Joanna here, thinking how nice it would be to get away from all this rain.
Which leads to how the Wenches from time to time go to Writers’ Conferences where they attend sessions that help make them better writers and give talks that help other writers do the same, but mostly they hang out in coffee shops and gossip with friends because that’s what folks do at conferences.
So … what would be the most interesting spot for a conference if you could pick any time and place whatsoever?
Some thoughts on this.
Pat: Oh my, this poses entirely too many choices. I’ll simply go with the first one that pops to mind—
(Click on the image for a close up_
Ranelagh Gardens in its heyday, about 1765 when the likes of Mozart played in a rotunda painted by Canaletto. Vauxhall would be another choice, but I like warmth, and the rotunda was heated.
Neither of them are available today in all their glory, so it would be a great joy to see how they looked as our characters wandered about, rubbing elbows with dukes and princes in the case of Ranelagh, and with maids and merchants if we choose Vauxhall.
We could have sessions with genuine lords and ladies and ask them all those eternal questions on how they wish to be addressed (do you really wish to be addressed as Your Grace, Duke? Or would your closest friend address you by the name you had growing up, Kingsley, as in Marquess of?). I would not presume to give a talk on the address question, but I would be happy to speak to The Future and Women’s Rights in Our Novels, if asked.