The HNS Conference at Dartington Hall

Happy Saturday to you! 

Dartington Hall, Devon

My Historical Novel Society Conference in Dartington Hall, Devon, England, was fantastic. One of the best things was matching up real-live people with the profile images of friends made on Facebook, and other social media outlets. Some looked just like their photo and others… maybe less so, but the fun was in attempting to figure them out without looking at their name badge (a godsend for me because I never remember names).

The conference speakers and panel authors did a great job from the most widely known in Bernard Cornwell, Diana Gabaldon and Ian Hall, to those for whom an HNS speaking task was a novelty.

Bernard Cornwell 

The venue was beautiful even in the relentless rain that fell every day from Friday through Sunday. The history of the Dartington Estate will be worth spending a little time on (when I get an opportunity) since it was not just our conference attendees who populated the area. The Dartington Estate is also popular with families, dog walkers, cyclists and general outdoorsy people who spend leisure time in the countryside.

It wasn't easy to get WIFI so my writing of the event is coming well after I'm home. (Also because I either acquired an unwelcome dose of Covid, or a very disgustingly heavy head cold which has floored me for a few days)

Ian Hall

I had no expectations of meeting Bernard Cornwell. I didn’t think I’d be speaking to Diana Gabaldon either but I had a brief opportunity on Friday when I was finding out where to register. While dodging the rain in the courtyard area, both of us hurrying in opposite directions, we traded a brief hello and how are you. Late afternoon on the Saturday, I was in the bar at a long table with some of my Historical Writers Forum Facebook Group when she came and sat down beside us. She must meet millions of people every year but I was able to say I’d briefly talked to her in Glasgow, at the Hunterian Museum/ Cloisters area last July 2023. It’s refreshing how easily she speaks to complete strangers.

There is a photo of the group, myself included, with Diana Gabaldon but as it's a closed Facebook group I don't have the use of it to share here. 

Diana Gabaldon and Chris Humphreys 

Over the conference days it was great to talk to people who aren't yet friends with me on social media and others with whom I made fleeting contact like the two lovely ladies from the US who realized I was a conference attendee from my Scottish Association of Writers tote bag. One of them noticed my tote bag as the train was pulling into Paignton Railway Station (I had travelled there from Exeter) and guessed I was attending the conference. She offered me a lift in the taxi she’d previously booked for the Premier Inn. We exchanged first names but no business cards  -  unfortunate since I now don't know who they were. I only saw them one other time during the conference, there being something upwards of 250 attendees (I think). 

My thanks go to all of the organisers. They did a sterling job using contingency plans since a lot of the catering was intended to be from an outside marquee which wasn't possible with the relentless rain that fell the whole weekend! 

It was all go and tiring, but well worth the effort of travelling so far south! Look out for more information on the sessions. 

Slainthe!