2001
In March 2001 at the Annual General Meeting, Chairperson, Sharon Searle, said: “A lot has happened in the past year. We’ve had great speakers, Erica Adams, Sandy Hernu, Steve Benz and Waterstone’s Jack Noel. Our own members have had unprecedented success, Tamara McKinley with ‘Jacaranda Vines’, Ann Botha with ‘The Cuckmere - A Sussex River’ and ‘Made in Sussex’ by Elizabeth Wright.”
Eighteen scribes contributed to the 2001/2002 Anderida Year Book. New names appeared in the Biography section and John Bennett commented: “With the support of the group meetings, I have completed a number of short stories, one poem and started a science fiction novel called ‘Spiral City.” John Connor worked for many years in senior editorial positions for international television news agencies. Zoe Hanneker, who had sold material to television and poems to cat magazines, won first prize in Anderida’s annual short story competition, with ‘The Delivery.’
Ella Harris won a short story competition in ’Writers News,’ had an article accepted by ‘Sussex Life’ magazine and was short listed in several poetry competitions. Publisher Hodder, asked to see the complete manuscript of her children’s book. Roger Hardman came onto the committee as Treasurer.
The rental for the hire of the room at Chaseley was upped from £75 per annum to £25 per session. A new venue was sought. The yearly Club subscription was upped to £15 per person. Jack Gilderson was the winner of the Anderida Accolade. The Novel Group was attracting 5-8 members at each session. Tamara McKinley sold her novel ‘Matilda’s Last Waltz’ to Bulgaria, Russia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Then, on a roll, 55,000 copies went to Germany, and the book was taken up by New Zealand, Canada, Holland and Scandinavia.

In November Chairperson Sharon Searle married publisher Steve Benz in Vermont, USA. Few submissions were received for the club’s Yearbook. Future club meetings were to be held at St. George’s Church Hall, Polegate.

Ann Botha (front left) author of 'The Crumbles Story' and 'The Cuckmere-A Sussex River' and talented writer Ella Harris (back right -with friend) congratulate Tamara McKinley on the outstanding success of 'Matilda's Last Waltz.'