Bitter-sweet moments

I've just finished my last lecture of the Swanwick Writers' Summer School, and am left amidst a mix of emotions.

Firstly, there's a great and warming pleasure in that - from my perspective at least! - it's gone well and the kind folk who came along to the talks appear to have got a fair bit from them.

I think I can now reveal that a sizeable mass of work went into the lectures. In fact, the planning started just after Xmas.  I was keenly aware it was the first extended session of teaching I'd ever done, and quite something to take on.

So, there's plenty of relief in the old Hall mind at the moment too.  But there's also a strange sadness.

One of the most wonderful things about Swanwick is how quickly people bond here.  It may be the holiday thing, it may be the shared passion of writing, it might even be the excellent entertainments that we enjoy night after night (I tried some Latin Dancing last night, but that's another story entirely, and maybe an 18 certificate - needless to say of one cursed with clumsiness that my efforts weren't entirely successful, to put it mildly), but it just happens.

I've been made to feel so very welcome, and enjoyed the company of my group to the extent that when the lecture was winding up today I could feel a tremble in the voice and a gathering tension in my throat.

It's been a privilege to be here to share in a fantastic week, so here's a formal, but heartfelt, thank you to all the people who came along to witness my ramblings, and of course the organisers for all their hard work.

Finally, before I crash out for a much needed doze, if you've ever thought about writing I can thorougly recommend Swanwick to you.  I very much hope to be allowed back in the years to come, and to maintain the friendships I've found here.

And don't forget, if anyone wants to keep in touch, let me know how they're doing with their writing, or send me any feedback or thoughts about the tvdetective books, or my lectures, you can get in touch via the contact page of the site - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html   It'd be a pleasure to hear from you.