Chapter Con recap

I tried to start this blog post a few times since been back from Chapter Con, London but just didn't know where to start. if I'm honest part of me wishes I was still there! I can not describe what the whole weekend meant to me.So lets start with the whole event and its atmosphere. this is easy one, the whole event consisted of a conference and signing for authors and readers unlike my past author signings this was a opportunity for us to learn from others as well as sign our books and boy did I learn a lot. first off I learned Samantha Young's amazing rising success her story touched everyone's heart. the passion I felt in her words and the love for her readers echoes on now. She really did kick the whole event off with a bang. for the rest of the day we passed from panel to workshops growing in confidence and learning much more than we imagined I learned a whole bunch of new skills, tips on how to take things further and more interesting/different ways of trying things, I also learned that Patti Larsen and Jo Micheals are AWESOME women!! seriously, even though I didn't get to talk to them as much as I wanted to I still learned so much from them and their work, Patti's preview of the Lonely Which Club was amazing and gives you goals to reach. Catherine Stine gave a fantastic opening talk on Saturday, she taught us that a bumpy road is a good thing.With our tables all ready we engaged each other and readers, The Butterfly ball - wow set in a gorgeous room we all sat ready for the awards evening and silent disco! yes you heard right a silent disco. I was nominated for four awards and even though I didn't walk away with any I lost out to the most inspirational, amazingly talented women and for me that was enough. I got to sit and have a lovely conversation (not for long enough though!) with the lovely Tee I can't tell you how much Chapter Con has changed me but what I can tell you is the huge sense of unity, love and friendship I got from the evenings sat round the table drinking tea and chatting with a lovely bunch of ladies I now call my friends! Katie, Helen, Toya, Krista, Sandra, Bella, Mia andJo I miss you all immensely and can not thank you all enough for your kindness and friendship.I would also like to thank another women for her kindness Christina made my daughters day upon my return with a set of books she gave me and a butterfly challenge that has kept her going for the last three days trying to make paper butterflies!! And in case your wondering why everyone's name is underlines that's because I've put their links in there and i want you to go ahead and like every awesome one of them!!! Hazel xxP.s I haven't been able to upload all my photos so I'm going to put them all in an album together on my website.