What a week! The Romance Writers of Australia have a great, new-look website and blog, plus an awesome new logo thanks to the hard work of our webmistress. Riding the Waves was a huge success and we celebrated our members’ achievements well into the night at the Gala Awards and After Party. There are posts galore from our members, so be sure to click on the links below and share in the good news and celebrations.
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Cruisin’ the News
Share your good news with us each week and we’ll join you in your happy dance. Congratulations to all our members on their achievements this week. Have you got news or a blog to share? Send us the link to cruisin@romanceaustralia.com.
Good News
Iris’s fourth book, NEW BEGINNINGS released by Astraea Press and set in the beautiful city of Hobart, is now available in on-line stores
Anna’s third and final book in the Wiltshire Girls series, YEW TREE GARDENS, will be available in paperback from the end of August.
DANGEROUS DESIRE, published by Entangled, is now live on all e-tailers.
will indie-publish DEFIANT SURRENDER in September.
RWA Contests
Contest season opens on August 23.
Contests for unpublished writers:
The Emerald Award is our major contest for unpublished writers, and offers a unique opportunity to have your full manuscript judged if you make the second round. Initial entry is 10,000 words of your category or single title manuscript.
The Valerie Parv Award offers the winner a year of mentorship with bestselling Australian romance author Valerie Parv. Enter the first 10,000 words of your category or single title manuscript along with a 1,000 word synopsis.
The Ripping Start is for the first 1,500 words of your romance or romantic elements novel or novella. A great way to hone your hook
The First Kiss gives you the opportunity to showcase that romantic tension. Enter a 1500-word scene involving your protagonists’ first kiss, plus a half-page set-up.
The Selling Synopsis tests your synopsis-writing skills. Enter your category or single title synopsis for the chance to impress an agent or editor.
The Little Gems contest (also open to published authors) is for romantic short stories up to 3000 words, and offers finalists the chance to have their story published in an RWA anthology.
We also run a contest for artwork for the cover of the Little Gems anthology. This is open to members and non-members.
Contests for published authors:
The Romantic Book of the Year (R*BY) is our contest for published novels by Australian or New Zealand authors. It includes sections for Short Sweet Romance, Short Sexy Romance, Long Romance and Romantic Elements novels.
Entries for the 2013 R*BY (for novels published in 2012) open in December 2012.
The Ella is our contest for published novellas.
Our Little Gems short story contest is also open to published authors.
Looking for more contests?
In Australia, each state has a Writers’ Centre. Membership of the centre will give you access to the list of many competitions being held right across Australia in various forms of writing.
Romance Writers of America contests are summarised at Stephie Smith’s web page. Check the individual RWA chapter websites for full details.
Romance Writers of New Zealand contests can be found at their website.
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Cruisin’ Member Blogs
Clint fueled up the limo and went cruisin’ the Blogging Highway for great blogs to keep you entertained. Are you an RWA Member? Share a link and a short blurb here each week by emailing the details to us at: cruisin@romanceaustralia.com.
- RWA Blog
August 18 – RWA Award Winners Announced
August 25 – Event Announcements
August 27 – Author Spotlight on Anna Campbell
Sarah Belle is looking for RWA members to spend a moment in the Author Spotlight with her. Email blogmistress@romanceaustralia.com to register your interest and answer a few questions.
August 29 – Cruisin’ with RWA
10 things I learned at the Romance Writers Conference
Anita shared this link to Inky Girl’s blog where a man proposed to his girlfriend with a self-published book he left for her to find in the library.
Feeling the cold? Then you need soupadouping up! Come and get cosy on Friday Feast this week with Australian author Leisl Leighton. With a delicious soup recipe on offer and Leisl’s spine-tingling debut romantic suspense KILLING ME SOFTLY, you’ll be fighting off those winter blues in no time. Plus tell us which soup warms the cockles of your heart and you’ll go into the draw to win a Kindle ebook copy of KILLING ME SOFTLY. Souper indeed!
Meeting, Greeting and Me (2013 RWAus Conference)
Recommends writing courses to gain valuable feedback
Win a copy of Cassandra’s book TEACH ME
RWAus13 Conference Overview
(SPOILER ALERT NZ!) Offspring’s Patrick is dead! (And oh, wasn’t there a social media meltdown when they killed him off?) The good news is … Author Harvest lives on – back due to popular demand – and has been revamped as Bar Yarns & Beer Nuts. Jenn is putting together a great author line up.
August 23 – RWNew Zealand: Heading to Wellington to celebrate New Zealand romance!
August 24 – CONFERENCE TIME: Memorable Moments with Sasha Cottman – an idea of what you can expect at conference!
August 27 – NEW AUTHOR SERIES: Adina West – our RWA/NZ newly published authors from Destiny, Escape & Momentum!
August 31– CAT-URDAY! – Friends
Enrico’s Pick Six
Submit your blog site link to cruisin@romanceaustralia.com to share with our readers. Enrico hand picks six blogs to showcase every week.
Enrico’s Pick Six this week:
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Have a great week from the Cruisin’ Chauffeurs.
Romance Writers of Australia 
Suzi Love
/ August 22, 2013So exciting to see all our Aussie and Kiwi romance writers doing so well. Thanks.
Juanita Kees
/ August 23, 2013Here’s to seeing Aus and NZ growing stronger every year. Cheers! 🙂