The 60th ANNUAL CONGRESS
 

The congress of the West Country Writers' Association was held on 15-17 April 2011 at the Elfordleigh Hotel, Plymouth, Devon.

This Congress was one to remember with many VIPS attending to celebrate the special diamond anniversary including:-

Anne Williamson of the Henry Williamson Society spoke at the annual luncheon. She is the daughter-in-law of Henry Williamson who co-founded the association and wrote ‘Tarka The Otter’. Our President Lady Rachel Billington also spoke at the annual luncheon. On Friday James Woollam from F&W International (formerly David and Charles Publishers) gave an after dinner speech on publishing.

Angela Rippon, gave a talk on her career in the media. Angela’s childhood was spent in Plymouth where she also started her BBC television career.

Dr Melissa Hardie - after 4 years running her own book business and establishing the Patten Press, she moved to West Cornwall where she established the Jamieson Library of Women's History, from which the Hypatia Trust evolved in 1996 in conjunction with Exeter University, Exeter, Devon. Her interests are social history, arts, and the book arts in general. In 2008 she co-authored a biography of the life and work of Victorian botanist, social historian and educator Charles A Johns (1811-1874), best known for the botanical guide, Flowers of the Field.

Malcolm Welshman – a retired vet and novelist, now a BBC Radio panellist and in demand as a guest speaker on cruise liners. His Novel Pets in Prospect based on his experiences in practice has been hailed as the new James Herriot.

Jean Saunders - author of over 100 books, also writing as Rowena Summers and Rachel Moore. Published worldwide, her novels include historical and contemporary romance, crime, family sagas, wartime sagas, teenage fiction and erotica. She lectures widely to writers’ and other groups and cruise passengers, and runs weekend workshops on creative writing.

Tania Crosse - has a number of published books under her belt, her powerful, gritty novels are all based on her wide knowledge of the rich and fascinating history of Dartmoor and West Devon. Most of her books are set in the Victorian era although recently she has also begun a 1950s series for Allison & Busby.

Peter Levin - one of the moving spirits behind the first Penzance Literary Festival. Before moving to Penzance he lectured in social policy at the London School of Economics, then reinvented himself as a student support specialist at the LSE. His books include Making Social Policy and the seven-strong Student-Friendly Guides series, which includes the best-selling Write Great Essays!, and Excellent Dissertations!

Rebecca Tope – author of sixteen crime novels, she has recently been working on a major biography of Sabine Baring-Gould. She lives in Herefordshire, but grew up in Devon. 

 

Congress 2012

Will be held at The Bailbrook Hotel, Bath 20-22 April 2012