Good morning all and welcome to another Cruisin’ the Blog and Member’s News, once again our members have had some exciting news this week and a few have been busy blogging or will be busy this week.
If you have any news you would like to share at anytime or have a blog event coming up you can email me anytime – webliaison@romanceaustralia.com
RWAus CONFERENCE NOTICE: ~
2010 RWA Conference Organisers have advised that as of Thursday 18 March, there were only 90 places left. If you are planning on attending the Conference, please send your registration asap to avoid disappointment. Don’t forget the credit card option for paying your total over two months.
CRUISIN’ THE BLOG: ~
Where Our Members Blogging ~
Wednesday, 24th March – Anna reviews Liz Carlyle’s lovely historical romance, WICKED ALL DAY, at the Romance Dish.
Anna Hackett and Mel Teshco ~
Anna and Mel continued their whirlwind blogging adventure this week with their Vampire heroines posting on Naughty Little Vamp. You will also get to read an excerpt from each of their respective nocturne bites. Hunter’s Surrender by Anna Hackett and Her Dark Lord by Mel Teshco.
Tuesday, 23th March – Bronwyn is chatting about New Adventures at To Be Read. Drop in for a chat there is a chance to win a book prize from a new-to-you author.
Fiona has a great blog on Harlequin Medical Authors about Emotion and Emotion.
Friday, 26th March – Taking the Hot Seat on Heather’s blog is Cherie De Sues. You can expect a great interview with heaps of good advice.
Tuesday 23rd Mar – Hélène is dropping into Phillipa Fioretti’s blog for a chat. There will be a copy of Border Watch up for grabs.
Phillipa’s debut novel The Book of Love is being released by Hachette Australia in April 2010. It sounds like a delightful story and, as Phillipa is a visual artist as well as a writer, Hélène tells me she sure there will be many insights into the world of antiquarian books!
The Book of Love:
“Lily, a queen of style in retro clothes, and Robbie, her boyfriend, run a second-hand bookshop in Sydney. In a shipment of old books from Nairobi, Robbie discovers a rare French book of ancient Roman erotica. With only four copies in existence, and valued at twenty million dollars, he is determined to sell it despite Lily’s suggestion that they return it to the Italian government. Days later, William, a dashing Russian employed by a fine arts firm in London to retrieve stolen art works, arrives at the shop. Robbie refuses to hand over the book, and disappears, taking his and Lily’s life savings with him. What follows is a funny, witty romantic comedy that takes readers from Sydney to Rome, in a whirlwind of pretty dresses (on Lily), daring actions (by William) and clever dialogue… ‘First rule of travel – never walk past a toilet without using it.’
On Kylie’s blog this week, she starts a 4 part series on Rejection Letters. As writers, we’re all faced with sending out queries to agents and editors but what can we expect back from them? Can there be hidden meanings in the phrases we see crop up time and again? What do they mean? The first post in the series deals with “The Standard Rejection”, with examples cited from Kylie’s past experiences, accompanied by “translations”. (Opinions stated are wholly her own and open to interpretation. No one was harmed during the writing of this blog series!)
Maxine Sullivan, Paula Roe and Robyn Grady ~
Maxine, Paula, and Robyn have launched a new blog ‘Outback Billionaires and Babies’ to coincide with their Harlequin Desire series Billionaires and Babies.
Maxine Sullivan – His Ring, Her Baby
Paula Roe – The Billionaire Baby Bombshell
Robyn Grady – Bargaining for Baby
Mel posted her first Nocturne Bites post this week on the Harlequin Nocturne Bite Authors Blog. Mel chats about her debut Nocturne Bite ‘Her Dark Lord.’
Nicola stepped into the bloggers chair at iHeartPresents this week. Topic: What Makes a Great Hero? Now isn’t this something we all want to know?
Week 7 ‘Snippets of wisdom as you write’ this week Paula shares some wonderful wisdom from some of the best. ‘A Novel in 3 Months’ blog. If you haven’t dropped by Paula’s blog yet, “What Are You Waiting For?”
RWAus Blog ~
Mon 22nd Mar – Natalie Hatch – Craft Day
Tue 23rd Mar – Monique Wood – A Day in the Life of Writer Janet Woods
Fri 26th Mar – Anita Mack – Blog Bite – Tracy Travis
Member who Blog Regularly ~
Blogs of Interest ~
Angela James has a two-part post on ‘Thinking about query letters. Part 1: Query don’ts and Part 2: Query Do’s. We all know inside information is always good, don’t miss this one.
Zana Bell chats Fabulous Settings. Zana shares her love of New Zealand and asks, what’s your favourite setting?
Rachelle Gardner, gives the first of her query critiques – Iron Makeover, she is planning on posting these for the next few weeks. This is a blog worth reading
Okay this one is for all of you gearing up to pitch at the RWAus Sun-Sizzle-Surf conference in August. Pitching to agents: How to throw a fiction fast ball.
Friday 26th Mar – Vanessa Barneveld is reviewing the historical YA series THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen. One lucky commenter will score the four-book series.
MEMBER’S CONTESTS and GIVEAWAYS: ~
Anna’s contest for March/April 2010 – Win the Proverbial ARC of My Reckless Surrender.
The contest closes 30th April, 2010.
Annie has her new contest up on her website for March ‘New Beginnings Book Giveaway’
This contest runs till 11th April.
Bronwyn Parry, Fiona Palmer , Fleur McDonald, and Hélène Young ~
Bronwyn, Fiona, Fleur and Hélène are having a combined treasure hunt. Readers will need to log on to all four sites and find the answers to four questions in the first chapter of each of our novels. One lucky reader will win not one, not two, not three, but four signed books!! The books are Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry, Blue Skies by Fleur McDonald (her new release due out in April), The Family Farm by Fiona Palmer and Border Watch by Helene Young. One runner up will be able to choose one of the four books and a second runner up will be able to choose one of the remaining three books! Confused?? Log on to any of our websites for the full details. Competition closes Midnight Friday 26th March, Australia Eastern Standard time.
Mel Scott is running a monthly contest on her blog where she is giving away one of her favourite book each month until her novel ‘Shadow Kin’ is released. This month it’s Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
Mel Teshco and Anna Hackett ~
Mel and Anna have joined forces to promote their Nocturne Bites new releases )Mel’s March 1st release of Her Dark Lord, and Anna Hackett’s April release, Hunter Surrender) and are giving away a Nocturne Bites book a week.
MEMBER’S NEWS: ~
Annie had the cover of her novel ‘Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child’ featured in the display at the top of Miller-McCure article ‘Romance Novels Titles Reveal Reader Desires’.
Bronwyn finalled in the historical category of the Fire and Ice contest during the week. Her entry now it goes to Amanda Bergeron at Avon. Congratulations Bron.
Christina received the cover for her September release ‘Forbidden’ during the week.
Dear Author/Smart Bitches and 2010 Tournament of Books
Okay guys, we have five entries in this year’s 2010 Tournament Books.
Abby Gaines, Bronwyn Jameson, Juliet Marillier, Nalini Singh x 2, and Sarah Mayberry are all in with a chance. Designed around the American college basketball March Madness, this novel tournament matches book against book, round by round. Voting commenced Friday and continues until one book is left standing. So get your voting fingers ready, come on let’s get our girls over the line.
Here are the categories our girls are entered with their novel titles. (Obviously I’ve only listed our authors)
Science Fiction Romance, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance
- Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh
- Angels Blood by Nalini Singh
UF Crossover /Fantasy
- Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier
Series
- Magnate’s Make Believe Mistress by Bronwyn Jameson
- Home For The Holidays by Sarah Mayberry
- The Groom Came Back by Abby Gaines
Congratulations on your selection ladies, and all the best of luck in the rounds.
Erin received a 4 Heart review for her Historical Romance ‘Secrets’ from The Romance Studio. Congratulations Erin.
This week Heather received a 4 Diamond review for her historical romance ‘Betrothed to the Enemy’ from Got Erotic Romance. Congratulations Heather, well done again.
Karlene received the cover for her soon to be released novel ‘Operation Summer Storm’.
Fantastic news from Kylie her entry in the CHASE THE DREAM contest came in 2nd! YAY – WOOHOO – YIPPIE!!!! Kylie would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who headed over to the website and voted – she really, really appreciated your support.
Maggi received a 4 Heart review this week for her regency romance ‘Rules of Conduct’ from the Romance Studio. WOOHOO Maggi.
The covers for books 2 and 3 of Rowena’s trilogy ‘Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin’ arrived this week and Rowena is proudly showing them off on her blog ‘Ripping Ossie Reads’.
TOP TEN ~
To Love, Honour And Disobey – Natalie Anderson
Mistress: At What Price? – Anne Oliver
Wedlocked: Banisher Sheikh, Untouched Queen – Carol Marinelli
Doctor On Loan/Bushfire Bride – Marion Lennox
Outback Bachelor – Margaret Way
The Cattleman’s Adopted Family – Barbara Hannay
Desert King, Doctor Daddy – Meredith Webber
A Mother For Matilda – Amy Andrews
Tempting The Negotiator/The Doctor’s Pregnant Bride? – Zana Bell, Susan Crosby
Taken by the Private Tycoon – Daphne Clair
Top Ten Bestsellers
Bride, Bought and Paid For – Helen Bianchin
Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child – Annie West
His Ring, Her Baby – Maxine Sullivan
Top Ten eBooks
Wedlocked: Banished Sheikh, Untouched Queen – Carol Marinelli
Revealed: A Prince and a Pregnancy – Kelly Hunter
Top Ten Sexy Backlist
Millioaire Under the Mistletoe – Tessa Radley
Pretend Mistress, Bona Fide Boss – Yvonne Lindsay
Mistress Under Contract – Natalie Anderson
CONFERENCES in 2010~
The 2010 Romancing The West Conference
Saturday 1st May 2010
Metro Hotel
61 Canning Hwy
Perth
See Event Page on blog or RWAus website for more details.
RWAustralia together with SARA present the 2010 Romance Roadshow Event
~ Romancing the Novel ~
Featuring special guest speakers:–
Venue: SA Writers’ Centre
Date: Saturday 15th May
Visit SARA website for more details.
RWAustralia National Conference 2010
~ Sun, Surf and Sizzle ~
Friday 13th to Sunday 15th August 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Coogee Beach NSW
For more details visit the RWAus website or Conference page on the blog.
RWAustralia Claytons Conference
~ Believe the Dream ~
Friday 13th to Sunday 15th August 2010
Online conference – The conference you can attend when you can’t attend the National Conference.
More details soon.
CONTESTS for 2010:~
RWAustralia
Opens: 15th February 2010
Closes: 26th March 2010
See website for details.
CHALLENGES: ~
RWAustralia Writing Challenges for 2010 Feb – Mar
Monday Challenge
Challenge is for 2,000 words for the day or more. Total of 37 Monday Challenges this year with a potential for 74,000 words plus.
Dates:
- Mar 22nd
- Mar 29th
Book/ Edit in a Week
- April 5th to 11th (EIAW)
Pam Collings is the coordinator for the above challenges. For contact information please refer to January Hearts Talk. Instructions for challenges available on ROMAUS Files.
UPCOMING EVENTS: ~
Wednesday March 24
The Assessor, the Mentor and the Editor ~ Sydney Smith, Michael Nolan & Melanie Dankel
When: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre
Cost: $12 M, $10 MC, 15 NM
FMI + Bookings: Victorian Writers’ Centre OR (03) 9094 7855
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 March
First to Final Draft Masterclass ~ Shelley Kenigsberg and Selena Hanet-Hutchins
When: 10:00am–4:00pm
Where: Byron Community & Cultural Centre
Cost: $115 M per day, $145 NM per day
FMI + Bookings: Essential: (02) 6685 5115 or Email Susie OR Website
Sunday March 28
Motivated Action, Motivated Characters ~ Adair Jones
When: 10:00am–4:30pm
Where: Queensland Writers’ Centre
Cost: Cost: $110 M, $100 MC, $160 NM
FMI + Bookings: Queensland Writers’ Centre OR (07) 3839 1243
Saturday April 10
Imagining History ~ Tom Gilling
When: 10:00am–4:30pm
Where: ACT Writers’ Centre
Cost: $96 M, $84 MC, $146 NM
FMI + Bookings: Phone (02) 6262 9191 or ACT Writers’ Centre
Saturday April 17
The Kindest Cut ~ Shelley Kenigsberg
When: 10:00am–4:30pm
Where: Queensland Writers’ Centre
Cost: $110 M, $100 MC, $160 NM
FMI + Bookings: Phone (07) 3839 1243 or Queensland Writers’ Centre
Saturday April 17
Defining, Planning and Achieving Your Writing Goals ~ Chris Ostermann
When: 2:00–5:00pm
Where: SA Writers’ Centre
Cost: $55 M, $77 NM
FMI + Bookings: sawriters@sawc.org.au or (08) 8223 7662 SA Writers’ Centre
Tuesday 20 & Wednesday 21 April
Research for Fiction Writers ~ Arnold Zable
When: 6.30–8.30pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre
Cost: $44 M, $36 MC, $55 NM
FMI + Bookings: Victorian Writers’ Centre or (03) 9094 7855
Saturday May 1
Getting Started: Making Stories, a creative writing workshop for beginners ~ Wendy James
When: 10:00am–4:00pm
Where: New England Writers’ Centre
Cost: $50 M, $60 NM
FMI + Bookings: New England Writers’ Centre or (02) 6772 7210 or Email: newc44@dodo.com.au
Saturday May 8
What Do Women Want? Workshop ~ Dianne Blacklock
When: 10:00am–4:00pm
Where: Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre
Cost: $67.50 M, $80 NM
FMI + Bookings: Bookings essential on (02) 6685 5115 or Email Susie or Website
ONLINE Events
Julie Rowe, a 2006 Golden Heart double finalist, moderates the Announce Online Writing Classes list.
The Announce Online Writing Classes list notifies subscribers of around 25 to 35 workshops available each month. Most tutorials are sponsored by Romance Writers of America chapters, but on occasion other reputable teachers are handpicked too.
Interested? Subscribe by sending an e-mail to Announceonlinewritingclasses-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
That rounds it up for another week. Congratulations to everyone who had good news to share this week, don’t forget to support our bloggers.
Happy Reading
Sandie
Sue
/ March 21, 2010Sandie,
Another simply superb Sunday scrutiny of snippets of news,
Thanks so much for letting us know all the great news and congratulations to everyone with exciting things to share this week,
And so many blogs to go and check out…sigh…
So much to do and so little time for…the shiny and sexy Golden Adonis and I to do…Again!
Oh, such a chore….but someone must do it…
Suzi
Mel Teshco
/ March 21, 2010Sandie,
great compilation, I don’t know how you keep up to it all!!
Thanks again for spreading the good news =)
Kylie Griffin
/ March 21, 2010Another great week of round-ups – so much news, and like Sue, so little time to check them all out, but I try!
Thank you, Sandie, for another fab. job!
Louise Reynolds
/ March 21, 2010Amazing job, Sandie! Thanks.
Margaret Tanner
/ March 21, 2010Hi Sandie,
Another news packed blog. Thank you so much for all the hard work you do to keep us all up to date with the happenings.
Regards
Margaret
Erin
/ March 21, 2010Great edition, Sandie…and thanks for the mention of the review *blush*…I’m really honoured..
xo
Chelle
Helene Young
/ March 21, 2010Thanks, Sandie, for doing such an amazing job! Fabulous to see so much going on each week!
Cheers
Helene
Anna Campbell
/ March 22, 2010Ah, late to the party. No Adonis for me! Hope you had fun with him, Sue! Wow, what a great line-up this week. Congratulations to everyone with all the good news! Thanks, Sandie, as ever for doing this.
Bronwyn
/ March 22, 2010Woohoo, nice to get a mention! Congrats to everyone with great news and hugs to everyone with not so good =)
Bronwyn.
Fantasy
/ June 26, 2010Nice one =)) =^_^=