Tea and Mentoring at Betty’s Tea Rooms
Just yesterday I had lunch with a brilliant writer at Betty’s in Ilkley. For those of you who do not know the history or significance of Betty’s let it be simply said that the place is an institution and a bit of a landmark. Just like the Tea Rooms in Harrogate is a part of the Yorkshire Tour, the same is true of the one in Ilkley, albeit it the place seems more a regular haunt for locals than part of the tick-off-and done-that attraction that the Harrogate venue represents within many Yorkshire coachtour itineraries.
For decades the North facing dining room had a piano player sitting centrally in the room, playing delicately to the ladies who lunch, the lovers who nibble and the lonely who do their crosswords and reading. Last year, and with much hoo-hah and Letters to the editor of the local Ilkley Gazette newspaper, the piano and the gentleman pianist were relegated to history and the room experienced a subtle makeover and many shifts of soft colour, new seating and mirrors that fill the room with light even on the most rainy Yorkshire days.
Now the place is more modern than historic, well lit rather than dark and dreary, and occassional chamber music and quartets several times a week has replaced the solid piano. The chatter is much the same. The overheard local gossip just as good as before. The ladies who lunch are still the main audience, the lovers still nibble and the lonely or solitary still enjoy their crossword puzzles and books. All in all it is a case of a good refurbishment well-done.
But I was there for lunch and not just to appreciate the surroundings. What struck me half way through the lunch was the fact that here I was sitting with a very successful poet, commercially very successful novelist of crime fiction, and now my friend and mentor. I first listened to Sophie read at a Crime Readers’ event held a couple of years ago as part of the Ilkley Literature Festival. I bought her first book, read it and stayed in touch, occasionally meeting up at other festivals and readings. Then I bought the next book and the next and a friendship developed.
It was not anything I had ever imagined and is all the better for having developed this way. But ask yourself this: “If you did want to find help from someone who has already walked the same path that you want to go down, then who should you be meeting or looking out for?”
When I was looking to make the shift from only writing non-fiction and How To books, I was fascinated by the Crime genre but not really considered it for myself. Yet I was clearly out there looking for a mentor, whether I was aware of it for myself at the time or not.
I am not suggesting you have to choose a new medium or genre, simply suggesting that by being open to explore the potential you have within you for new directions or subtle shifts in journey the results will be surprising.
I went to a festival event because it intrigued me, drew me in and held my attention as a door opened to a new outlet for my writing. Follow that hunch, listen to that quiet or even strident inner voice that tells you something is worthy of your attention. You never know, we might meet up at Betty’s for a delicious Latte Latino!
Nick Sturgeon facilitates a Non-Fiction Writers’ Retreat each year. In November 2008 it is on the Yorkshire coast close to historic Whitby. email nick@smallbusinessbigprofit.co.uk for information and event updates.
Find out more at www.smallbusinessbigprofit.co.uk and see the Events area.
