Events and Meetings in 2011-2012

The short list was announced at the final meeting of the 2011/12 season on 19th March. We heard a talk by Helen Gordon who spoke about writing Landfall which will be one of next year's novels. Helen described her literary influences, including a period spent editing for Granta, and teased us with her reluctance to cast light on the intriguing ending of her book. Pictures of Helen speaking and signing books follow.

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The third meeting of the 2011/12 season (on 9th January) was addressed by Charlotte Betts, who spoke about writing her first published novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, while working full time in property management. The novel is set in London at the time of the plague and the great fire. Some pictures of the event follow.

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The second meeting of the season was on 21st November. Quentin Bates talked about living and working in Iceland, the setting for his novel Frozen Out. The discussion ranged widely from getting published in Iceland to the level of corruption in that beautiful country. A couple of pictures follow.

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The first meeting of the 2011-12 award season was on 5th September. Our speaker was Yvvette Edwards, whose first novel, A Cupboard Full of Coats, had just been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. Yvvette spoke about her experiences as a writer for the theatre, and the writing of her first book, full of characters who originated in Montserrat. Some pictures of the event follow:

Award Dinner 2011

The 2011 award dinner was held at Eaton Golf Club, Waverton, on 14th October 2011. The evening was hosted by John Scrivener and the prize was presented by Lieutenant Colonel Phaedra McClean TD, who spoke briefly about her career in the police and in the Territorial Army. After accepting the prize, Helen Simonson spoke wittily about her experiences as a writer, and about the importance and significance of cultural differences and tensions in English society. She responded to several questions from the diners and signed books for many attendees. Several pictures of the event follow.

Phaedra McClean introducing the winner

Helen Simonson with her award

Helen signing books

Attendees enjoying the dinner

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