Catching up with Catherine Campbell after CRT 2018

Only two days? It isn’t nearly enough! On second thought, it’s probably perfect. If CRT was any longer we’d return home exhausted, as so much is packed into the two day conference in Swanick for Christian authors, publishers and retailers.

This year none of the delegates could possibly have returned home without a smile in their hearts and the words of the inimitable J. John ringing in their ears. Only that particular evangelist/author could get away with using Paul’s words to Timothy concerning a coat, books, and parchment as the text for a sermon! Yet J. John’s powerful message about looking after ourselves, and each other, in this special ministry of books, will long be remembered – especially on challenging days.

It’s difficult to explain how attending a conference for 400 people feels like meeting with family, but then CRT is unique. Whether writing, publishing, or selling Christian books, the gathering of like-minded people in an atmosphere of encouragement and understanding is a lovely thing – whatever your personality. From the warm welcome given by Steve and Mandy Briars right through to the generosity of the publishers - with all their freebies, and the warmhearted meeting of strangers around the meal table, there is a sense of belonging within this industry that has ministry, more than money, at its heart.

The Hayes Conference Centre is the perfect place to facilitate all that a conference like this offers. Trade exhibition, formal seminars, small meeting rooms, times of worship in the huge Derbyshire Hall, and lots of places to have coffee together with friends, or to negotiate deals, network, and introduce your work to others for the first time. On previous visits I availed myself of as much as was on offer to us writerly-types, as well as learning lots about an industry where I still feel like a relative new-comer. It’s also the only time in the year when I can sit face to face with my publisher and discuss where we are with present or future writing projects. While there was much I felt familiar with on this visit, for me there was a distinct difference this year.

Right there on my name badge an additional designation had been added just below my name and beside the word ‘author’. It said ‘speaker’. That’s not new in and of itself. I’m familiar with speaking at meetings, events, and conferences, albeit mostly for women. But to be a speaker at CRT was altogether different, and for the weeks leading up to the conference I would be lying if I said I was not a little nervous (actually quite a lot!). However, I was afforded the absolute privilege of addressing a packed hall filled with not only my peers, but also those of whose work and reputation I stood in awe. But once I’d taken a deep breath, and reminded myself that this was not about me but rather about the message of encouragement the Lord had given me for those attending CRT2018, I felt God’s peace and enabling as we dived into Isaiah 40:31 together. It turned out to be a real delight, and especially to speak on the underlying theme of my new book JOURNEY WITH ME… waiting, walking, and finding new strength every day.

IVP had kindly arranged for me to do a signing after I spoke, and how touched I was to see people wait in line for three quarters of an hour to receive their copy. On a personal level CRT2018 was filled with excitement, and encouragement, but also challenge, for the writer is always thinking of what is next. What topic am I ready to explore now? How can I interest a publisher in number eight? Especially if number eight is quite different to anything I’ve written before? We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?