Brighton and Hove Group: Good News Meet

Join the Brighton & Hove Group on Friday 20 November from 14:00 at The Regency Town House for a special meeting celebrating the successes, milestones and good news in our writing lives.

Due to the popularity of our first Good News Meet we have unanimously decided upon a second such format.

It was a wonderful opportunity for local authors in the community to gain a glimpse of the wealth and diversity of the successful writing talent we have here amongst fellow members in East Sussex. Thank you to the 6 speakers who shared their incredible news and the backgrounds behind their many varied books.

Recap:

• Thelma McGough’s fascinating life story – art school with John Lennon, dating Paul McCartney, marriage to Roger McGough…and news of her agent and publishing deal with HarperNorth.
• Jane Peyton shared her inspiring and serendipitous voyage on how she got her agent through Byte the Book for her cosy crime book set about the ‘ethical assassin.’
• Judy Ridgway, author of 78 books, expert in vegetarian cuisine, wine and international olive oil expert shared (and signed my copy of) her booklet on Olive Oil…
• David Hendy talked about the story behind the story behind the story of how The Circus: The Men and Women Who Fought Nazi Germany Over the Airwaves evolved and came to be published with Profile Books.
• Elizabeth Darling PhD Architectural Historian who just published her new book, Palace of the Ether, Broadcasting House and the Architecture of the BBC. The building of Broadcasting House – the design, materials and construction sourced only from Britain and its Empire.
• Victor L Moore of Myth&Magick Children’s/YA Fantasy Author, Playwright and Children’s Drama Tutor who has written series of wonderfully imaginative books for all ages.

If anyone else is interested in taking one of two more 15 minute slots then please get in touch to localgroups@societyofauthors.org. We already have 4 speakers lined up to share their good news next month, see below:

• Maxine Pancaldi whose debut novel Burning Lies was long listed for the Cheshire Novel Prize 2026 – down to the last 6% of the International writing competition.
• Emer Rohan, a new member who self-published her debut novel in 2026. Between You and Me is a contemporary novel about teenage secrets and parental pressures.
• Helen Croydon who is going to share the many challenges involved in the publication of memoir she ghostwrote (her name is even on the cover) Forbidden Love: A True Story of Adoption, Reunion and Longing by Sophia Greenwood with Helen Croydon
• Luke Young has written a book about living completely offline with no computer or smartphone since he was 18. Find out more about why he made the decision and the implications it has had.

Let’s celebrate one another, share what we’ve learned, and cheer each other on.

We’ll meet upstairs in The Regency Town House, 13 Brunswick Square, Hove, BN3 1EH. Tea, coffee and biscuits, including gluten-free and dairy-free options, will be provided by group organiser Rebecca for a donation of £3 via SumUp.

The Regency Town House is a charity and lets us meet here very cheaply, so please make a donation as you leave if you’re in a position to do so.

All members welcome!

To attend the meeting, click the Going button below and fill out the RSVP form. If you do not receive a confirmation email, or have trouble signing up, please contact localgroups@societyofauthors.org.

To ensure that volunteers provide enough chairs from the storeroom for everyone, please email member-volunteer group organiser RebeccaERennie@gmail.com with any last-minute RSVPs or cancellations.