Welcome to this week’s Cruisin’ and Member’s News. A round up of Who’s Where and When and Who did What.
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
CRUISIN’ THE BLOG: ~
Where Our Members are Blogging ~
Anna is blogging at Novelists Inc about her recent release of her 50th novel, ‘Beyond the Sunset’, a historical set in the 1860s, in Western Australia and the UK.
Bronwyn is hosting a Fast Fiction contest on her blog from now until Friday 16th July. Entrants can submit stories that are a maximum of 55 words (with a beginning, a middle and an end!) and the wonderful Valerie Parv will judge the entries. Bronwyn tells me there are prizes to be won. What? Prize on top of our lovely Valerie judging, don’t miss this one guys.
Heather s holding a party on her blog all weekend to celebrate her new releases from Friday 9th till Monday 12 July. Leave a comment and win one of the books from her catalogue (winners choice).
TODAY – Heather is guest blogging on Australian Romance Readers today.
TUES 13th July – This week on Helene’s blog, Lindy Cameron, True Crime Writer and co-author of the new release ‘WOMEN WHO KILL,’ will be joining Hélène to talk about her writing. She’s the author of five books and a Convenor for Sisters In Crime. Lindy personally interviewed some of Australia’s most notorious female killers Hélène tells me she is looking forward to Lindy’s post! Don’t miss this one guys.
RWAus Blog ~
MON 12th July – Eleni Konstantine – Craft Day
TUES 13th July – Sandie Hudson – Our Golden Girl ~ Robyn Enlund
WED 14th July – Sandie Hudson – RITA Finalist ~ Elizabeth Rolls
THUR 15th July – Diane Curran – Guest Post – Rowena Cory-Daniells
SAT 17th July – Sandie Hudson – June Bestseller’s List
Member who Blog Regularly ~
Blogs of Interest ~
NOTE: If you come across a blog you think will interest our members drop me a line with the details.
Linda Lane stepped into the Blood-Red Pencil blogger seat this week with an interesting blog Writing as an Art – March to the Beat.
Rachelle puts put a positive spin on those books you don’t think are well-written with, A Monkey Could Have Written That.
MEMBER’S CONTESTS and GIVEAWAYS: ~
To celebrate the release of THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF REGENCY ROMANCE, where Anna has a short story called ‘Upon a Midnight Clear’, she’s giving away two signed copies of the book. Go to her website for details: http://www.annacampbell.info/contest.html The contest closes on 31st July.
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. July contest giveaway is The Dragon Variation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
MEMBER’S NEWS: ~
Kandy’s second novel Home Is Where The Bark Is went on sale this week. Kandy tells us Home Is Where The Bark Is was chosen as book of the month by Ever After. Congratulations Kandy, wonderful news.
Pam Collings ~
Pam received a wonderful surprise when she attended the North Central Review Literary Competition Awards Night, her short story ‘The Painting’ won the short story section. WOOHOO Pam, huge congratulations.
Rhian has a good reason to smile lately, her Coyote Home and Coyote Wild have received fantastic reviews over the last couple of weeks. Coyote Home received a 4 out 5 review from Book Binge and Dark Diva Reviews gave Home a 4 ½. Rhian’s latest release Coyote Wild received a 4 point review from The Romance Readers Connection. Mega congratulations Rhian.
Sue MacKay ~
Sue had her second medical working title Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad accepted and due for release in March. To top that great news off Sue was also offered a three book contract. Sue, what fantastic news, congratulations.
CONTESTS for 2011 ~
One contest season has come to an end, the good news is 2011 contest season kicks off again in August. If you are thinking of entering any of our contests for 2011, now is the time to start writing, editing and polishing. Why leave it to the last minute?
Opens: 13th August 2010
Closes: 24th September 2010
Opens: 27th August 2010
Closes: 8th October 2010
Opens: 13th August 2010
Closes: 24th September 2010
See website for details.
CONFERENCES in 2010~
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
The Claytons Conference Awards Contest.
Yes, we are having it again! This year the contests open earlier, you will be able to submit your entries anytime between the 1st to the 5th August. Closing date 5pm 5th August 2010. These are all emailed entries more details shortly.
Contests to include:
- Fractured Fairy Tale. ( Max. 5pp double space 12 font)
- 1 page Synopsis of Fractured Fairy tale or another short story. (PLEASE NOTE: That using synopsis for one of your own stories is not recommended as these will be posted on the blog and able to be viewed by the public.)
- Blurb for Most Ludicous Romance Plot. (Max 100 words)
- Is It Hot In Here – First Kiss (Max 3pp or 750 words of a first Kiss scene)
- Best Cover – Design a cover for a Romance Novel
This contest is opened to Claytons Conference members ONLY. That is members NOT attending the National conference.
CHALLENGES: ~
RWAustralia Writing Challenges for 2010 June
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.
Book/ Edit in a Week
Information for Jun.
Monday Challenges
Jun – 21, 28
Pam Collings is the coordinator for the above challenges. Instructions for challenges available on ROMAUS Files.
UPCOMING EVENTS: ~
Saturday July 3
Come to Your Senses Fiction writing Workshop ~ Linda Jaivin
When: 10:00–4:00pm
Where: New England Writers’ Centre, NSW
Cost: $75 M, $85 NM
FMI + Bookings: Essential. New England Writers’ Centre or (02) 6772 7210
Saturday July 5
Breaking Through Writing Masterclass ~ Jan Cornall
When: 10:00–5:00pm
Where: Storylines, 2 Sturt Tce, Alice Springs, NT
Booking deadline & draft submission: Friday June 19
Cost: $100 M, $60 MC, $120 NM, $80 NMC
FMI + Bookings: NT Writers or Email or (08) 8952 3810
Saturday July 17th
A Toe in the Ocean – Festival of creative writing. ~ Janet Woods will be the keynote speaker.
When: 9:00am — 5:00pm
Where: Warnbro Community High School. WA.
Details and registration forms. Teena: traffa-m@bigpond.net.au – 0438916001
Kate: Kathryns09@yahoo.com.au – 0400210937
Wednesday 4 August
Finding Your Voice in the First Novel ~ Lisa Heidke
When: 10.00am–11.45am
Where: Society of Women Writers; Dixon Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: $10 all
FMI + Bookings: Society of Women Writers
Saturday 14 August
The Exercise Pen ~ Wendy James
When: 10.00am–4.00 pm
Where: New England Writers’ Centre, NSW
Cost: $50 M, $60 NM
FMI + Bookings: New England Writers’ Centre or (02) 6772 7210 or newc44@dodo.com.au
Sunday 15 August
How to get published ~ Sabina Hopfer, Emma Schwarcz, Alison Arnold
When: 2.00pm–5.00 pm
Where: Carnegie Library and Community Centre – Boyd Room, Vic.
Cost: $20 all
FMI + Bookings: Carnegie Library and Community Centre
Saturday 28 August
Seminar: The Business of Being a Writer ~ Judith Ridge & Guests
When: 10:00am–5:00pm
Where: NSW Writers’ Centre
Cost: $140 M, $100 MC, $85 NM
FMI + Bookings: NSW Writers’ Centre
Wednesdays 1 September to 6 October
Editing Your Own Work ~ Janet Mackenzie
When: 6.30–8.30pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre
Cost: $225 M, $210 MC, $280 NM
FMI + Bookings: Victorian Writers’ Centre or (03) 9094 7855
Saturday 18 September
The Art of Writing Romance ~ Valerie Parv
When: 10:30am–4:30pm
Where: Queensland Writers’ Centre
Cost: $110 M, $100 MC, $160 NM
FMI + Bookings: Phone (07) 3842 9922 or Queensland Writers’ Centre
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
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
Romance Writers of Australia 
suzilove
/ July 11, 2010Sandie,
Another Sunday of wonderful news,
Thanks for doing this for us,
And congratulations to everyone celebrating this week,
Suzi