Annual Bloggers Bash 2019
Yesterday, 15th June 2019 was the Annual Bloggers Bash in London. I went feeling very nervous and excited. I managed to get on the right train and sat reading my Kindle all the way to London. Quite a relaxing journey and nice to have some me time. No real interruptions as nobody spoke to me on the train.
On reaching London Victoria, I found some lovely blogging friends who welcomed me. We then all walked to the hotel. Still feeling nervous I would have been lost if I had not met up with these lovely friendly people.
The hotel was lovely and the atmosphere was very welcoming.

There were blogging awards during the day and I’m aware that Eloise De Sousa has also posted this information, so here is her link. Amazingly she was writing her blog post on her phone during the day! Congratulations to all the winners.
Here is Adam Dixon reading out one of the awards.

Here is our first speaker, Laura from Full to the Brum, a food blogger from Birmingham.

Our next speaker, Gemma Todd, made me feel very inspired, an amazing story and has achieved what a lot of us are wanting to achieve. Gemma Todd, GX Todd who now has books published with Headline. Gemma worked as a Librarian driving a 35ft mobile library van. Yes, I struggle enough with my Citroen C3 Picasso, no way I would entertain driving an HGV. Unless it was across an empty car park.

Her books, Defender and Hunted are part of a four-part series called Voices. The third in the series, Survivors is due to be released on October 31st. Her writing has been likened to Stephen King, horror thrillers. Have to admit when I got home I ordered Defender and it is arriving today. I do love Amazon Prime. I sat listening to her, thinking wow and then hoping that maybe if Gemma can do it then maybe one day an agent might like my time tunnel novel. A lot of patience and persistence and hard work. (Please note, anything purchased through my blog will at no extra charge to you, earn me some commission which will help to pay for my blog).
I did also look up some self-published bloggers on Amazon last night as well. Try and get the most out of my Kindle unlimited. However, it is always a struggle to fit in life, reading and writing. Right now, I’m supposed to be helping with homework and I have a mountain of ironing to do.



So a lovely day had by all. It was great to be there and talk with people face to face, rather than messenger or through blog post comments.
When the day was over a group of us walked back to London Victoria together. Still anxious about getting on the wrong train but with friendly help, thankyou! I found the right platform and the right train.
It felt that as soon as the day started I was back on the train reading my Kindle going home. I am now looking forward to next year, for the next Bloggers Bash. just a year to wait.
This was my submission for the competition, five. Five things you didn’t know about me




59 Comments
Graeme Cumming
It was good to meet you, Marian, and it sounds as if you got a lot out of it. I’m really pleased you did, and hope you will keep in touch with the new friends you’ve made. Can’t wait to see what happens with your own novel.
Just muddling through life
Thanks Graeme, was good to meet you as well. Yes I did get alot out of it, I’m now going back and thinking about my characters, who they are and what they like. It is a long road, but hopefully one day I will get there. I have one of your stories now on my kindle.. I need to read it before July when my kindle unlimited expires.. but if I do get to read it I will try and leave you a review.
Graeme Cumming
Sounds like the Bash left you with some food for thought. And that’s always good.
If you get to Ravens Gathering, I hope you enjoy it. (Well, maybe enjoy’s the wrong word… It does go to some dark places.) Any review will be gratefully received, but don’t feel any obligation.
I can’t recall whether you were part of the conversation I was having about arranging a meet at Waterstones in Picadilly later in the year. If not, I wasn’t excluding you, and please do come along if you can. I haven’t made any arrangements yet, but will set a date over the next few weeks, and will blog about it and share it on my Facebook page. Do keep an eye out for it if you’re interested.
Just muddling through life
Hi, I will try and get to read it. No I was not part of the conversation but yes I am very interested in being there. Would be lovely to see everyone again. Thankyou!
Ritu
Aw Marion, I am so glad you came, enjoyed and are already geared up for next year!!!! 🤗💜
Just muddling through life
Hi Ritu, it all went to fast. Yes looking forward to seeing you again next year!
Ritu
I always feel that. It whizzes by, and before you know it, you have to leave! That’s why I convinced hubby to come with me from last year so we could stay over!!!
Just muddling through life
Yes prolong the event a little longer. It was lovely to meet him as well.
Ritu
Here’s to next year… Who knows, we might both have our books done!!! Xx
Just muddling through life
Yes, I’m sure you will by then, I’d like to think that I’m approaching agents by then.. but a long way to go yet. I’m now needing to think about my characters and get to know them…
Ritu
You got this 🤗
Just muddling through life
I hope so Ritu, I hope so! X
willowdot21
Hi Marian this is the first time I have had a minute to read your blog today.It was really great to meet you finally after chatting on messenger and wordpress.
I am so glad that you liked the bash and got so much from it. That’s what it’s all about . As you say it’s such a shame that it wizzes by so quickly. Here is to the next one 💜💜
Just muddling through life
It was lovely to meet you too, thanks for looking after me! X
willowdot21
It was a pleasure Marian 💜🌹
Lance Greenfield
It was great to meet you and I was very happy to be the guide for four very lovely ladies from Victoria Station to the venue. We had a very interesting conversation about our shared love of time travel and science fiction. The author friend whom I talked about is Andrew P Weston, author of The IX and a few others. Take a look at The IX.
Just muddling through life
I think we all appreciated your guidance and conversation, Thankyou! I will have a look at The IX, thanks for the link
Just muddling through life
Sorry it was great to meet you too!
Lance Greenfield
Wasn’t the whole day brilliant? I would have liked another five or six hours to be able to meet everyone. But then, my unachievable ambition is to be able to meet everybody on the planet!
Just muddling through life
What would be good if we all lived in a small blogging community.. all bloggers together.. blogging about our blogging lives with our difficult husband’s and difficult wives, however that would probably be to much! Ha ha! The day just raced and conversation that we had, could have been so much longer if only we had time. Thing is though, more time possibly equals the cost getting more expensive due to needing a hotel room. Lance, we need to stop time! Freeze time so the bloggers can have a much longer bloggers bash!
Lance Greenfield
No need to stop time. With seven tables, we could start at eleven o’clock with a 90 minute session, then swap tables and run six more 90 minute sessions, all running from 11-12:30 when we stop for a three hour lunch break, resuming at… 12:30., 😉⏳
Just muddling through life
That sounds complicated! Ha ha!
Just muddling through life
Oh and The IX does look like an interesting book.
Lance Greenfield
The schedule is not too complicated for a time-traveller like me or my friend, Howard Loring, who I think I mentioned. Look him up. We might even bring along our mutual friend, Archie, aka Archimedes.
Just muddling through life
Ahh ok, so time travel is involved but time has not been stopped.. bringing time travel to the blogging community!
lindasschaub
How fun Marian and I follow Hugh’s News and Views and he has mentioned this event before and what a good time it is interacting with other bloggers.
Just muddling through life
Yes a great time was had by all!
AJ.Dixon
Ah, internet fame at last!
It was wonderful to meet you, Marian, and I’m glad you had a good time. Best of luck with your novel, it sounded really engaging to me!
Just muddling through life
Thank you Adam! its the hard work though of keeping the readers interest across 80 000
ish words or more.. plus getting to know my characters, so much work involved. Will all be worth it though if one day it is in Waterstones. I read that you are writing a sci fi book.. lots of work! Maybe one day our books will be in Waterstones together.
Just muddling through life
Sorry it was good to meet you too, I had seen your name on Twitter on the Blog Bash chat.. but nice to put a face to the name.
fancypaperblog
I would have loved to have met some of these people! Glad you got to go and enjoy the day Marian.
Just muddling through life
Hi Orla, it was fantastic, shame you couldn’t be there.. parenting obligations do not make things easy! It would have been nice to meet you!
fancypaperblog
Would love to meet you too!
Image Earth Travel
What a fabulous day! Really hope to make it next year!
Just muddling through life
Hi Nilla, it was and it would be lovely to meet you!
Image Earth Travel
Hopefully next year. 🙂
Sherri Matthews
Lovely post and lovely to meet you, Marian! 🙂 Sherri x
Just muddling through life
Hi Sherri, thank you, it was lovely to meet you too x
Sherri Matthews
Thank you, Mariane. Here’s to next year! 🙂 x
Just muddling through life
Yes only a year to go! Ha ha, will see you then x
Sherri Matthews
Haha…not long then! 😀 <3
Just muddling through life
About 360 ish days, ha ha x
Sherri Matthews
LOL…and counting!!! xxx
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April Munday
It was lovely to meet you on Saturday. It’s a good event and I was shattered when I got home. I had to get up and go up to London again the next day, otherwise I would have stayed longer.
Just muddling through life
It was lovely to meet you too! Wow you must have had an exhausting weekend, lots of travelling.
April Munday
It was tiring, but it’s easier to recover from these things when you’re retired.
josypheen
Yay! I am glad to hear you had fun Marian!
Just muddling through life
Hi Josy, (sorry I rescued your comment from spam) yes it really was a fantastic day!
Mary Smith
Lovely post and it was good to meet you – even if we didn’t get time to talk much.
Just muddling through life
Hi Mary, it was lovely to meet you too! Yes the day went by very fast.
Erika Bodden
Sounds like a great time! 😃
Just muddling through life
Yes it was, thanks!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Awesome that you were able to attend!
Just muddling through life
Yes it was a fantastic day. Thanks.
Rebecca Moon Ruark
What fun! Looks wonderful, and I’m glad you found inspiration!
Just muddling through life
Thanks Rebecca, yes it was great fun and nice to meet some of the people behind the names.
Rebecca Moon Ruark
Wish I were closer. Even your train ride to the event sounded lovely!
Just muddling through life
Yes it would be lovely to meet you. Yes the train ride was good but the toilets are a bit scary… I held on coming home. But yes it really was a good day,