volunteers*

Bekki Hill is our conference co-ordinator. That's the person who carries the conference around in her head like a massive headache. Also answers to the name of: chief nagger, official worrier, and she-who-pulls-everything-together. Bekki is a writer's coach, freelance writer, columnist and the author of Coach Yourself to Writing Success

After organizing last year's 10th anniversary party, Benjamin Scott swore never again. Guess what he's doing for this conference. And then there's the new online booking system - he spent lots of time on that too! Benjamin is an author, copywriter and a dedicated Five Rhythms dancer.

Natascha Biebow's organized so many of these conferences, her expert opinion is much solicited. And then we got her to do a workshop as well. Natascha is a picture book author and former commissioning editor at Random House. She now runs Blue Elephant Storyshaping - a coaching, editing and mentoring service for children's book writers and illustrators

Anne Marie Perks recruits the art editors and organizes the illustrator events for the conference. She used to do all the nametags, the brochure, and the booking fees as well, but she's much wiser now. Anne Marie has illustrated several picture books and currently teaches animation, design and illustration at Buckinghamshire New University.

Candy Gourlay foolishly agrees to build the website every year. She just can't help herself. Candy is the author of Tall Story and a compulsive volunteer for everything.

If you join the conference committee in the hope of getting facetime with movers and shakers in the industry, then chasing and persuading authors, editors, publishers etc to appear on the conference programme is the job for you. But be careful what you wish for.

Sue Hyams is an old hand at these conferences, she organizes the editor's panel - and anyone who's submitted a manuscript to a publishing company will know this is not an easy task. Sue writes historical detective thrillers. She is represented by Penny Holroyde.

Maureen Oakley had no idea sorting out the programme would require that most demanding of motherly skills: nagging. She has managed to recruit speakers, organize their bios and photos, negotiate all the bits that need negotiating and do her school run as well. Mo writes series books and is a storyteller, voice over artist and sketch comedienne.

Lionel Bender had to cope with an avalanche of angst-ridden emails from the rest of the committee - and then they got him to become one of the speakers too. Lionel commissions and edits books for the packaging company Bender Richardson White.

Jeannette Towey's unfazed by most technical things so it seemed only right to saddle her with the online booking system. Jeannette writes fantasy, reviews books and paints beautiful murals.

Lisa Fox is designing all the print material for the conference this year - including the programme and nametags. Lisa's an illustrator with many published books and 20 years experience in the field.

It will be Clare Bell's second year of organizing the much-enjoyed Night-Before-Conference Critique which involves a lot of matching groups of authors and illustrators and pieces of work - a lot like running an internet dating website. After that she has to book the restaurant. Two nightmares for the price of one! Clare's debut picture book Don't Panic Annika came out in June - and she has two more soon to publish! She's on a roll!

Kathryn Evans is running the badge competition and lining up volunteers to hawk them on the day. Kathy writes beautifully, has been known to act, runs a farm that supplies Sainsbury's and is a passionate belly dancer. She is represented by Eoin Colfer's agent.

*This page was written by Candy without consulting the other volunteers. Any outlandish opinions cannot be helped.

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