The thing I should confess first is that I really regretted dressing like a bum today.
I have on moss-green cargo pants (about two sizes too big and the hem drags on the ground, even though I’ve had them taken up) and a black zip-up hoodie.
I wore this because I knew I’d be spent 6+ hours at the library today, doing homework, and I wanted something comfortable (and I haven’t quite yet reached the stage of wearing trackies!).
However, as I was walking to Trades Hall, who did I bump into at the lights but Kate Holden herself!
Immediate thoughts:
1) Wow this is so awesome!
2) Oh gosh I look awful!
We walked up to the hall together only to discover it wasn’t the right entry. We sort of looked around lost and made a few jokes and walked around to the other entry, neither of us knowing where to go.
I said I was good, even if we were late (which we wouldn’t’ve been, it was only 7pm for a 7:30pm start!) I was with the talent!!
Alas we made it and as Kate went off to prepare I wandered into the hall. I hadn’t actually been there before – not in Bella Union Bar at any rate – and immediately loved the atmosphere of wood, comfy couches and low lighting. I looked around at all the empty chairs and tables and in the end went up to a woman sitting alone at a table at the right.
My reason was simple: she was alone, why take up another table with me alone on it? Might as well lump all the singles together! Plus, it was right up the front and you know me, I love being right up at the front *cough nerd cough*
It turned out she was waiting for a friend who was buying drinks at the bar but regardless I sat down (after I asked if the seat was free 
) and we started to chat.
About books and writing, funnily enough!
She – Melissa – was just the nicest person ever. She’s a writer as well and we chatted about submitting, competitions, The Victorian Writer’s Centre, writing and workshopping/editing.
She asked me why I was there and I said that I follow around Kate. She gave me a funny look and asked if I knew Kate and I casually said, Oh no, I don’t know her: I’m an author-stalker.
Then her friend – Ester – came back and we all talked.
My gosh! Simply lovely people. Just lovely.
I had such fun.
They are leaving the families at home and are skipping off to America in 2014, of which I am so jealous!
Just lovely people.
Gosh. I love literary events!
I was almost sad when David and Kate came on because I wanted to keep talking!!
But they were the reason we were there, so I was really glad they did come on :p
Two Sides of the Story: Memoir – Kate Holden & David Astle
Autobiography, memoir, life-writing: countless genres, countless approaches. Exposing one’s life experiences on the page seems somewhat daunting. From Kate Holden’s personal and romantic travails to David Astle’s professional peccadilloes and linguistic shenanigans, these two very different memoirists compare notes. 
It was such a fascinating talk.
It was all the more interesting, I believe, because there wasn’t a chair/host to facilitate the conversation. It was simply David and Kate on the stage.
And it worked. Really, really well.
They talked about writing and fan experiences and a whole bunch of stuff I wish I’d written down.
One quote that Kate said that stuck with me was, “Don’t trust writers!” Which I found really funny (and sadly true).
Afterwards, Melissa and Ester asked if I had a card (which I excitedly handed out – I swear I’m in love with the design! It looks so pretty!) and said they’d catch me at the next Wheeler Centre event.
All in all, a fabulous evening and although I was at first put-off by the venue (last time I went to Trades Hall I wandered the city/Carlton aimlessly for over forty-five minutes, completely lost, until I finally stumbled upon Parliament Station!!) I grew to love it and boy it was a fantastic night.
Yeah, I’m a fan!!
Hi Megan,
Hah, thank you for coming (and sending me this link), and yes, we found our way in eventually! Sorry if I rushed away, in fact I went off and said something terribly tactless to the organiser and got flustered and needed a beer to settle. Would have been happy to chat to you. I'm glad you enjoyed the gig, I did too and think the series is a great idea–much more relaxed with just two authors than a chair asking stern questions. The hard part was making ourselves shut up and stop. I hope you keep going to WC events and I like your blog.
Kate