CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

In a couple of weeks we will be sending out booking forms for the 2007 British Guild of Travel Writers Awards Dinner. In the meantime, please make a note of the date in your diary: Sunday 11 November.

We are starting the process of finding projects for our all-important Tourism Awards. If PRs know of new projects that qualify, then please do get in touch with a member who can go and visit the venue, and then, if it is eligible, propose it for an award.

The awards are:

* Best UK Tourism Project * Best Overseas Tourism Project * Globe Award for Best Worldwide Tourism Project

The project must be of social and economic benefit to the local community and have management policies, which minimise adverse environmental impacts like waste, energy, water use and transport. Projects are also expected to protect or harmonise with the cultural, built and natural environment.

A project is eligible for submission within two years of the opening date or start of operations. If a project has been unsuccessfully submitted, it may be resubmitted only if there has been a substantial addition to the original project.

Candidates for the Globe Award must have annual visitor figures in excess of 250,000.

To anyone who has not yet bought a Yearbook: remember that the BGTW Yearbook is the travel industry's bible and no travel office/PR/travel organisation should be without it. Copies can be purchased directly via the website, www.bgtw.org, click on �yearbook� and then �buy the yearbook� and follow the on line instructions. Contact Charlotte Copeman if you have any queries on 020-8749 1128 or charlotte.c@virtualnecessities.com

The cost per copy of the BGTW Yearbook 2007, which includes free access to the restricted areas of the Guild database is �108, including postage and packing. Additional copies are available at half price, �54, and to request additional copies please contact Charlotte Copeman.

MEMBERS� CONTENT

PATRICIA AITHIE Patricia has just returned from Malta with digital photographs and stories ready for publishing. Particularly history and culture of Valletta, the capital city, with one of the best harbours in the world. Also information on a new Historic House Museum of the Gollcher Family -'Palazzo Falson' opened five weeks ago, in Mdina. Ideas particularly useful for long weekend breaks. Chinese Terracotta Warriors on display in the Museum of Archaeology until the end of July. Contact: 029 20 236879; ffotograff@easynet.co.uk www.ffotograff.com

JANE ANDERSON After the birth of my second child in December, I return back to my position as travel editor on You & Your Wedding from June. I am also travel editor at Junior Pregnancy & Baby. I am going to the Scilly Isles at the end of June and Jamaica in September. I am also covering the opening of the family attraction BeWILDerwood in Norfolk and a steady stream of UK hotels including Ashdown Park and the new Haymarket Hotel. Contact: 07720 888512, janeanderson1000@hotmail.com

FERNE ARFIN As the new editor of United Kingdom for Visitors at About.com ( http://gouk.about.com ) Ferne Arfin will look at popular visitor destinations in England this summer. Responsible for covering the entire UK for this New York Times-owned website, she's open to invitations and commissions for anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. Ferne is also taking herself and her camera to Seattle and the Washington State coast in June. Contact: ferne@arfin.co.uk and visit her website, www.ferne-arfin.com

JUDY ARMSTRONG Judy is exploring France the slow way: by bicycle. Her route crosses Brittany, follows the Loire River from sea to source, then crosses three mountain ranges to reach the Italian border. Feature opportunities include family-friendly cycling on the new Loire Valley Cycle Path; exploring the lush Vercours; the experience of riding the famous Tour de France cols while carrying camping gear. Text and images available from mid July. Contact: judyc.armstrong@virgin.net; 01751 417371

DAVID ATKINSON David is now taking ideas for autumn to follow up on summer commissions to Finland for The Observer, Greenland for Wanderlust Magazine and Moldova for The Mail on Sunday. Green, family, activity and quirky angles please. Also planning a trip to Latin America in 2008. Two current guidebooks, Bolivia: The Bradt Travel Guide and Lonely Planet Wales, both out now � buy copies at www.atkinsondavid.co.uk cuttings here too. Contact: atkinson.david@mac.com; Mobile: 07974 390436; Skype: atkinson.david.

CHRIS BAGSHAW Having just revised some sections of AAA�s Europe Guide, Chris Bagshaw is also back from trips to Galloway and Northern Ireland, with some excellent walking pieces. Walking in Cumbria will be the theme of a new book commissioned for the year�s end and a new Food and Drink guide is scheduled to take up some of his editorial time. For more writing and editorial work around the Irish Sea and beyond, Contact: chrisbagshaw@freeuk.com.

JENNYFER BAYLISS Jennyfer is relocating to the Bahamas for the foreseeable future, so anyone requiring in-depth features on the 500 or so islands is welcome to Contact: jennyfer_bayliss@hotmail.com.

GEORGE BEHREND Published Scotland 24th May, by George Behrend (BGTW Life member since 1959), "An Unexpected Life",1922-2007; 650 A5pp.illustrated.(�22.99), plus �2 UK Post. ISBN9780901845225. Lived Burghclere, Hants, full story Sandham Chapel(NT) Stanley Spencer; Peter Burra (Peter Pears boyfriend 1923-37), meeting Britten Barcelona 1936. Egypt 1937. Oxford 1939-42, Glasgow-Durban-Tewfik convoy, 8th Army Cairo-Algiers; Italy, Greece, continuous 1942-5. With Benjamin Britten part-time P.A.1946-1958: Glyndebourne, Scheveningen, Luzern, Aldeburgh, Scotland, Venice. Railtravel author (14 books), Jersey C.I. 1956-90, married 1960-92 Contact: www.georgebehrend.co.uk.

NATASHA BLAIR Natasha experiences different styles of cruising having just returned from a voyage around the Galapagos visiting numerous islands, and seeing animals as they have lived for millions of years. At the end of May, she takes a trip down the Nile encountering numerous historic sites including the tomb of Tutankhamun and Abu Simbel. In June, she experiences a luxury cruise around Sicily, courtesy of Hebridean. Contact: natashablair@onetel.com; 07973 117 962

GRAHAM BOND In early June, Graham will visit Dunhuang, China, where the historic Mogao Caves are quietly being closed-up due to growing conservation concerns. He�ll then board the new train to Lhasa and stay at the House of Shambala, the first boutique hotel to make it to Tibet. Graham will also be testing the new rules that forbid foreigners from travelling independently in Tibet. Recently completed trips have included a visit to East Timor. Contact: graham@grahambond.com

ANNETTE BROWN Annette has spent two weeks among the Bedouin horse-breeding tribes of Syria and also visited the rich historical sites - perfectly-preserved Crusader fortress of Crac des Chevaliers, huge Roman desert oasis city of Palmyra, early Christian rock churches at Mallula where Aramaic is still spoken, souks of Aleppo, old walled city of Damascus, ancient water wheels in Orontes valley, bird-watching at dusk on the Euphrates, gracious hospitality everywhere - and a lot safer than big cities in Britain! Contact: annettebrown@lineone.net

DAVID BROWNE I am travelling around southeast Europe in the coming months to look at tourism developments. In Albania I am particularly interested in a project known as Corridor 8, an European Union initiative to improve international road and rail links. In Serbia, I will be attending the Exit music festival held in the Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad, that is growing in importance in world music calendar. Contact: 020 8802 4937, david.browne@virgin.net

SUE BRYANT Sue has been commissioned to write a new Frommers guide, Cyprus With Your Family, for 2008 publication. The book is aimed at the UK market and is part of a new series on family travel. Anyone who wants their property/restaurant/attraction considered (Republic of Cyprus only) or visited later this year, please email sue@suebryant.com. This is Sue's third book on Cyprus so she's extremely knowledgeable about the island and happy to take on any feature commissions. Contact: 020 8987 2750.

PADDY BURT Don�t ask about faceless airport hotels. Small, individually run places where people stay for pleasure are what Paddy Burt writes about. She books, stays with her husband and pays the bill all as Mrs Nobody-Special. Was it a pleasure, what was the food like, was the proprietor rude to them? Read all about it in Room Service on the back page of Saturday�s Travel Telegraph. Contact: paddy@paddyburt.com

DAVID CAWLEY David is a UK based Freelance Travel Journalist and Photographer and regular travel contributor to BBC & Independent Radio. His specialist subjects include: Northern England, Spain, European City Breaks, Oversees Property, Heritage Tours, Rail and Waterway Journeys and soft Cycling. Recent trips have been made to Riga, Cork and Hamburg, and future plans include a two week �backroads� tour of the UK and Ireland. All of these are available for publication in words and images. Contact: david.cawley@btconnect.com; www.davidcawley.co.uk; +44 (0)1200 424 104; Mob: +44 (0)7854 485 791

JOE CAWLEY Joe will be investigating ways to stay cool in the Canaries this summer, including heading to the mountains for a refreshing breath of pine-scented air at one of Tenerife�s rustic holiday cottages; words and pics available. Later in summer, Joe will be testing the durability and patience of long-haul cabin crew when his hyperactive 3-year-old finds out what it�s like to be cooped up for nine hours in a flying Fisher Price Activity Centre. Light-hearted journey report with tips for other lone-parent travellers up for grabs. Contact: +34 922 676 711285; writer@joecawley.co

CHRIS COE Chris has launched the fifth annual Travel Photographer of the Year competition (TPOTY), with over �50,000 worth of prizes. Backed by household names including Adobe, HP and Fujifilm, this year TPOTY has new travel sponsors � African Safari Roots, High & Wild, Intrepid Travel and YokmoK Adventures � and the travel prize element is mouth-watering. Full details are on www.tpoty.com, which also has a Travel & Photography Zone, with features, news and reviews, and a Photocourse Zone, covering the courses the TPOTY team offers in the UK and overseas.

JULIET COOMBE Currently writing a book �The Irreverent traveller� and wondering if her most dangerous adventure yet will be giving birth in June at a British hospital. Giving a talk on �Black Magic� on June the 2nd at Globetrotters and on the 31st July she will be at the Intrepid Travel shop in Islington talking about photography and the cheap tricks of the trade. She has just returned from Worlds End in Cornwall and has some exciting new story angles from her recent trips to Burma, Italy and Sri Lanka. Contact: 07778420473

HELOISE CROWTHER I have been writing about Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica for various publications and have current stories on eco-tourism, spas and holistic holidays, both budget and luxury jungle camping and surfing. I have trips planned to California, Mexico and Barcelona. Contact: 07891 095616, features@globaljourno.com; www.globaljourno.com

DONNA DAILEY AND MIKE GERRARD Donna and Mike are setting off for the south of France again this June. Donna is writing a new guidebook to Nice and the Cote d'Azur, and both Mike and Donna are writing articles for a variety of publications. In July they head to Athens, again for a combination of journalism and guidebook work. For stories and photos, Contact: 01487 815668, mail@donnadailey.com or mail@mikegerrard.com

VIVIEN DEVLIN Vivien specialises in romantic travel - Country House hotels, cruises and train journeys � and is currently investigating the best alternative holiday and honeymoon experiences around Scotland: luxury lochside Boathouse suites at Ardanaiseig, The Torridon and Pool House; the classic Royal Scotsman train (Orient-Express collection); The Majestic Line, intimate cruising in converted fishing boat; Toravaig House, Skye, �Island hotel of the Year,� offers island hopping day trips in their own yacht. Contact: vivien.devlin@lineone.net; 0131 343 2116

SUE DOBSON Sue has recently travelled through Mali (Bamako, Mopti and Timbuktu), sailed up the Gambia River, been back to Oman, cruised aboard the new Costa Serena, and visited Venice again. She is about to spend two weeks in Ukraine, based in Kiev and Lviv, and, having seen four of the Cape Verde islands in January plans to see the remaining four when she goes back to Cape Verde in July. Commissions (words and good digital pix) welcome on any of these, or ask for the complete travel list. Contact: 01832 280815; sue@freelancefeatures.co.uk

PETER ELLEGARD Peter still has China very much on his mind. He is returning to UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan soon and other future China visits will take him back to the Yangtze River, Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan province. China guide book projects he has been working on include co-writing a new Shanghai and China guide for Dubai-based Explorer Publishing, due out in September, and co-writing the new AA Key Guide to China, being published in October. Peter is busy writing for numerous travel trade and consumer titles on general travel and golf-related travel. Recent trips have taken in South Carolina and California, while future ones will take him to Austria, Iceland, Mexico and New Orleans. Contact: 01702 304023; peter@ellegard.co.uk; www.peterellegard.co.uk

MARY ELSY Author of 7 travel books and innumerable articles, has completed latest nostalgic travel book - Scandinavian Journey, 150,000 words, based on 1000 miles cycle/camping tour of Denmark, Sweden and Norway in 1956, by author and one friend. It is a follow-up of Pedals and Petticoats, a cycle camping tour of western Europe in 1951, by author and three other young females, published in 2005 Contact: 020 7435 2712; maryelsy.travel@btopenworld.com

MARY ANNE EVANS Mary Anne Evans, your now rotund expert on Belgium (including good food and restaurants, chocolate and beer), is going back and forth between Brussels and Bruges for a forthcoming guide book. She has just returned from riding in the Wild Horse Sanctuary in northern California, will be in Jersey in June, and the remote and unknown Auvergne in France, where she has a house, in July. Commissions welcome. Contact: 0778 6081 274; maevans99@hotmail.com

POLLY EVANS Polly is spending July travelling in Canada�s Yukon Territory. She�ll hike over the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the Klondike gold rush stampeders, then canoe down the Yukon River. She�ll also travel on the White Pass Railway and visit Dawson City. Polly�s fourth narrative travel book, On a Hoof and a Prayer, has just been published by Bantam. It tells the stampeding story of her learning to ride horses among the gauchos of Argentina. Contact: polly@pollyevans.com; 020 8788 4737.

STEVE FALLON London-based Steve Fallon will be in southern Poland, including Wroclaw, Krakow and the Carpathians, researching a guidebook for five weeks from mid-June and in southern Turkey between Antalya and Fethiye for 10 days in August. Commissions welcomed. Contact: 07787 525 098; fallonsb@aol.com

CAROLE FRENCH If Cyprus, Turkey or Thailand feature in your scheduling for the next few months then contact freelance BBC-trained journalist Carole French. Between spells in the sunshine in her own home near Paphos in Cyprus, Carole has been touring the Mediterranean island in search of lifestyle and real estate stories, as well as travelling to Turkey and Thailand for similar research. Coming up is Greece, Dubai, Bulgaria and the UK, especially Essex. Contact info@carolefrench.com or www.carolefrench.com

NICKY GARDNER New BGTW member, Nicky Gardner, writes for Hidden Europe (http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk), a travel magazine that reports from offbeat corners of Europe. Nicky�s main area of interest has been eastern Europe, but she is now turning her attention to the European Arctic. In May, hidden europe featured Jan Mayen island; in July Nicky reports on the night train from Stockholm to Narvik, and she also has her sights on the Lofoten Islands too. Contact: nicky@hiddeneurope.co.uk

LISA GERARD-SHARP As UK Correspondent for Vogue, Lisa is interested in new stories on home turf, ranging from travel (with lifestyle, trendsetting, luxury, foodie, cultural, spa or wellbeing angles) to celebrity interviewees linked to travel. As an Italy specialist, she has trips lined up to the Italian Lakes, Tuscany, Venice and Abruzzo plus a walking and well-being theme in Tuscany. Lisa continues to produce travel supplements on California and reviews Mediterranean cruises and spa resorts worldwide. Contact: lisa@gerardsharp.com

ANTHEA GERRIE Anthea has just returned from Mumbai and a coast to coast odyssey across southern India, and will soon be exploring Greek islands for the Jewish chronicle. She is also compiling a piece about cooking and painting holidays in fine hotels for the JC, and will be visiting the south of France in June to research both that and interesting b&b's and residential properties for Living etc., Ideal Home, France Magazine and similar titles. Contact: gerrie.associates@virgin.net

EMMA GREGG Emma writes about Africa, including its Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands. She is also an experienced travel editor and photographer. Destinations she's researched in depth include South Africa, Namibia, Cape Verde, The Gambia and the Canary Islands. She�s just been to Zimbabwe to find out how recent events have affected visitors to this troubled but beautiful country. Other hot topics: scuba diving, the gorgeous coast of Mozambique, and getting away from it all on the island of Zanzibar. Contact: +44 (0) 7976 607255; info@tigerfoot.net

GODFREY HALL Godfrey has recently completed a short piece on Finland for RCI and is currently looking for a furniture maker (with character!) living in either a remote part of the UK or Europe for a travel related commissioned feature, one of three. He is travelling to the Cherbourg Peninsula at the end of May. He would also be interested in any commissions relating to islands or children�s travel material. Contact: 01963 351208; godfrey@godfreyhall.demon.co.uk

FRANCES AND MICHAEL HOWORTH Freshly back from eternal Rome and Viareggio in Italy, Frances and Michael the photographic and writing team immediately took off for a week of cruising aboard a 48 metre luxury yacht in Scotland�s Western Isles with a side trip to Orkney. Now they are off to Turkey and Greece aboard a 28 metre luxury Gulet and will follow that with a trip along the canals of France winding their way through the waterside vineyards of Sancerre and others in the Loire Valley aboard a more humble self drive cabin cruiser. Holland follows that and as always, they are on the trail of luxury yachts and boating in general. Travel by water is their theme and if it�s a story about mega yachts belonging to film stars or just a simple charter trips aboard a less substantial craft, then we are the team with all the wet bits! Contact +44 (0)779 606 8834; fandm@thehoworths.com

LINDA JACKSON After witnessing four godmothers naming their 113,000-ton "baby" in Athens, been subjected to gourmet food whilst cruising in style on the new Emerald Princess via Olympia, Corfu and Venice; explored historical Valletta and Mdina, followed in the footsteps of the Knights of St John in The Three Cities; and explored the hidden nooks, crannies and coastline of Malta by 4x4, Linda is about to go green..... on golf courses in Gran Canaria. Contact: 01892 822783, 07763 105088 or linda_jackson@btinternet.com

RICHARD JOHNSTONE-BRYDEN Richard�s programme includes the East Coast's rivers and harbours for cruising guides, regatta reports and charter profiles. Other highlights include the Dutch inland waterways, Paris, Cote d� Azur, the Caribbean, a new charter project in Southern France, reed cutting in Norfolk, restoring windmills and cockle fishing. For articles and/or photos of these subjects and much more. Contact: 01603 471223; rjbryden2000@yahoo.co.uk; www.richardjohnstone-bryden.co.uk

SOLANGE HANDO There's more to Cambodia than Angkor Wat, though that's great. How about Phnom Penh for a stopover or a truly exotic city break? Recover in Thailand, forget Phuket, try Aonang, just as stunning but no sleaze. Closer to home, Solange returned to her roots in Lorraine to take a fresh look at Metz and Nancy, prior to the arrival of the TGV Est, before relaxing in the spa resorts of Biarritz and Aix les Bains. In her spare time, she headed for Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri then travelled across Cuba, lulled by the sensuous beat of salsa bands. Contact: solange.travel@btinternet.com

NICK HASLAM Nick has just completed a 150 kilometre hike through the high mountain country of Lebanon with the first group to walk the brand new Lebanese Mountain Trail. He is currently working on a radio documentary for Radio 4 about a Foreign Office school for Arabic close to Beirut. Next trips are Genoa and the Ardennes. Good pics and copy about the above and many other destinations available. Contact: nick.haslam@blueyonder.co.uk; +44 1752 845661

JEREMY HEAD Need features about SEVILLE? I'm writing the new Frommer's guide and will be there throughout June developing a really local understanding of one of Spain's most vibrant and culturally attractive cities. Ideal for round-ups, city break write-ups and cultural features. Other trips later this summer include PORTO in Portugal, North TUNISIA and MOZAMBIQUE. And... I'm now offering VIDEO too. Contact: jeremyhead@hotmail.com or +44 7901 820 133

JEREMY HOARE Freelance photographer and Japan specialist Jeremy Hoare will be in Kyoto for most of July, the time of the biggest annual festival in Japan, the Gion Matsuri. He will be happy to consider additional photographic commissions for pictures of this major event or of anything else in the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto. Previous Japan images available now on: www.alamy.com Search: JaPix Contact: jeremyhoare@hotmail.com; www.jeremyhoare.com

TONY KELLY Tony's two latest books on Croatia, Key Guide Croatia (AA) and CitySpots Zagreb (Thomas Cook), were both published in May. At half-term he will be returning to Croatia with his family to spend some time canoeing, cycling and walking in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Other plans for this summer include a visit to Istanbul to check out the city's hammams (Turkish baths). Contact: 01223 892553; tonykellytravelwriter@btopenworld.com

ANTHONY LAMBERT Anthony's new Insight City Guide to Vancouver has been published (�12.99). Another major visit to British Columbia and Alberta is planned for spring/summer 2008. Anthony has recently returned from Virginia, France and the inaugural trip of the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, a new luxury train (ensuite power showers with underfloor heating, DVD players, etc) which was launched by Prince Michael of Kent. The journey was written up for the Daily Telegraph (5 April). Forthcoming plans include trips to Switzerland and Italy. Contact: 020 8749 5359; 07767 444165; alambert@dircon.co.uk

KATHRYN LISTON Kathryn will be visiting Albania, Cornwall and a Mark Warner family resort. Commissions welcome. kathryn.liston@tiscali.co.uk

SHARRON LIVINGSTON Couples love the romance of Cyprus � a land created by Aphrodite herself.. But there is no need to spend your entire holiday in just one part of this dainty island. I am exploring a trio of resorts in Cyprus, the ancient yet modern town of Limasol, the engagingly old Pafos and the sensational beach resort at Pissouri. Each destination can come complete with fabulous a hotel recommendation, where to eat and all can be included in a single holiday. Contact: www.thetravelmagazine.co.uk; 0208 905 4851

PETER LYNCH Peter has just completed a German rail trip from the Baltic coast to Lake Constance including the historic cities of Lubeck, Heidelberg, Munster, Freiburg and Augsburg. Taking in Roman antiquities, Renaissance families that rivalled the Medici, castles, young Mozart�s home, outsider art, Thomas Mann, a city with twice as many cycles as people and the world�s most environmentally friendly hotel. The Greek islands and the literary Lake District loom for early summer. Contact: peter.lynch37@ntlworld.com; tel/fax:0118 9616402

ROBIN MCKELVIE Robin is inviting press trip invitations for his full page colour travel section in the one million reader Sunday Post. Trips will also be written up in his monthly double page travel section in the Local Mag and considered for inclusion in his current regular outlets including Candis, Sunday Herald, Ryanair, Highland Life, Easyjet, TNT and BMI Voyager. Long haul destinations preferred. Already scheduled trips include Croatia, Slovenia, Dubai, South Africa and Dominica. Contact: www.robinmckelvie.com; robinmckelvie@hotmail.com

CAROLINE MALLAN Caroline is just back from a castle-hopping tour of England�s north country and a cycling and walking trip to Jersey. She will be visiting Florence as a short-break/shopping destination in early June before spending two weeks in Ontario�s cottage country � Toronto�s laid back answer to The Hamptons. Lille for a piece on the easier way to enjoy France�s July sales is also on the books. All of these are commissioned pieces, but any additional interest is very welcome. Contact: caroline.mallan@btinternet.com

TERRY MARSH Terry has been appointed Festival Director of the first Madeira Islands Walking Festival, which will be held from the 15th-19th January 2008. Anyone in a position to help with sponsorship for the Festival should get in touch with him; likewise any journalists who are able to guarantee copy both about Madeira and the Festival. In addition, Terry is currently revising the Michelin Green Guide to Northern France, and is presently in Ireland working on a family guide to the country. Contact: tm@wpu.org.uk

ROBIN MEAD After being asked to judge the Pride of Britain "Hotel of the Year" award for the second successive year, Robin Mead is fresh from the enviable task of staying in luxury properties and trying to find fault. His winner? The family-friendly and presumably faultless, Calcot Manor, in the Cotswolds. Now Robin will perform a similar task at sea, looking at new cruise ships, as well as working on a travel biography and studying for his PhD. Contact: RobinRMead@aol.com

SARAH MONAGHAN Sarah has recently returned from Gabon in Central Africa where she visited a number of new national parks and spent time at a pioneering gorilla rehabilitation project run by the John Aspinall Foundation at a remote rainforest location on the Congo border. She reported on her visit for BBC Radio 4's From My Own Correspondent and for Gabon Magazine which she edits for Impact Media. Find out more about Gabon and its growing ecotourism scene at www.gabonmagazine.com. Contact: +44 (0) 1273 455798; +44 (0) 7905 916610; sarahmonaghan@onetel.com

MARI NICHOLSON Mari is getting into her stride as feature writer for the East Asia pages of www.suite101.com. (and contributing to their European, England and N. Ireland pages). She is happy to accept commissions that can be written up for this influential website. Recently in Malaga to experience the stunning Holy Week processions and to enjoy Picasso's city In France in August to enjoy hospitality in a Normandy Chateau before returning to her base on the Isle of Wight for Cowes Week - the cr�me de la cr�me of the Regatta world. Contact: Tel\Fax: +44 (0) 1983 402163; http://www.eastasiatravel.suite101.com/; www.travelwriters.co.uk/marinicholson

ROGER NORUM Roger has spent the past several months in Mauritania and Senegal. He will be in Milan in June writing articles about the Biennale, hotels and nightlife. In July he will visit the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and in August he will drive an RV with his father from Vancouver to Alaska, tracing a route his dad did 50 years ago with his grandfather. He welcomes any commissions. Contact: rogernorum@yahoo.com; 07932 408 898

NICHOLAS T. PARSONS "Worth the Detour", the first cultural history of the guidebook as a genre, is authored by Nicholas T. Parsons and published by Sutton Publishing in June 2007. Beginning with the guidebook's origins in the Ancient World, and including chapters on such guidebook icons as Baedeker and John Murray, the book is packed with anecdotes, cultural insights and bibliographic detail. Review copies can be ordered from Yvette Cowles at Sutton Publishing, NPI Media Group Ltd., Cirencester Road, Chalford, Stroud, Glos GL6 8PE. Tel: 01285 760000

DAVID PREST David recently won double gold at this year�s Sony Radio awards for his programmes THE REUNION and LETTERS FROM GUANTANAMO on BBC Radio 4. His company, Whistledown productions are also one of Britain�s leading podcast production companies, and are currently working on projects for County Durham, Turning Point and Lonely Planet. If you�d like to discuss the potential for travel podcasts, then please contact David. Contact: davidprest@whistledown.net

FIONA QUINN Fiona is currently compiling a short guidebook to Bristol, where I live, so would be willing to consider any commissions. Then Glastonbury festival in June, Valencia in July, Charente/Charente Maritime in France in August but willing to travel to Bordeaux and the Dordogne. And I am trying to fit in a trip to Toronto. Contact: fiona_q@hotmail.com; 07710 242494.

CARLTON REID Carlton will be taking his young family on a cycling holiday to cyclist's paradise: the Netherlands. Cycling from home in Newcastle, the Reidlets (7, 9 and 7) will pedal to the ferry at North Shields and then disembark the next day in the port of Amsterdam. Staying at beach campsites, upscale B&Bs and the Eemhof Center Parcs, this sort of low carbon footprint holiday is now the norm for mum, dad and the Reidlets. The car stays at home. Contact: carltonreid@mac.com

CHRIS RICE Chris, currently based in El Salvador, has recently been travelling in Guatemala and will be exploring Mexico for several weeks during the summer. As well as acquainting himself with Central America he has been preparing new editions of books on Cuba, Prague and Madeira for New Holland Publishers and doing some consultation work for the AA. Contact: melcris85@yahoo.co.uk

LOUISE RODDON Louise Roddon and Mike Gerrard have both been short-listed for the Telegraph Novel in a Year competition. The competition invited hopefuls to submit the first 1,000 words of their novels - fifty have been chosen out of 2,308 submissions. This will be whittled down to five in the next few weeks

MELISSA SHALES In addition to her ongoing work on the Italian Lakes for Insight Guides, Melissa is currently updating the Berlitz Guides to Istanbul and Naples and is looking for relevant information and help with facilities in the Italian Lakes and Naples/Sorrento areas. Her company, L & L Media (run with Mary Anne Evans) has also recently agreed to act as agent for a superb collection of around 2400 hi-res photographs of Kerala. If anyone is looking for images of this most beautiful of Indian states, please get in touch. Contact: Tel/fax: 020-8674 7406 Mobile: 07798-745473; melissa@landlmedia.co.uk; www.melissashales.co.uk

SARAH SIESE Heaven on Earth Kids (pub 15th May 2007) the first book in its genre about hotels and resorts that truly excel when it comes to looking after families, ranging from celebrated stalwarts of hospitality to unknown gems. Whether its beach, mountain, skiing, safari, pampering, sailing, adventure or just down on the farm, Heaven on Earth Kids has tried-and-tested 70 of the world's best holidays in over 40 countries. Heaven on Earth Kids - The Worlds Best Family Holidays Contact: sarahsiese@ntlworld.com

JOS SIMON Jos will be travelling to Rhodes and Crete during June, to research a guidebook and several magazine articles. Any additional commissions which can be done simultaneously welcomed. Contact: simon_jl@msn.com, or phone 01302 710016.

DAMIEN SIMONIS After much pain, Lonely Planet's Barcelona Encounter guidebook is out. Damien has been writing guides on Barcelona and the rest of Spain since the mid-1990s. He has spent the past four months in northern Italy updating LP's guide to Venice and coordinating the upcoming 8th edition of LP's Italy. Damien knows the country well, but is particularly well versed in the Northeast. He has also recently been in Switzerland, the French Pyrenees, south-west Turkey, south China and northern Vietnam. Contact: Damien at damiensimonis@ya.com

ROGER ST. PIERRE Having recently returned from trips to Macau and the West Indian island of Grenada to check out new hotel developments and overseas property investment opportunities, Roger St. Pierre has visits to Cyprus, Bulgaria (by train) and Brittany on his schedule in a period which sees him at home for only four days over four weeks. Roger is the doyenne of British cycling riders and is available for commissions relating to the Tour de France visit to London in July. Contact: stpierre.roger@dsl.pipex.com; 01371 850 238

GILLIAN THORNTON Gillian continued her French travels in the beautiful southern Vosges (stops on the new TGV Est line), and Aveyron, home to the Knights Templar and Millau viaduct. Coming up, the 'springs and volcanoes' of Ardeche; the beautiful countryside around Roanne in Loire, and the lofty Provencal landscape of Haute-Alpes, a new venue for British property buyers. A Vienna city break in June is followed by the Cotentin peninsula of Normandy and lush Franche-Comte in eastern France. Contact: 01582 468771 or gillian.thorntons@btinternet.com

RON TOFT Interested in an illustrated feature on the up-and-coming holiday destination and property investment hotspot of Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa? If so, freelance journalist and photographer Ron Toft would love to hear from you, for he has just returned from an island-hopping familiarisation trip to the tropical archipelago which is noted for its smorgasbord of races and cultures and relaxed lifestyle. Ron visited four islands: Sal, Sao Vicente, Fogo and Santiago. Words and high resolution digital pics available. Contact: ron.toft@btinternet.com

MIKE UNWIN Mike has recently taken on editorship of Travel Zambia magazine, which was launched at Indaba (Durban) in May. This quarterly magazine, published by Travel Africa � for which he continues to write regularly � is the first of its kind dedicated to a single African nation. Meanwhile he is also starting work on his latest African guidebook, The Bradt Travel Guide to Swaziland, to be published in 2008. This will become the only international guide to a colourful and intriguing destination. Contact: 01273 686205 or gemwin@ntlworld.com

SALLY VARLOW After a two-year break from travel writing, Sally Varlow�s new book, due out 4 June, is a biography: �The Lady Penelope: the Lost Tale of Love and Politics in the Court of Elizabeth I� (�18.99). Penelope Rich (nee Devereux) was the beautiful young woman who inspired countless composers, painters and poets � including Sir Philip Sidney; and who encouraged her brother, the Earl of Essex, in his abortive coup against Elizabeth�s government. Using previously unknown family records, it reveals Penelope�s royal ancestry, through her great-grandmother, �The Other Boleyn Girl�, and explains why Penelope walked free while Essex went to the block. More details, dates for meet-the-author events, and review copies from Lydia Drukarz, Andre Deutsch/Carlton Books, 0207 612 0418, email ldrukarz@carltonbooks.co.uk

MARCUS WARING Marcus has survived two months living in Madrid, where he is learning to fear verbs and pedestrian crossings. He has just finished a hotel review for Ryanair magazine and a feature on active Mallorca for bmibaby�s inflight title Yeahbaby. Current work includes a page on Madrid for Marie Claire, kayak fishing in Murcia for the easyJet magazine and sailing in Croatia for the Ryanair magazine. He is specialising in Spain and welcomes work and news. Contact: marcuswaring@hotmail.co.uk

RICHARD WILLIAMS Last autumn I travelled in Jordan to Petra and Amman, then to Egypt to visit Taba, Nuweiba, Sharm, and Cairo, where I was researching a guidebook. In November I spent a week in Switzerland hiking around Montreux. In April I went to Morocco to cover a tourism conference in Fes, and will be visiting Tunisia this summer. In June I will be travelling in Thailand. In late summer I shall be re-visiting the Channel Islands. Contact: 020 8669 7475; richardwi@blueyonder.co.uk

JEANNINE WILLIAMSON Jeannine has just returned from a five-day horse trek through Jordan�s Wadi Rum, following the camel prints of Lawrence of Arabia and ending in Petra, which is in the running to become one of the seven new Wonders of the World. She has also visited Turin, famous for its cars, cinema and chocolate and, more recently, the new Eataly gastronomic shopping centre. Contact: 01323 641078 or jeannine@motcombemedia.demon.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS

NICKY GARDNER Geraer Strasse 14-C, D-12209 Berlin/Lichterfelde, Germany.

+ 49 30 755 16128. editors@hiddeneurope.co.uk www.hiddeneurope.com. Freelance travel writer and editor of Hidden Europe, an English language travel magazine. Writes most of the articles herself.

DAVID CAWLEY 11 Eshton Terrace, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 1BQ. 01200 424104. david.cawley@btconnect.com. Freelance travel writer. Regular contributor to Spanish Homes. Has also written for a variety of other publications, including South China Morning Post, Hidden Europe, Heritage Magazine, Stars and Stripes, Africa Travel Extra and North West Enquirer.

GRAHAM BOND English address: 9 Hazelcombe, Overton, Basingstoke RG25 3NX. Chinese address: 1311, No 2, 700 Nong, Wuyi Lu, Shanghai, China. + 86 (0) 21 6274 0654. grahambond@gmail.com

Deputy editor of Asia and Away magazine (based in Shanghai and distributed throughout Greater China; focuses on leisure travel in the Asia-Pacific region). Also a freelance contributor to The Times, Metro, China Review, South China Morning Post and that�s Guangzhou magazine.

-Ends-

BRIEFING NOTES

Briefing Notes is published quarterly by the British Guild of Travel Writers and is edited by Peter Lynch. We'd like to hear from you and find out what you think about our newsletter. Send any suggestions or comments you may wish to make to the editor on email: guildbriefing@ntlworld.com

� The British Guild of Travel Writers May 2007 British Guild of Travel Writers Tel: 020-8749 1128; web: www.bgtw.org

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