The 2nd Creative Women’s Network + Competition at The Ginstitute

Maggy of Red Ted Art and I hosted our 2nd Creative Women’s Network at the exquisite and pretty famous (viral sensation) The Distillery who not only have a gin distillery in the cellar but two bars, a restaurant, boardroom and a micro boutique hotel at the top of its epic blue venue on Portobello Road in Notting Hill making it one heck of a gin-lovers paradise!

Bringing together the most incredibly gifted, sisterly and smart women imaginable in one room (authors, lawyers, journalists, social media managers and more) on Sunday (kindly hosted by The Distillery), Maggy and I interviewed our expert panellists (PR guru and author of the Million Dollar Blog Book Natasha Courtenay Smith, nutritionist and author Angelique Panagos and bestselling novelist Kate Thompson) on book deals and writing, but also on confidence and self-care.

With a chance for the audience to share their work too and a swap shop style exercise between members where someone shares what they can offer in exchange for something they need eg. I’m a magazine editor so can offer coverage in my quarterly but require some insight into FB campaigns for eg, the women there made long-lasting business connections (cemented further with our secret FB group) and went away with new friends too.

Maggy and I had hoped to create a vibrant, supportive community with regular collabs both on and offline and we’re ecstatic to have done so. We would like to continue growing with inspiring get togethers every two months at various venues across London and you’re all invited! Lots of you have asked about us putting events on in other cities in the UK (and even in the US) so perhaps a (world) tour is in order one day! Watch this space!

Huge thanks to The Distillery for hosting us and the wonderful drinks they gifted all- and you can read more about our epic panellists below.

Angelique Panagos

Angelique Panagos is a mum, nutritionist, author, speaker, total foodie, and health crusader with an immense passion for the healing power of food. She runs her own successful West End London nutrition practice specialising in fertility, female health, stress, weight and digestion. Her debut book, The Balance Plan is a diet and lifestyle approach to balancing hormones. Something Angelique is extremely passionate about as she has a host of hormonal conditions and had two miscarriages before having her daughter Isabella last year.  Her philosophy is that food is healing and nourishing, affecting each cell in our body – impacting our lives, bodies, emotions, and even our thoughts. Her approach works to make people feel their best in a  supportive yet inspiring way. Angelique features in ITV’s Sugar Free Farm series one and has contributed to  publications such as Women’s Health, Tatler, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Haper’s Bazaar and The  Telegraph. Discover more about Angelique at www.angeliquepanagos.com

Kate Thompson 

An award-winning journalist, ghostwriter and novelist who has spent the past two decades in the UK mass market and book publishing industry.  For six years, Kate worked as Deputy then Acting Editor of IPC’s weekly Pick Me Up magazine, helping to launch it into the market in 2005 with a debut readership of half a million. It was the most successful magazine launch in a decade and secured the BSME launch of the year in the process. Kate was named as IPC’s ‘True Life Writer of the Year’ the following year. Over the past six years, she have concentrated on publishing, writing ten fiction and non-fiction titles. Her debut novel, Secrets of the Singer Girls, became a Sunday Times bestseller when it launched in 2015, with first week sales of over 10,000. My fourth title for Pan Macmillan, The Allotment Girls,  published March 2018. Kate is currently working on a non-fiction book uncovering the lives of extraordinary women of wartime East End, whose stories have remained hidden from history for Penguin.

Natasha Courtenay-Smith

Natasha Courtenay-Smith is one of Europe’s leading experts on integrated digital marketing, social media and PR. She is also a best-selling published author, inspirational keynote speaker, accredited Facebook trainer, CEO of Bolt Digital and mum of two. Natasha has an extensive media and journalism background, having worked for national newspapers in a variety of roles, before striking out on her own in 2007. Over the next seven years, she created and built the UK’s leading digital press agency, before selling her company to the UK’s largest press agency group. Tash quickly concluded that she was not suited to early retirement and started two new businesses, alongside carrying out some major property renovations. Her main business focus today is as CEO of Bolt Digital, which helps celebrities, thought-leaders and successful businesses with a range of services in the digital marketing, social media and PR sectors. Unlike many marketing companies that make pretty pictures, Bolt is relentlessly focussed on delivering commercial value and a measurable financial return on investment to its partners and clients.

http://natashacourtenaysmith.com

What an inspirational line-up it was!

I hope you can make our June date!

You can also read Maggy’s write-up on her Life at the Zoo blog.

Now, to celebrate our event The Ginstitute at The Distillery are kindly giving away two tickets to its series of immersive storytelling dining experiences.  Taking place at London’s gin hotel The Distillery every week,  the dinners combine the power of fantastic storytelling and cocktails! What a combo!

You and a friend will be treated to a 5 course meal paired with 5 drinks themed to a narrative of your choice from Hollywood to Royalty. View all the stories here https://the-distillery.london/the-distillery-presents/.

Such a treat.

T&Cs

Travel and accommodation not covered.

No cash alternative.

Tickets valid for a year. Exempt days apply.

UK only.

Ends June 2nd 2018.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promoted on Prize finder, BritMums, umeandthekids.com, Loquax, Super Lucky , UKwins and Competition Database.

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