BookMachine Brighton is back!  After a fun first event back in February, our charming hostess Alice Reeves is back for more (this time co-hosting with Sarah Ann Juckes) – we wanted to get to know a little bit more about Alice, so here are some questions for the social media addict:

1. What else do you do apart from host BookMachine events?

I’m a Senior Content & Engagement Consultant at Leapfrogg – a digital marketing agency here in Brighton. I’m also editor and chief blogger at The Gluten-Free Dining Guide and I host WriteClub, a monthly meet-up for local writers.

2. Have you always been interested in reading and writing?

Definitely. Ever since I was little I’ve devoured books at an alarming rate. English, art and drama were the only subjects at school that I really enjoyed, then I went on to do an English Literature degree at the University of Sussex. After university, I did the NCTJ qualification in newspaper journalism before deciding I didn’t want to be a journalist and wanted to work in marketing instead.

3. What do you think events like BookMachine offer to people living in the Brighton area?

Events like BookMachine and WriteClub give writers and publishing folk the chance to meet up and get to know each other in a friendly atmosphere, have a drink, swap advice and start building relationships. Brighton is such a collaborative and connected place, and it’s events like this that help establish the supportive little communities that make this city so brilliant to live and work in.

4. Did the first event turn out how you planned?

If I’m honest it was much better than I’d planned! We had a great turnout for a first event and all the feedback I had was really positive. I’ve really been looking forward to hosting the next one, along with Sarah Ann.

5. What can people expect from turning up on 2nd May?

Hopefully it’ll be even bigger and better than the last one. Anyone coming along can expect a friendly, informal atmosphere with the opportunity to meet some awesome people. This time we’ve got sponsorship from the brilliant Indepenpress, meaning we can offer free drinks for early birds as well as an exciting prize draw to win a Kindle Fire. If you’re a writer or you work in the publishing industry, this is a must-attend event. And it’s free, so there’s no excuse not to.