartily. You really should get out there and drink with some crime writers.

Erik...I'm hoping not 7, because I've got edits due before then! Jet lag always gets me in this direction, though. Sucks.

SW, exactly. And it was a great trip - I hope to see you at one of these some day!

Anonymous said...

As long as it was with him, that's okay. If it had been for him, god knows what could have happened. I'd certainly have needed more than nurofen the next morning.

Bill Cameron said...

I'm confused. There you were in the Holy Land of Beer, and someone was drinking a Badweiser?

Whatever is the world coming to?!

Sandra Ruttan said...

Uh, Steve, maybe I should just stop talking now.

Bill, what can I say? There was an American there, and you know why American beer is like making love in a Canada - it's fucking close to the water.

No accounting for some tastes, though.

JT Ellison said...

Great pictures! Goes to show you -- conferences are FUN! You look lovely too!

Unknown said...

Terrific pictures. Looks like a fun time!!

DesLily said...

an awful lot of smiles in those pictures!! isn't it great to feel that good inside?!!

glad you had such a good time!!

angie said...

Yay! Pictures! Jeezly weasley, you're like totally BFF with ALL the biggie Scots writers! Looks like a lot of fun. Scooting over to Killer Year for the latest from Sandra's Big Writers Con...

anne frasier said...

wonderful photos, sandra!

Tracy Sharp - Author of the Leah Ryan Series said...

Awesome pics! Aaaaw Stuart is SO cute. Especially when he's doing that pirate face.

Sandra Ruttan said...

JT, you're too kind!

Andrea, yes, it was a lot of fun.

DesLily, yes, I smiled on my trip. And when I drank too much I giggled too.

Angie, thing is, these guys here (and gals) - Val, Mark, Ian, Simon, well, Stuart too I guess - they're all so down to earth and don't get all snotty with people. Really really nice.

And everyone from the blogs and BTZ were fantastic.

Anne, glad you liked!

Trace, Stuart the kitten is cute. Stuart the pirate is shifty and you have to handcuff him occasionally.

Bonnie S. Calhoun said...

I'm glad you had a great time.

I' going to a writers convention in two weeks.

I'll going out on a limb here, but somehow I know we won't be having beer for brakfast...LOL

Daniel Hatadi said...

Great set. Of photos.

That MacBride fellow is so cheesy. Cheesy is good, though. Goes good with wine. Lots of wine.

Sandra Ruttan said...

And he whines well too.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Oh, and Bonnie... yeah, I'd guess you're right.

I'm sure nobody will be dipping into the communion wine either!