Finding your tribe

 Christmas is a time for family - or so we are told. When you don't have any family left, it becomes a time for friends. As a writer, it is time for hanging out with my tribe.  Like minded people that you chose to be with - which may be an improvement on some family gatherings? Just saying. 

So far this month I have met with some fellow creatives from various disciplines at a professional event - not friends as such, but a welcome interaction with people with like minds - lunch, chat and some formal business. A highlight was a discussion on the place of Mary Stewart as an influence on the kind of romantic fiction I write - that would be a very significant one as far as I am concerned - which was interesting as the two people I was talking with were men. We were united in the opinion that her books have been gravely overlooked by film and TV. There have been a number of very enjoyable radio recordings, but as far as I am aware the only book to make it to film was The Moonspinners. Dating from 1964, it was a vehicle for the transition of child actress Hayley Mills to adult roles and featured her first screen kiss. Which took place, if my memory serves. while hiding in the back of a converted hearse. 

Since then? Nothing. 

IMHO Wildfire at Midnight would be excellent for TV. Set on the Isle of Skye at the time of the Coronation of Elizabeth II and and the climb to the top of Everest, it has Beltane fires, supernatural superstitions, missing girls, murder and lots of fog. Perfect creepy Sunday night viewing. Perhaps some day a power-that-is will realise it. 

My second tribal outing was with seven members of the Cariad Chapter of the RNA for an excellent Christmas lunch at one of the local branches of Zizzis. The food was good and the service attentive and the company was - of course - first rate. Lots of laughter and gossip. 

I have another two outings on the calendar - one with a mob of crime writers and one with a collection of writers from various disciplines - mostly women's and romantic fiction but with a poet and non fiction writer in the mix. Looking forward to both. Good to be with people who totally understand you. 

Photo shamelessly stolen form Jan Baynham.