Welcome to back to another fun week of news and blog spots with ‘Who’s Where and When and Who did What’.
Event Notice:
SUN 14th November – Cathleen Ross and Annie West are presenting at the Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival, giving a workshop on Writing Romance Fiction. Annie and Cathleen’s workshop is 10am -12pm. Venue: Gymea community Centre, 39 Gymea Bay Rd. Contact Sutherland Shire Writers’ or email To pre-book workshops call Jodie on 2425840719.
SA Writers’ Centre – 20th November – 10am-1pm
Put Your Blogging Gloves On! with Eleni Konstantine
SA Writers’ Centre or Email or Phone: 08 8223 7662
Is the world of blogging a dark and mysterious place for you? Want to set up a blog but don’t know where to start? Then this introduction session will help you learn the basics of blogging – what it is, who blogs, why to blog, and of course how to set up and maintain your blog. Emphasis will be on Blogger but other platforms will be also be discussed.
If you have any news you would like to share at anytime or have a blog event coming up you can email me anytime – cruisin@romanceaustralia.com
CRUISIN’ THE BLOG: ~
Where Our Members are Blogging ~
SUN 10th October – Catch up with Anna and her regular spot on the Romance Bandits.
MON 11th October – Another of Anna’s regular spots is on Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs.
You can catch up with Anna on Historical Saga Novels. Just scroll down a little.
Nikki Logan – What are You Reading?
Fiona Gregory – More Made Up Terms
It’s Birthday Bonanza time on Bronwyn’s blog this week. Drop by for your chance to win a signed copy of Dark Country of a gift voucher if you already have Bronwyn’s wonderful novel.
Janet has a fascinating blog about killing off characters, ‘Motivated to Kill’. Janet also gives a little insight into her family history.
Kylie Griffin’s October Blog Anniversary party continues. To celebrate, she’s giving away free books all this month! To be in the draws just read the posts, answer her questions or participate in the challenges and leave a comment!
SAT 9th Oct. – “Sci-Fi Romance” – Is this genre gaining popularity?
TUES 12th Oct. – “What are you reading and enjoying?” – What do you read to de-stress and refill the creative well inside?
FRI 15th Oct. – BOOK REVIEW: Katherine Allred’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS – Sticking with the SFRom. theme, here’s one novel Kylie enjoyed just recently.
Also, the winners from last week’s posts – Erica Hayes’ giveaway of POISON KISSED, & the Paranormal Book Prizes – have been announced, so don’t forget to check!
Vanessa blogged about using book trailers as a promo tool on Friday, October 8 at the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood blog.
TUES 12th – Author Spotlight – Sandie Hudson – Leah Ashton – M&B New Voices
This week we welcome a blogger to our RWA Blog Team Suzanne Hamilton. Suz is taking over the Day in the Writing Life from Monique Wood.
FRI 15th October – Suzanne Hamilton – A Day in the Writing Life of … – Alicia Hope
SAT 16th October – Sandie Hudson – Bestsellers List for September
New Blogs from Members ~
Dark Side Downunder – The girls from the RWA Paranormal loop have banned together to create this blog.
Novel Adventures – Alli Winters
Blogs of Interest ~
NOTE: If you come across a blog you think will interest our members drop me a line with the details.
A couple of interesting posts this week from Rachelle Gardner.
The first is a guest post by Richard Mabry ‘What Do Amazon Rankings Mean To Authors?’
The second is by Rachelle Gardner, ‘A Must for Writers’ Rachelle says “I think every single writer seeking publication should read this book!” – ‘The Forest for the Trees’
Elsa Neal moved into The Blood-Red Pencil chair this week with a post I found interesting, (mostly because I’m hopeless with ‘Word’). ‘Deleting Hard Returns with Find and Replace’
MEMBER’S CONTESTS and GIVEAWAYS: ~
Another great contest from Anna this month, well for October & November.
The question is really easy. Other than English, please name three languages in which Anna’s books are available.
Two lucky entrants will receive signed copies of:
My Reckless Surrender by Anna Campbell, Dark And Deadly by Jeanne Adams, Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean, The Wild Marquis by Miranda Neville, Proof By Seduction by Courtney Milan, and either What Happens In London or The Duke And I by Julia Quinn.
The contest closes 30th November, 2010. One entry per person please
To celebrate the North American release of my contribution to the Dark Hearted Desert Men Series: Scandal: His Majesty’s Love-Child, Annie is running a desert themed contest for the Northern Hemisphere summer. Check out Annie’s contest page for more details. Contest ends 28th October 2010.
Mel Scott is running a monthly contest on her blog this month’s contest prize is The Perils Of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long.
MEMBER’S NEWS: ~
Anna arrived home to a wonderful surprise her novel ‘Beyond the Sunset’ is in the Top 10 Romance Fiction in the Sun Herald.
Anna said this was particularly happy news for her, as her novels have so far sold more copies in the UK and she always wished she could do better in Australia. All I can say is it is about time Australia sat up and took notice of our wonderful authors.
If you would like to read the first chapter of ‘Beyond the Sunset’ visit Anna’s website.
Bec Sampson ~
Bec won the San Francisco Area Writers Heart to Heart contest in the Young Adult category. Well done Bec! What wonderful news.
Bronwyn has a short romantic suspense story in Woman’s Day this coming week
– the issue dated 18 October that will be out on Monday 11th. YAY Bronwyn. Congratulations.
Cathryn Hein ~
Cathryn accepted a two-book deal with Penguin last week for her Australian Rural Romances. Cathryn’s first novel will be released in 2011. WOOHOO Cathryn, fantastic news.
Maree’s next release is ‘From the Ashes’ due out 1st December. For now Maree is showing off her new cover. Paranormals have great covers I think. Congratulations Maree. Read ‘From the Ashes’ blurb here.
Shona received the new cover for ‘How to Breathe Fire’, her January release with Samhain. Very cool Shona. If you would like to read the blurb for ‘How to Breathe Fire’ visit ‘Wick Girls’.
Suzi won the USA Windy City Four Seasons Erotic category with her Historical Erotic Romance and has had a request for a partial from the agent judge Roberta Brown. WOOHOO Suzi. Excellent news.
Plus – M&B London has requested the full of Suzi’s Outback Medical after reading her partial in their 2 week Medical Fast track in August. Suzi that good news just keeps flowing. Congratulations.
CONTESTS for 2011 ~
One contest season has come to an end. The good news is the RWA 2011 contest season kicked off in August. If you are thinking of entering any of our contests for 2011, now is the time to start writing, editing and polishing.
CLOSED
Opens: 1st October 2010
Closes: 12th November 2010
Theme Gem for 2011 : Garnet
Opens: 25th Dec 2010
Closes: 4th Feb 2011
Opens: Friday 31st December 2010
Closes: Friday 11th February 2011
See website for details.
CHALLENGES: ~
RWAustralia Writing Challenges for 2010
NaNoWriMo
Are you having trouble writing your novel? Have you started your novel but the end is in that far away place you’re sure you’ll never reach.
What you need is NaNoWriMo. Yes, we’re back! November is National Novel Writing Month and for the past 3 years, RWA members have been running their own support group for anyone wanting to take part. You can sign up here.
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
Pam Collings is the coordinator for the above challenges. Instructions for challenges available on ROMAUS Files.
UPCOMING EVENTS: ~
Wednesdays 13 October – 17 November
Popular Fiction ~ Anne Gracie
When: 6.30pm–8.30pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre
Cost: $225 M, $210 MC, $280 NM
FMI + Bookings: Victorian Writers’ Centre OR (03) 9094 7855
Saturday 16 October
Embrace a Global Market: Write Romance ~ Barbara Hannay
When: 9:00am–12:00pm
Where: Marlin room, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Pierpoint Rd, Cairns
Cost: $54.00 (no concessions available)
FMI + Bookings: 1300 855 835 OR Ticket Link OR Tropical Writers
Saturday 23 October
Romance Writing ~ Barbara Hannay
When: 10.00am–4.30pm
Where: QWC, City Libraries Thuringowa Central, 86 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa Central, QLD
Cost: $85 M, $75 MC, $115 NM
Booking deadline: Friday 8 October
FMI + Bookings: Phone (07) 3842 9922 OR Queensland Writers Centre
Saturday 23 October
Writing Desire – How to Write About Sex ~ Sydney Smith
When: 10:00am–4:00pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre
Cost: $105 M, $95 MC, $150 NM
Booking deadline: 16 October
FMI + Bookings: Victorian Writers’ Centre OR (03) 9094 7855
Saturday 23 October
How History Feels ~ Alan Tucker
When: 10:00am–1:00pm
Where: SA Writers’ Centre
Cost: $55 M, $77 NM
FMI + Bookings: Email OR (08) 8223 7662 OR SA Writers’ Centre
Thursday 4 November
Writer in the Library Talk ~ Anna Jacobs
When: 2:00 pm
Where: Mandurah Public Library, 331 Pinjarra Road, WA
Cost: Free.
FMI + Bookings: Mandurah Public Library OR Email OR (08) 9550 3650
Saturday 6th
Word Writers Fair at Capalaba
Leading a workshop on Romance Writing and chairing a panel on “Reaching out for God through fiction.”
Mary’s two Baragula inspirational fiction books have been short-listed in the fiction category of the CALEB contest and the winner will be announced at the dinner that evening.
Information and registration on the website
Monday 8th – Friday 12th
Omega Writers
Mary will be a tutor at a five day live-in mentorship programme for Christian fiction writers, organised by Omega Writers
Sauturday 13th
Toowoomba Library
When: 10am
Mary is speaking at Toowoomba Library – her home town.
Sunday 14 November
Writing Romance Fiction ~ Annie West & Cathleen Ross
When: 10:00am–12:00pm
Where: 2nd Annual Sutherland Shire Writer’s Festival, Gymea Community Centre, 39 Gymea Bay Road, Gymea, NSW
Cost: Main Program + 1 Workshop $90
FMI + Bookings: Sutherland Shire Writer’s or To prebook workshops call Jodie on 2425840719
Sunday 14 November
Melbourne Romance Writers Guild 20th Anniversary Celebrations
The Melbourne Romance Writers Guild 20th Anniversary Celebrations will take place on the afternoon of Sunday the 14th November 2010 in Fitzroy. Ex-members can attend by emailing the Event Coordinator, Dorothy at eventmrwg@gmail.com The cost is $20 per person. Hope to see you there!
Saturday 20th November
SA Writers’ Centre
Put Your Blogging Gloves On! with Eleni Konstantine
When: 10am-1pm
Is the world of blogging a dark and mysterious place for you? Want to set up a blog but don’t know where to start? Then this introduction session will help you learn the basics of blogging – what it is, who blogs, why to blog, and of course how to set up and maintain your blog. Emphasis will be on Blogger but other platforms will be also be discussed.
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 
Suzi
/ October 10, 2010Sandie,
Wow! An amazing Sunday morning’s read.
So much great news again from all our members. Congratulations everyone!
Plus some great blogs to visit and classes to do.
I’ll mind the Golden Adonis for the week – Ms Campbell eat your heart out- and hope he brings me luck in getting out submssions.
Thanks so much for the mentions and all your hard work,
Suzi.
Eleni Konstantine
/ October 10, 2010Woohoo on your great news Suzi! 🙂
Suzi
/ October 10, 2010Eleni,
Thanks for your congrats,
Suzi