• January 9, 2012 – 30 December, 2012 – Kim Wilkin’s Year of the Novel ~ Helene Young

A year long course to help guide you through the process of creating your novel in a year, developed by Dr. Kim Wilkins. Facilitated by Helene Young.

Helene Young is a contemporary suspense author. Her first two books, WINGS OF FEAR, and SHATTERED SKY, were released by Hachette Australia. Her third book, BURNING LIES, is due for release in July 2012 by Penguin Australia.

Cost: $445

FMI + Bookings: http://awmonlinelearn.com.au/course/category.php?id=4

~

• Lawson Writer’s Academy has a great line up of courses for the year. Classes are run from Margie Lawson’s website using on-line teaching software used by universities. Take a cyber tour before you start your class and introduce yourself.

  ~

• Savvy Authors on-line writing courses
  

Affordable forum-style writing classes

~

• Announce Online Writing Classes

Julie Rowe, a former 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 email to:

Announceonlinewritingclasses-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

***

In Person Events

(Costings Code: M-member, MC-Member concession. NM-Non-members)

~

January 2012:

• January 18 to February 15 – Creative Writing Stage 1 ~ Kate Forsyth

When: 6.30pm–8.30pm

Where: Sydney Writers’ Centre

Cost: $395

FMI + Bookings: http://sydneywriterscentre.com.au/coursefeesanddates.htm

~

• February 4 – Creating memorable fictional characters ~ John Harman

When: 9.30am–4.30pm

Where: UWA, Claremont, WA

Cost: $169

FMI + Bookings: http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/course/CC274

~

• February 11 – Paula Roe will be the Australian Romance Readers’ Association’s guest speaker at their 4^th Annual Romance Readers awards.

~

• February 18 - The Romance Writing Maze: Finding Your Niche ~ Trish Morey 

When: 10.00am–1.00pm

Where: SA Writers’ Centre

Cost: $55 M, $77 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://sawriters.org.au/component/eventbooking/?task=view_event&event_id=41

~

• February 18 - Personal Branding Workshop ~ Paula Smith

When: 1.00pm–4.00pm

Where: KSP Writers Centre, WA

Cost: $25 M, $40 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://kspf.iinet.net.au/events.html#feb OR kspf@iinet.net.au OR (08)9294 1872

~

• February 18 -Taking the Mystery out of History: Writing Historical Fiction ~ Diane Armstrong

When: 10.00am–4.00pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre

Cost: $105 M, $90 MC, $150 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://www.nswwc.org.au/?page_id=3&ptag=february OR (02)9555 9757

~

• February 19 - Professional Development Seminar for Writers
  

When: 9am-5pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre, Callan Park Rozelle

Cost: $150 for waged, or $135 for seniors and students, plus $10 for pitching session.

FMI & Bookings: Irina Dunn at idunn1703@gmail.com.

~

• February 23 - Unleashed Passions in Print ~ Anna Campbell

When:  x 2 session times

Redcliffe Library, 23 February 2011, 2.30pm

Caboolture Library, 23 February 2012, 6.00pm

Where: Redcliffe & Caboolture Libraries, Qld

Cost: Free

FMI + Bookings. Bookings Essential: http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au//discover.aspx?id=97934

~

• February 25 -Will You Read My Work? Beta Readers for Beginners ~ Jodi Cleghorn

When: 10.30am–4.30pm

Where: Queensland Writers Centre

Cost: $110 M, $99 MC, $160 NM, $144 C

FMI + Bookings: http://www.qwc.asn.au/courses-and-events/courses/weekend-workshops/will-you-read-my-work-beta-readers-for-beginners/ OR (07)3842 9922 OR qldwriters@qwc.asn.au

~

March 2012

• March 10 -Where is the Love? How to put Romance into Your Writing ~ Dianne Blacklock

When: 10.00am–4.00pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre

Cost: $105 M, $90 MC, $150 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://www.nswwc.org.au/?page_id=3&ptag=march OR (02)9555 9757

~

• March 24 - Michael Hauge is presenting an all day seminar entitled ‘Advanced Story Mastery: Create stories that sell’

Michael Hauge is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top story analysts. During the seminar Michael will expand on his principles for “The Hero’s 2 Journeys”, applying them to both Hollywood and Australian films and episodic series television. He will also reveal the keys to developing High Concept story concepts, creating compelling love stories, and getting the people in power to read your work.

Early Bird tickets – $145.00 until 31 January.

Where: Kaleide Theatre, RMIT Building 8, Level 2, Swanston Street, Melbourne

When: 9am – 6pm

FMI and Bookings: www.epiphany.com.au

***

RWA Diamonds are Forever Conference 2012

When: August 16-19, 2012

Where: QT Gold Coast, Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise

***

Anne Brear – A NOBLE PLACE – MuseIt Up Publishing

Cassandra Dean – TEACH ME – Decadent Publishing

Imogene Nix – STARLINE SECRET – Cravings Publishing

Jennie Brumley – THE VIKING’S FORBIDDEN PLEASURE – Ravenous Romance

Jennifer Lynne – PLATINUM PASSION – Amazon

Kylie Griffin – VENGEANCE BORN – Berkley Sensation

Leah Martyn – DAREDEVIL AND DR KATE – HM&B Medical

 Lucy Clark – THE BOSS SHE CAN’T RESIST – HM&B Medical

Melissa James/Peggy Moreland – THE TYCOON WHO HEALED HER HEART/THE SWEETHEART TREE – HM&B Sweet

Meredith Webber – NEW DOC IN TOWN/ORPHAN UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE – HM&B Medical

Nicola Marsh – WHO WANTS TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE – HM&B Sweet

 Nicole Hurley-Moore – CAPTURING BLISS – Pink Petal Books

Sophia James – HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY/MASQUERADING MISTRESS – HM&B Regency

Trish Morey/Tori Carrington – SECRETS OF CASTILLO DEL ARCO/IN TOO DEEP – HM&B Sexy

Vonnie Hughes – MR MONFORT’S MARRIAGE – Aurora Regency

I write:

Three words to describe me: impatient, stressed and busy

My worst habit is: stressing

It’s a bit daggy but I love: Billy Ray Cyrus

My day job is: Full time writer/mother/housekeeper/taxi/cleaner…you get the idea….

Saving for: trip to Vegas baby!

I procrastinate by: networking on facebook…notice NETWORKING- work related…honest!

Three things people might not know about me are:  I have an unhealthy addition to Billy Ray Cyrus, I get road rage, I sometimes begin to believe the voices in my head are real!

Favourite author: Diana Gabaldon

Favourite book as a child: The magic wishing tree

Favourite movie: P.S I Love You/ While You Were Sleeping

Plotter or panster: panster with a touch of frantic stressed out desperado

When I was young I wanted to be: Wonder Woman

Latest project: working on a rural fiction novel which splits itself between present day and WW1 in a small rural community.

Thank you for joining us today Karly and for those who want to know more about Karly and her books go to her website http://www.karlylane.com/

 Karly has kindly offered a free PDF version of her book Operation Summer storm to a lucky person who makes a comment. The winner will be announced via comment by Saturday 28th 8:30EDST.

RWA members can take a bite. Contact Kerri Williams to schedule your Blog Bite feature on blogbites@romanceaustralia.com

Today our nation celebrates all the wonderful achievements of our people and what we can be proud of as a nation. It’s the day for us to gather together, share a prawn or two on the barbie and enjoy the great outdoors. Clint has been doing some research this week and has found some interesting facts which he has shared in Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane. Stay safe this Australia Day.

~

RWA Merry Webber Blogs

January 27 – Blog Bites: Karly Lane  – Kerri Williams

January 28 – New Releases – Sandie Hudson

January 29 – Event Announcements – Juanita Kees

January 30 – Author Spotlight on Anne Gracie – Juliet Madison

February 1 – Face 2 Face – Jane Quick

February 2 – Cruisin’ with RWA – Juanita Kees

~

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 this week.

• New releases

Members share their new releases with us every week. Keep your TBR list up to date or share a new release with us at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

Liz Fielding’s LITTLE BOOK OF WRITING ROMANCE has just been released.
This is a straightforward primer for anyone wanting to write romance.

Kylie Griffin’s VENGEANCE BORN due out in Canada and the USA on February 7.

Vonnie Hughes has her regency historical MR. MONFORT’S MARRIAGE being released by e-press, Musa Publishing on January 27.

• New contract

Share the breaking news on new contracts for 2012.

• New covers

There’s nothing we like more than a good cover. Share yours with us to advertise your latest release.

• Top Sellers

Celebrate your top selling novel by sharing rankings, reviews, covers and short blurbs with our blog followers.

• Book Reviews

A 4/5 review for Rachel John’s ONE PERFECT NIGHT over at the Book Binge blog.

A review of Anna Jacobs’ MISTRESS OF MARYMOOR over at Mission: Romance.

•  Contest Wins

The winners of the 14th Annual Silicon Valley RWA GOTCHA Contest have been announced.

~

Cruisin’ Member Blogs

Share a link and a short blurb here each week by emailing the details to us at: cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

• Darkside Down Under

January 25 – New column: A Bite of…The Ice Princess by Cathleen Ross

January 26 – Magic Thursday: Nicole Murphy on Australia Day

January 27 – Australia Day Special with Astrid Cooper

January 22 – Weekly Overview

January 24 – Good News Day

• Historical Hearts

January 30 – Wool Crafts from Eras Gone By – Mary deHaas

• Kylie Griffin’s Blog

January 26 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown …  quote from the novel.

January 27 – Guest blogging: Over at the Romance Bandits – I’m in the hot seat with Anna Campbell and there’s a VENGEANCE BORN giveaway!

January 28 – Cast of characters: Kalan – the hero of VENGEANCE BORN

January 31 – Topic: An Author’s Life…with Amanda Ashby – sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience of some well-known authors.

January 31 – Guest blogging: Over at Regency Seductions – Bronwen Evans is my hostess and there’s a VENGEANCE BORN giveaway!

• Serena Tatti 

January 24 – Special guest Tracy Sumner, author of TIDES OF PASSION, awarded the National Reader’s Choice for Best Long Historical, talks about ‘Show, don’t tell.’

~

Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane

Clint has had a great time this week researching Australian history and a few legendary facts:

• Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day, an essay commissioned by the National Australia Day Council and written by historian Dr Elizabeth Kwan.
• Top Ten Australian Mythical creatures
• Facts about early Australian Literature, authors and themes.
• 50 Must read Australian novels
• Famous Australians

~

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:

1. Helene Young
   
2. Jane Quick
3. Louise Cusack
4. M J Scott
5. Romance Book Paradise
6. Paula Roe

~

Cruisin’ for Contests

Improve your writing and publishing opportunities by entering the RWA contests.

RBY 2012 is now open for entries. Entries close February 3.

Little Gems 6 January – 27 January 2012: Last call!

First Kiss 20 January – 17 February 2012

Valerie Parv Award 23 April – 4 May 2012 (or until contest fills)

~

Other Contests

If you know of another writing contest for aspiring authors, please share it with us here

A lot of writers claim they don’t plot; they write by the seat of their pants, or just “fly into the mist.” I’m one of them, although I prefer to use Robyn Donald’s term — an organic writer. (“Pantser” carries too much of a visual of my granny’s bloomers flapping on the clothesline.)

It’s not quite true, however, that we don’t plot. We don’t pre-plot. We don’t sit down before we write a book, work out a detailed plot and then flesh it out in the writing. Pre-plotting works well for many writers, but there’s no one right way, just whatever works for each of us.

I’ve tried the pre-plotting method and for me, it doesn’t work. I can work out a perfectly good, detailed plot, but the moment I start writing it either the characters morph and take the plot in a different direction, or I get bored because I already know what’s going to happen.

But pantsers do plot. At least the good ones do. Some people pants blind.

The Problem with Blind Pantsing

Some pantsers get all fired up by an idea and write like fury until they run out of steam, and then get another idea and think, “Oooh yes, I can have this happen” and write like fury until they run out of steam and then they think, “What about this?” and they write like fury etc. etc.

And sometimes it works. And sometimes it doesn’t.

The trouble with that method is you can waste a lot of time heading up blind alleys. And doing a LOT of rewriting.

Worse, you can end up with a story that’s a rambling series of sequential events, where the end bears little relation to the beginning, a directionless muddle.

Yes, a story is a series of connected events, but a story must also mean something.

Sometimes I’m almost half way through a story before I know what the story really means, what it’s really about, and then I have to go back to the start to tweak it, change the angle slightly on some earlier scenes, subtly emphasize some aspect.

You can save yourself a lot of trouble by sitting down and asking yourself some questions quite early in the writing stage. Maybe at the first point you’ve run out of steam. I know a lot of people need to start writing, to have the characters interacting on the page before they know who this story is about. Romance, after all, is a character driven genre.

Play before you write

I’d suggest, though, that you play with your characters a little more, rewrite some of those early scenes — not to polish your writing, but trying different scenes and settings to see what is going to bring out the best in your characters. Don’t think of those early scenes as the beginning of your book, but just some practice writing.

You have them meet in an office? Try having them meet somewhere else — a gym, or a train station, or at the scene of an accident. Choose a setting/situation that will bring out a particular characteristic of at least one of your characters, something that’s fun/interesting/exciting/dramatic.

You want your first scene to be a fabulous, “suck-me-into-your-world” scene, and that takes work and thought and rewriting. And something fresh.

You also want your opening scene to give the reader a clear sense of what the book is going to be about.

Once you’ve played with a few possibilities, you’ll know more about the kind of story you want it to be, that kind that will stretch and challenge your particular characters. This will help you define the kind of conflict that will be at the core of the story.

While your characters are coming to life in those early “play” scenes, ask yourself what does each of them want and why they can’t have it? If a character has a visible goal, it helps clarify things enormously. Then you ask yourself what might they do to achieve that goal? How might they change and develop through the story? Playing with possibilities…

What Kind of Story is it?

This then helps to clarify what kind of story you’re writing. Is it a convenient marriage story? Or a forced marriage? A secret baby story? Second chance at love? Revenge? Friends to lovers? Wounded soul? There are dozens of beloved tropes in romance and readers like to know what they’re getting. They also like a fresh take on a beloved trope.

Once you’ve worked out what kind of story you’re writing, you can make a list of some of the pivotal scenes that you expect will go with that kind of story. Eg. the scene where she tells the hero he has a child. The scene where he meets that child. And so on. And then you can decide how you’re going to handle this scene your particular way.

They’ll form the bare bones of your plot. Again they’re just possibilities, not requirements.

Your story needs structure

Next, I think about the three act structure (or the 5 act structure if you prefer) because I know my story is going to roughly conform to that, because all the stories I’ve ever written have, even though I never consciously applied it when I was writing most of them.

I have a noticeboard in my workroom, with a grid drawn up for my current story plan. It has 20 squares, because generally my books have roughly 20 chapters.

The squares are labelled in different colors, for the 3 act structure. (Google the term if this is new to you.) You could also use Blake’s Snyder’s beat sheet as a structure if you wanted — I’ve also found my books conform roughly to his breakdown, too.  Structure, not determinism.

All it means is that I know when I’m getting to chapter 4 (for instance) that pretty soon I’m going to want to add some new element to shift the parameters of the story; a turning point, a new character, a new piece of knowledge, a change of pace or setting, or the rise of a subplot for instance.

Don’t think of this as a must. Thinking “must” is deadly to pantsers, we need to let our muses roam free. It helps me to recall that my earliest books all had this structure. Even though I thought the three act structure was for playwrights and nothing to do with me or my writing, pure story-telling instinct (developed by reading thousands of books) had led me there anyway. Structure is my friend, not my jailer.

So when I’m writing chapter 3 or 4, some part of my brain is sifting possibilities for future chapters or scenes, coming up with possible subplots or turning points, a black moment, whatever.

I always write down these thoughts when they come to me. Sometimes they’re just snatches of dialogue, sometimes whole scenes. And I’ll make a note on a yellow sticky and put it on my story chart.  Some never get used, some become the central guiding light in my story, where everything heads toward that point.

Summing up

All the time I’m writing, some part of my brain is plotting; thinking ahead and narrowing choices between the many possibilities depending on what kind of story I’m writing, what the central thread of conflict and the emerging theme is, and how my characters and story are developing. Like a scout exploring ahead for the best routes.

And thus I plot. Not a firm plan set in stone, but a constantly evolving range of exciting  possibilities.

For another take on “flying into the mist” go to Jo Beverley’s excellent article

http://www.jobev.com/fim.html

So, what about you — are you a plotter or a pantser, and what difficulties have you found with your method?

Anne Gracie’s latest book Bride by Mistake is out now.

Barnes & Noble

Romance Top 100

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster – Stephanie Laurens

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue – Stephanie Laurens

Barnes & Noble

Historical Romance Top 100

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster – Stephanie Laurens

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue – Stephanie Laurens

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae – Stephanie Laurens

Barnes & Noble

Paranormal Top 100

Honor Bound (The Witchblade Chronicles Book 1) – CJ Archer

Amazon US

Series – Superromance Top 100

Cassie’s Grand Plan – Emmie Dark – Available March 6, 2012

Amazon US

Series Romance Top 100

Gift-Wrapped Governess – Sophia James + Others

A Bride for Kolovsky – Carol Marinelli

His Poor Little Rich Girl – Melanie Milburne

The Man Every Woman Wants – Miranda Lee

Friends to Forever – Nikki Logan

The Secretary’s Secret – Michelle Douglas

Forgoten Mistress, Secret Love-Child – Annie West

Bride, Bought and Paid For – Helen Bianchin

 Amazon US

Series Romance – Harlequin Historical Top 100

Gift-Wrapped Governess – Sophia James + Others

One Unashamed Night – Sophia James

High Seas To High Society – Sophia James

Mistletoe Magic – Sophia James

The Border Lord – Sophia James

Amazon US

Historical Romance Top 100

Scandalous Lord Dere: From Secrets of a Perfect Night – Stephanie Laurens

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae – Stephanie Laurens

Rose in Bloom: A Novella – Stephanie Laurens

Amazon US

Regency Romance Top 100

A Rake’s Vow – Stephanie Laurens

Devil’s Bride – Stephanie Laurens

A Secret Love – Stephanie Laurens

Amazon US

Contemporary Romance Top 100

See You in My Dreams: Speed, Book 1 - Jess Dee

Amazon US

Anthologies Top 100

To Sin with Scandal – Tamara Gill

Gift-Wrapped Governess – Sophia James + Others

Amazon UK

Romance Top 100

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae – Stephanie Laurens

The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance – Anna Campbell, Sara Bennett + Others

Amazon UK

Historical Romance Top 100

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae – Stephanie Laurens

The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance – Anna Campbell, Sara Bennett + Others

Mistress of Mary Moor – Anna Jacobs

 Amazon UK

Sagas Top 100

Elm Tree Road (Wiltshire Girls 2) – Anna Jacobs

Cherry Tree Lane (Wiltshire Girls 1) – Anna Jacobs

 Until next month, have a good one.

Tamara

Welcome, Rhian and thank you for sharing a day in your writing life.

Where do you write?    

I have an office/desk and it’s pretty much where I always write. Sometimes I might go elsewhere in the house and write by hand or edit on paper but this is usually where you’ll find me. And yes, it tends to be ordered chaos most of the time.

 What’s the first think you do before you begin to write? 

Answer emails. I usually get up, wake the kids for school and head straight for the kitchen and the kettle. Once I’ve got that first cup of tea in hand I’m at my desk switching the computer on. Nothing settles in the house until around 9-9:30 so I don’t even TRY to write before that. Or without another cuppa. *grin*

Are you a plotter / planner or a pantser? Do you edit as you go or prefer to edit after completion of the ms? 

I’m a complete pantser! OMG! I swear, even when I plan a small section of story the characters head in the other direction. As for editing as I go, I’m one of those writers who doesn’t put a word down until it’s right in my head. I sometimes re-read the last scene to ground me back in the story but I don’t edit until after the beta readers and CP’s have had their hands on it.

 Do you have a schedule that you follow for your writing time? Are you a goal setter with your writing? 

I’m more ‘go with the flow’ on everything. I live like that through necessity so I guess it’s only natural that it would be the way I am with writing. I set goals but I don’t beat myself up when I miss them because I’d say I’d miss nearly half of them. I’m the mother of four+one+one+one and believe me while the three +one’s don’t live with us it’s still an effort to make sure everyone is fed and watered on time. Of course the four that do live here supply me with enough washing and cleaning to fill every minute of every day and they always need me to do something, go somewhere. I think it was easier when they were younger and only had the lives I gave them. lol

Do you take time out to stretch, rest your eyes etc and if so do you do any exercises at your desk or between sessions? 

I’ve never needed to do this because I’m always getting up to do something, whether it be washing, running a kid somewhere or making a cuppa, I leave the desk regularly enough not to need to do any of this.

 Can you name five objects that are always on or near your work desk while you write? 

A cuppa, dictionary (3), thesaurus (2), chocolate stash in Mr.C’s wine fridge and my diary.

What writing tools do you favour?

PC but I do write long hand when a scene isn’t working like it should. For some reason, maybe it’s the slower pace, I always find the right way to put the words on the page.

 What’s the last thing you do before you finish your daily writing session? 

BACK UP THE FILE!!!!

Rhian’s latest release is out 17th January 2012 through Samhain Publishing.

For further information about Rhian and her books, please check out her website and blog :

Website - http://rhiancahill.com/ 

Blog - http://rhiancahill.com/blog/

Thanks, Rhian. We wish you every success with your latest release.

What a great week it’s been. 2012 has started off with loads of good news and new contracts to celebrate. Drop us an email at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com to share your good news.

~

RWA Merry Webber Blogs

January 20 – A Day in the Writer’s Life of Rhian Cahill – Suz Hamilton

January 21 – Best Sellers List – Tamara Gill

January 22 – Event Announcements – Juanita Kees

January 24 – Guest Blog with Anne Gracie

January 26 – Cruisin’ with RWA – Juanita Kees

~

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 this week.

• New releases

Members share their new releases with us every week. Keep your TBR list up to date or share a new release with us at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

• New contract

With 2011 now a happy memory, we look forward to sharing breaking news on new contracts for 2012.

Iris Leach has signed with Musa Publishing for the first book in the Sebastian Hawk Mysteries Series IF I SHOULD DIE.

Alison Stuart is thrilled to announce that GATHER THE BONES has been accepted by Lyrical Press. The release date will be announced soon.

• New covers

There’s nothing we like more than a good cover. Share yours with us to advertise your latest release.

Suzanne Brandyn is sharing her new cover with us this week. FORGOTTEN MEMORIES, a Romantic Suspense, is due for release on March 7 through Eternal Press.

• Reviews

Kylie Griffin’s VENGEANCE BORN received a 5 star Reviewer Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews.

• New blog site or web page

If you’ve recently started a blog or designed a new author website, we’d like to share it.

•  Contest Finalists

The finalists have been announced in the annual Australian Romance Readers Award.

~

 Keeping up Appearances

Do you have a guest appearance, launch or blog tour coming up? We’d like to share your celebration here. Simply email us the details and we’ll help you keep up appearances.

• January 24 - Loretta Hill is scheduled to do a book signing of her second book THE GIRL IN STEEL-CAPPED BOOTS at Dymocks in Hay Street, Perth at 12.30pm. 
• February 11 – Paula Roe will be the Australian Romance Readers’ Association’s guest speaker at their 4^th Annual Romance Readers awards. 

Cruisin’ Member Blogs

Share a link and a short blurb here each week by emailing the details to us at: cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

• Cathryn Hein

• Darkside Down Under

January 19 – MAGIC THURSDAY – Mel Teshco with SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES giveaway

January 20 – What We Are Reading compiled by Shona Husk

January 21 – New column: Enchanted Orb ~ Rowena Cory Daniells

January 22 – Weekly Overview

January 23 – Winner of Mel’s giveaway announced

January 24 – GOOD NEWS DAY

January 25 – New column: A Bite of…The Ice Princess by Cathleen Ross

January 26 – MAGIC THURSDAY: Nicole Murphy on Australia Day

• Historical Hearts

January 23 – Everyday Life in the Georgian Era – Maggi Andersen

January 30 – Wool Crafts from Eras Gone By – Mary deHaas

• Kylie Griffin’s Blog

January 19 – VENGEANCE BORN Countdown … a quote from the novel.

January 21 – Cast of characters: Annika – the heroine of VENGEANCE BORN

January 24 – Topic: An Author’s Life…with Maree Anderson – sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience of some well-known authors.

January 24 – Guest blogging over at Helene Young’s blog – VENGEANCE BORN blog tour begins and there’s a copy of the book up for grabs

January 26 – VENGEANCE BORN Countdown … a quote from the novel.

~

Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane

Clint’s been looking at romantic movies to watch this week in the lead up to Valentine’s Day. Here’s what he found:

• Top twenty best romantic movies of 2011
• 10 of the best romantic movies so far
• A list of romantic movies
• Romance novels made into movies
• Paperback Hero with Hugh Jackman

What was your favourite romantic movie of all time? Leave Clint a comment below.

~

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:

1. Wink Girls
2. Annie Seaton
3. Christina Phillips
4. Historical Saga Novels
5. Janet Woods
6. Mel Teshco

~

Cruisin’ for Contests

Improve your writing and publishing opportunities by entering the RWA contests.

RBY 2012 is now open for entries. Entries close February 3.

Little Gems 6 January – 27 January 2012 now open for entries. Less than a week left for submissions, so hurry!

First Kiss 20 January – 17 February 2012

Valerie Parv Award 23 April – 4 May 2012 (or until contest fills)

~

Other Contests

If you know of another writing contest for aspiring authors, please share it with us here.

• Fantasy Faction is launching a fantasy writing contest on February 1, 2012.
• The First Annual Lyrical Press How Lyrical is Your Romance? Entries will be accepted from January 16 through February 5, 2012. This contest is open to both published and unpublished authors. (Forwarding permission granted)

~

Cruisin’ the Learning Highway

Discover new roads to success with in-person and on-line events announced every Sunday. For venue, date and cost information, please also visit our Events page.

~

RWA Events and Conferences

Follow the link to the RWA Events and Conference Page for more news on the Gold Coast Conference 2012.

~

Enrico’s quote of the week

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.  ~Mother Teresa

Until next week,

Regards Juanita

Today we welcome Lisa Heidke, author of women’s contemporary fiction, who is kindly giving away two copies of her latest release STELLA MAKES GOOD! To be in the running, be sure to leave a comment (Aus only).

1.      Welcome to the Author Spotlight Lisa, tell us about your new book, STELLA MAKES GOOD…

Thanks Juliet!

Stella Makes Good is about the games we play, the secrets we keep and the unpredictable nature of life because no-one ever really knows what lies ahead.

Newly separated Stella is after the simple life and is definitely not looking for love. Carly’s oldest son has left for his gap year overseas and she’s feeling restless and bored. Jesse wants another baby but her husband isn’t keen. And then there’s Louisa, Jesse’s sister, who left Sydney six years ago under a cloud of mystery.

Told from four points of view, Stella Makes Good spans one tumultuous week of these women’s lives after Stella, Carly and Jesse meet for drinks, and unwittingly stumble upon a sex party. What they see that night will alter the course of their lives and shatter long held beliefs, forcing them to re-evaluate the things that are truly important to them.

You can view the book trailer for Stella Makes Good here.

2.      What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started writing?

That everything would be okay! I would tell my inexperienced, younger self to relax, write from the heart and try not to get disillusioned. I would say keep going and stick at it. Writing is not always easy. Sometimes words don’t automatically flow. You have to be patient and persistent. And, even though I know all this now, I still have days of incredible doubt. When that happens, I do my best to shake it off and get on with writing a scene or character that will make me happy (and is easy to write).

3.      We all know how important the first sentence of a book is to draw a reader in. Out of all your books, do you have a favourite first line?

Great question! I really like the first line from Lucy Springer Gets Even. “Last night my husband, Max, looked at me over his half-eaten Pad Thai and, in calm, measured tones, said ‘I’ve had enough’.”

I’m also partial to the first line from Stella Makes Good. “When I said ‘I do’ forever, I never thought I’d end up saying ‘I don’t anymore’.”

4.      Do you find that some of your own life experiences make their way into your stories, or do you make absolutely everything up?

Honestly, quite a bit of my real life creeps into my books. I think all the female characters I’ve written have touches of my personality in them…it might only be one sentence of dialogue or a thought, but I’m always lurking close by my characters.

Incidents that have mortified me in the past generally make an appearance in my books eventually, so if I do something stupid, I’ll always think (once the mortification has subsided) ‘At least I can write about this later.’

For instance, in Claudia’s Big Break when Claudia sings Mustang Sally in front of a thousand people? True story. Claudia fainting in biology class? Also true. In Lucy Springer Gets Even, the Bali bombing scenes are fairly accurate because we were in Bali at the time.

With regard to Stella Makes Good, I would like to make it very clear that I have NEVER been to a sex party…I made it all up!

5.      Complete this sentence: When I’m not writing, I’m…

On Twitter, Facebook, eating, procrastinating, annoying my children and then wondering where the day disappeared.

6.      Can you name three essential ingredients you believe every book in the contemporary women’s fiction genre should have?

1. A compelling hook.

2. A relatable lead character.

3. Hope of redemption and a brighter future.

7.      How can an author determine when their book is ready and polished enough to submit to editors or agents?

For me, it’s definitely when I can’t stand the sight of the manuscript anymore. It’s after I’ve been working on the story for possibly eighteen months and have done umpteen drafts. It’s when I read through the pages and feel the urge to throw my characters out the window…or shoot them.

Yep, that’s probably when I know I’ve had enough. I can’t be objective anymore and it’s time for someone else to read it.

8.      What do you love most about being an author?

It’s a cliché but I really do like working from home, often in daggy pyjamas or track pants. I am very fortunate that I can work school hours and be around when the kids come home. I also really like creating fictional worlds where my characters can say and do things that I would never dream of in real life. And then of course when characters mess up or find themselves in embarrassing situations I can pull them through so their lives don’t end up becoming total train wrecks. In real life? Not so much…

9.      What’s next for Lisa, are you working on something new?

Juliet, I am working on something new but it’s taking much longer to pull together than my other manuscripts. Must admit, have been a bit slack in 2011, but in 2012, the Muse will strike and I’ll power ahead. And if the Muse doesn’t strike? I’ll just have to get by on my own!

Lisa Heidke is published by Allen and Unwin. You can visit Lisa at her website here, follow her on twitter, and Facebook. And don’t forget to check out her book trailer video here!

To be in the running to WIN one of two copies of STELLA MAKES GOOD, leave a comment below. Winners drawn on Monday 23^rd January, and limited to Australian residents.