The 1st outing of GAOLF was convened by Isobel Abulhoul of the Emirates Festival of Literature. Many festival directors felt like they had finally found their tribe. It was comforting to discover that there were others who derived the same sense of gratification from curating engaging book discussions, and lively debates. Colleagues who also understood the lows that come with the more frustrating aspects of festival organisation such as fundraising or arranging travel. Whenever one of us was talking, half of the room was nodding.