Getting away from it all - to some more of it all (Anne Rooney)

The weather will be better this year

In two weeks' time, 38 children's authors will gather at a secret location in England for a weekend of talks, discussions, chat, food, wine, coffee and swimming. We are all members of the 'other' SAS and the weekend is our yearly conference, held in a country-house hotel. I can't tell you where it is or I would have to kill you. Malorie Blackman will be there, giving the keynote speech. Other household names you would definitely recognise will be there, comparing experiences, grumbling, celebrating and greeting each other with hugs and kisses.

Mary Hoffman last time
- by Keren David

We don't get out much. We don't see each other much. Writing is a solitary business, on the whole. The people we consider our colleagues are spread around the UK, and even when the rain doesn't make islands of some of those previously-mainland parts it's hard to get together. So when we do meet up we talk non-stop and have a *really* good time. We chat about how our books are going, try out new ideas on each other, seek advice and gossip about publishers, agents, books, deals, film options, school visits, messages from readers, ebooks, social media, editors. And update each other on the other things in our lives, because we aren't total nerds. It's a wonderful, supportive event for friends old and new.

The task of running the conference is taken on by a different two writers each year. This year, I'm doing it with Mary Hoffman.It's a bit hair-raising at times, and I will admit I have threatened to replace some of the delegates with octopi, but I'm really looking forward to it.  Well, as long as I don't have to herd octopi.