RNA & M&B at the OLF

Nice outing to the Oxford Literary Festival last week to enjoy the M&B-sponsored panel on the changes in fictional heroes and heroines over the past 100 years.

After being introduced by Oxford-based journalist Mary Zacaroli, the panel of Matt Dunn, Katie Fforde, Daisy Goodwin (chair), Joanne Harris and Nicola Cornick then dissolved into laughter as everyone in the marquee was reminded to turn off their mobile phones.
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There was plenty of good-humoured discussion on whether H&H have changed (strong, silent heroes have now loosened up a bit, heroines allowed to be themselves more), before questions from the floor posed such interesting conundrums as which family member you wouldn't want to read your book (mothers/daughters in an equal tie), and how many of us skip the sex scenes when reading.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a glass or three of bubbly provided by Mills&Boon, whose Centenary Year it is, and then repaired en-masse to an extremely nice restaurant with our goody bags.

This photo of me, Louise Allen and Nicola Cornick was taken by Louise's husband after the bubbly, but before the food. Which may explain it.