Conference Saturday was all about the speakers, my highlight being a workshop with an undercover cop who shared great insights into why and how as well as anecdotes on specific cases. So much neat stuff packed into little more than an hour. The second item of interest came from Harlequin Australia Sales and Marketing Director, Stuart McDonald, whose figures on growing sales of category romance in Australia was heartening. Now, if only I wrote M&B Sexy (HQ Presents) or Medicals, I would be crowing with delight. Desire, unfortunately, doesn't sell so well in my home market. :(

Saturday night's awards dinner was hosted by the beautiful Ally Blake, with presentations to winners of all the RWA-run contests held over the last year. Congratulations to all winners and finalists, with a special mention of two winners whose announcement and speeches brought both loud cheers and quiet tears. Karen Schwartz won the very last Emma Darcy Award, for a full manuscript by an unpublished writer. Karen has built an extraordinary list of contest results lately. I know she won't remain unpublished much longer.

The second shout-out is to Barbara Hannay, winner of the Romantic Book of the Year, category section, for Her Playboy Challenge. This book (M&B Sweet, HQ Romance) was also a finalist in last year's RITA and with Barb's extraordinary talent for words and story and touching romance, I'm sure there will be many more awards in her future. (Can you tell I love Barb's books?) The picture is of Barbara celebrating her win with her editor Kim Young and husband Elliot. Oh, and the shoes...yes, they're Barbara's!

I have more to come from Love in a Cold Climate but this just arrived in my inbox and it's too cute not to share.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats.
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
5) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
6) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
7) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

That was the Romance Writers of Australia's 14th National Conference, held last weekend in Melbourne. The name springs from the concept of Melbourne in August -- the weather can be cold. Damn cold. This year, it wasn't. Perhaps because of all the warm fuzzies generated at the fabulous, fabulous conference.

After ten successive RomAus conferences, I'd decided to give this year's a miss. I was going to Reno. I needed to be home, working. The preparations for a conference, the travel, conference itself, takes time and saps up energy. But then, for several reasons, I changed my mind and I am ever so glad I did.

Why? Where do I start...

The chocolate walk, an optional extra, started events perfectly on Thursday afternoon. Thursday night brought another highlight, the Harlequin dinner. HQ's Australian and New Zealand authors (of which there are some 40+) are very spoiled by the local sales and marketing team and this acknowledgment and celebration of our successes is only one illustration. Lovely food, wine and company. Thank you, Michelle and Stuart and Rosie and team!

Friday was the Donald Maas workshop--one of the reasons I decided I couldn't miss this conference. An intense, full day but it induced so many lightbulb moments on my current story, I came out of that room glowing! Luckily the glow matched my outfit for Friday night's cocktail party. :) The theme--Nights of the Raj--brought out costumes that spanned the gamut from safari suits with pith helmets to Victorian ladies to stunning saris to gentlemen in uniform to one extraordinary snake charmer. And a tiger.



Before the party started: Harlequin authors Ris Wilkinson, Ally Blake, Carol Marinelli, Fiona McArthur, Jennie Adams, Helen Kirkman, Alison "Tiggy" Roberts, moi.

The themed Friday night parties started several years ago with costumes optional. But the number playing dress-up has steadily gathered steam until this year when almost everyone embraced the Indian/colonial theme. The party was a roaring success, I think largely because being in costume opens so many avenues of conversation ("pith" puns ran amok, as did atrocious British accents!) and gives even the most introverted of writers licence to play extrovert.

So...do you like playing dress-ups? Does it help you break the ice at a party?

Sue and Deb, still smiling at that last stop...although...is that a latte in front of Deb? Not a hot chocolate? Seriously, that amount of chocolate in such a short time even stopped me. Hard to believe, I know, but true. At one point I had to wash melted chocolate from my hand (such waste, such heresy, since it was Haighs dark!)

Could there be a more perfect pre-conference event? Two-plus hours, walking (strolling), talking (much) and tasting chocolate (and ice-cream and rock candy) at a half-dozen venues all within a few city blocks. Only the toughest survived to the bottom of the decadent Italian hot chocolates at our last stop. Here we are outside Haigh's Chocolates in the amazing Block Arcade.



L-R: Sara Bennett, Deb Allen, Sue B-T, Rhonda, Allison Rushby, Kiki, Jennie Adams, Alison Roberts, Marion Lennox, Robyn Aldridge, Trish Morey.

If you're ever heading to Melbourne, check out the various chocolate walking tours. Oh, and if you do choose to take one, don't be late! (If you want to know why, don't ask Trish! :))

I meant to post this BEFORE I left home for the Romance Writers of Australia conference but, in the end, I barely had time to pack. I'm home now, all conferenced out for 2005. A report and photos from "Love in a Cold Climate" coming soon! And just because I love including photos, today's is of a very fabulous pair of shoes which conveyed a very fabulous author to the stage on Saturday night to win a very fabulous award. Any guesses???

Karina Bliss, wearing her Golden Heart, and Yvonne Lindsay, wearing the smile that hasn't left her face since she sold to Desire earlier this year. :) This was taken in front of a phone booth after Karina called her family back home(and Tessa, I believe) with the happy news.

Saturday night in Reno was awards night and afterwards there were plenty of Aussies and New Zealanders waiting to congratulate Karina Bliss, winner of the Golden Heart for Best Short Contemporary. There have been several finalists from "down under" but Karina is the first to wear the jewelry! Congratulations, Karina!! I am looking forward to hearing you have sold Venus Rising (or any of your many contest successes) soon.



Lilian Darcy, Trish Morey, Adele Gautier (RWNZ Clendon winner 2005, in news just in!), Karina Bliss (bless your golden heart!), Frances Housden, moi, Sandra Hyde (Golden Heart finalist for Best Traditional), Yvonne Lindsey. Celebrating.

I was also thrilled to cheer Barbara McCauley's RITA win in Best Short Contemporary. Barbara has been a finalist the last mumble-mumble years and she richly deserved her gold lady for Miss Pruitt's Private Life. Writing this, I'm trying to decide which of her books is my favourite. Secret Baby Santos? Killian's Passion? Courtship in Granite Ridge? Sinclairs Surprise Baby? Fortune's Secret Daughter?

Are there any other Barbara McCauley fans out there? Which of her books do you love best?

Flicking through the pay-TV channels on Saturday night (and yes, that IS Saturday entertainment at my house!) I happened upon Rock Star, the show where they're choosing a new leader singer for INXS via an Idol-type of knockout talent quest (for want of a better description.) Now, I did know this show was going on but I hadn't paid much attention, being a bit over this perennial search to replace the irreplaceable Michael Hutchence, plus knowing how easily I can be sucked into obsessive watching of "reality" TV shows. I prefer to stay away. It's easier.

But last night a voice caught my ear and I lingered. That incredible voice belonged to Jordis singing Knocking on Heaven's Door and wow. So, I watched the next singer -- Mig -- doing Peter Frampton better than Peter Frampton. Double-wow! These are really -- and I mean REALLY -- talented singers and performers. I have no clue who will win. I could be parochial and go for the Aussie (Mig), but I'm also liking Suzie. And not liking JD. (I mean, JD Fortune??? Gimme a break -- that can't be his real name! Unless, maybe, he's a long lost relative of the Fortunes of Texas. )

So, I'm pretty sure I'll be watching again this week. What about you? Are you hooked on any reality TV, or over it?

posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 8:53 AM 4 comments

I thought it might be less confusing if I continued my Reno summary on a day that corresponds. So, on Friday I bring you Conference Friday. In extreme summary. For the first time in 3 conferences I decided to go to a Publisher Signing, which actually turned out to be a 2-for-1 bonus (Berkley and Ballantine, I think), with my room-mate. The line was very long, the people we met very nice. I'd heard horror stories about mad mow-em-down scrambles to grab the free books, but this was very orderly and polite. Had lunch with my gorgeous editor, Stacy Boyd, and a group of her authors at HQ/Silhouette. Learned how to pronounce (and enjoy) quesadillas. Friday night was the Harlequin party, with very cool cocktails, a killer dessert buffet, and a DJ who knew his audience! There are always complaints afterward about the loud music, the noise, the nowhere-to-talk, but I didn't hear any complaints on the dance-floor. Another round of It's Raining Men, anyone?

I was going to add my blog to the EXTREMELY long list of authors' blogs but I got distracted by the fact that most have names. Some don't. Some are just Diary of... or Blog of... or So-and-So's Weblog. Seeing as I don't have a clever name for this page -- Today is a bit of a place-holder -- I thought one of these would suffice for me, too.

But.

I've probably mentioned before that I'm not overly fond of the word "blog." It sounds like something I wouldn't want to step in, especially bare-foot. But what I'm doing here isn't exactly a diary so it doesn't feel right calling it one. On the other hand, I don't know that I'll be "blogging" (erk) about writing topics, about books I've read, about my wips, about life in the bush, about living in The House of Testosterone, or my continuing fight with writer's inertia.

I guess that's my problem right there: beyond posting pictures and covers and updates on my books, I don't know what else I'll feel inclined to write about.

Which leads me back to my current problem (which is far easier to worry about than the revision letter in my in-box): do I need a name/title for this "blog"? Is Today good enough? Does Bron's Blog sound like something you wouldn't want to step in?

Maybe I need to run a contest...

Today, Trish Milburn blogs about books you can't put down. Which immediately brought to mind this book which kept me riveted on the plane home from Reno and in airports both ends.

Here's a little sample of why...

"Then he's there, taking my hand, leaning close to smell my neck, making a long, warm sound in his throat. 'God you look beautiful,' he says, and there's the killer voice, that Irish accent and vibrant tenor. The smell of him, like a morning wind, wraps me close, and my heart is swelling twelve times its size."

And a little further down that same page...

"And this, too, is a good part of having a long-distance lover. That first kiss after parting -- the lingering drink of the longed-for lips, the soft cries of surprise and hunger. His arms around me, mine around him, my discovery, so rich every time, that he fits me exactly right."

Lady Luck's Map of Vegas I suppose would be classified as women's fiction (where do you draw the line?) because its primary focus is a mother-daughter road trip, but there is a strong romantic storyline as well. And secrets. And flawed characters struggling in their relationships.

I have loved Barbara Samuel's writing from page one of Jezebel's Blues (written as Ruth Wind, I think as a Special Edition) and my idolization continued through many, many SIM's, her several historicals (love Black Angel) and her more recent single titles. She is the author I blabber senselessly to every time I meet her. Needless to say, I am overjoyed to learn that she's contracted to write three new books for Intimate Moments.

So, 'fess up -- who is your numero uno writing goddess? Who reduces you to gibberish when you meet face-to-face?

HE NEEDED A WIFE.
AND HE NEEDED HER TONIGHT,
IF NOT SOONER.

Enter Zara Lovett. His ex-fiancee's best friend. Her hair a spill of honeyed silk framing whiskey eyes. Zara, who'd strode into Alex Carlisle's life on killer legs and lit a powder keg in his gut. It was chemistry, the kind of powerful, explosive mix Alex made a habit of avoiding -- until today. Because the fireworks between them changed nothing. He still needed to satisfy the terms of his father's will.

That was his goal. That was his duty. That was what mattered.

And he would make sure Zara said yes.

PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK:
GROOMED FOR SUCCESS,
DESTINED FOR RICHES.

So, that's the back cover blurb on yesterday's cover. I especially like that it doesn't give away any secrets!

...arrived this morning. This is the third of my PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK books and it's not another shadow man but the real deal. What do you think? Would you pick this one up in a bookstore?

One of my favourite things at cataromance is the Smooch of the Week. This page features short extracts from current category/series books and, you guessed it, the theme of the extract is a smooch. Some are sweet and romantic, some intense and passionate, some cute and funny, some you see the steam rising from the print. But with all, you get an idea of the writing style, the book's tone, and the characters. The current collection spans the spectrum with awesome kisses from the pen (er, keyboard) of Linda Conrad, Lucy Monroe, Liz Fielding, Shirley Jump, Diana Duncan and Dale Ketcham. Check them out here. Enjoy!

We interrupt this (belated) photo-summary of The Reno Trip to introduce you to a ripper new e-publication. Ally Anderson's Cata Bookshelf is far too glamorous to call a newsletter -- more like a glossy mag, but in e-format -- and devoted to category romance. The August edition is now available, free, and includes a list of Reviewer's Choices for the first half of 2005. Congratulations to all the winners!

The eHQ pyjama party is always a boisterous chat-fest. Maybe that's because by kick-off time (11pm) everyone's really wound up (if not likkered up!) or maybe it's just because everyone's so damn chuffed to catch up with their mates from this fabu on-line community. Oh, and yeah, the hosties sure do their bit to create a party atmosphere (as they do pretty much everywhere they venture.) This is a picture with Marilyn Puett, Desire reader, writer, reviewer and, as the T-shirt says, Chat Room Queen. Note that we are standing in front of the urns, drinking tea like the ladies we are, and resisting any urge to join the ruckus heading out to the Garage nightclub.

Conference Thursday the Brainstorming Desirables met up in Chevy's. Photographic evidence suggests a good time was had by all. I'm giving a two-thumbs-up to the salsa and guacamale (thank you, Juliet Burns, you doll!) and to the watermelon margaritas (as recommended by Emilie Rose, another very savvy woman.) The gorgeous Leslie Marshman provided said photographic evidence and arranged to have this shot taken with me. I was really needing some quality sleep at this point.

Continuing my Reno diary...
Thursday was a BIG day that started with a meeting with my editor and ended with the eHarlequin pyjama party. In between: the eHQ luncheon at a very yummy seafood restaurant, margaritas at Chevys with the Brainstorming Desirables, afternoon tea with my very first editor, Leslie Wainger, the Moonlight Madness Bazaar and the PASIC Editor of the Year Reception. This was held at the Auto Museum which houses an incredible collection of wheels. Some are in the background of this pic with fellow Desire author Emilie Rose. (Don't you just love her classy suit?) Brenda Chin of Harlequin Blaze won the Editor of the Year with Kate Duffy of Kensington Editor of Merit.

Hmm. I've just read this back and it looks like I did nothing all day but eat and drink. This is not true. Or typical. Honest.

Started out badly when my Visa was refused at my second purchase at Meadowood Mall. And Macy's had a killer sale on -- imagine my distress! Luckily, I had the back-up of friends (Love you, ladies) and 24 hours later it was all sorted. Meantime, I worried and fretted and stressed, as I tend to do, but somehow managed to get it together for the Literacy Signing on Wednesday evening. I love this event, for the friends who find me, the readers who bring along their own copies, and those who buy on the night. Lots of over-the-table hugs ensued, I gave away a swag of Tim Tams, and only bought 2 books myself. (Still kicking myself over the ones I didn't!)

We checked out of our San Francisco hotel early on Tuesday morning. Way too early as it turned out. If we'd thought to call Amtrak, we'd have learned that our train to Reno was 3 hrs late and we could have slept in AND enjoyed breakfast. On the positive side, we did find another Borders at Emeryville. We did sign more books. And then we waited, and waited, and waited. Our train, eventually, left 5 (not 3, but 5) hours late.

We saw some of California passing by veeerrrry slowly, we saw the navy graveyard, we saw a lot of trees. Trish saw something she'd rather forget. We enjoyed a Corona or two with a couple from Fresno (I think, although it might have been Fremont) and discovered that he taught creative writing in middle school and she was writing her true-life story as a cancer and multiple-stroke survivor who had to learn how to read and write all over again. Lovely, inspiring, interesting people, the kind you should meet on every long train or plane journey.

We read some. We discovered that train food in Australia isn't so bad after all (comparatively speaking and I shall never again diss airline food because it really is gourmet compared to the Amtrak microwave, cough, meals.) And eventually we arrived in Reno, six hours late and sufficiently tired and crabby enough to ask the rhetorical question, "Why did we decide on the train again?"

PS: There is photographic evidence somewhere. I know photos were taken on Emeryville station, maybe on the train as well, but not by me. Stay tuned.

...about the last photo from San Francisco but there are extenuating circumstances. This morning I discovered that my travelling buddy Trish Morey's August HQ Presents "The Italian Boss's Secret Child" hit #1 on the Waldenbooks Series Bestsellers list for the first week of August. This is Trish's second successive #1 in America. Last December her debut book "The Greek Boss's Demand" also topped the Waldenbooks list. Go Trish! My picture (and, truly, the very last from SF) is of Trish visiting with her book in Borders, Union Square, before signing the few copies still on the shelves.

So, okay, there are a lot of emails I love. I especially love mail from readers with something (preferably nice) to say about one of my books. I also enjoy those that bring news of an award or a contest final placement or some other pat-on-the-back honour because that also means someone (or ones), somewhere, enjoyed my book. And, to me, that's job satisfaction in spades!

This morning I received an email from Road to Romance letting me know a review for The Rugged Loner has been posted to their site. It's a fabulous review which I can recommend to anyone wanting an overview of the book -- and I'm not just saying that because the reviewer liked the book and awarded it one of these:

Or not-quite San Francisco. On our second day we hired a car and drove down the coast to Monterey. This picture was taken by our designated driver at Fisherman's Wharf. We're looking happy because we've just enjoyed the most delish seafood lunch and a drop of very nice California wine. The stuffed salmon rates on my all-time, best-ever, All-Stars food list (not that I actually keep one, but if I did...) After this we went shopping.

The afore-mentioned bike ride (which, according to the brochure, was 8 miles but felt more like 18!) ended in beautiful bayside Sausalito. I especially enjoyed the long downhill glide into beautiful bayside Sausalito. If we'd listened more closely (I suspect I was still contemplating the true meaning of "one short incline onto the bridge" at this point) we might have learned how to use the locking device that came with the bikes. But we didn't so we couldn't cruise around the Sausalito shops. We did have icecream and coffee and then the ferry arrived and this is a picture of me as the ferry headed out. Notice the lack of fog. This lasted, oh, about five minutes and then the white settled over the water and the bridge and Alcatraz. An eerie effect in the middle of summer, but I do love that mournful bellow of the fog-horn.

Someone (for the sake of the exercise let's call her...hmm...Marilyn) asked for more photos. So, I'm going to add a few here each day. This one is our intrepid little band of ANZauthors in San Francisco. We're on our way to the shops (a Westfield Mall, less than a block from our hotel, but not at all like the W'fields in Oz) and that's why we're all smiling! L to R: Trish Morey (who writes delicious Greek and Italian and sheik heroes for Presents), Yvonne Lindsay (latest, newest, brilliant-est signing with Desire), moi (in my skirt before The Bike Incident) and Frances Housden (author of enthralling international intrigue for Intimate Moments.)

When Desperate Housewives started here in Australia, Monday became my television night. I could easily watch a lot of other shows on a lot of other nights but then I wouldn't get to read or do research or a dozen other things that sap up the after-dinner hours.

So, Monday night was IT. My designated night for control of the remote. It took a while, but my guys finally accepted that that's the way it is...and then I left home for two weeks. Sigh.

To be honest, I didn't think I'd need to retrain them. I kinda assumed that I'd missed the season's finale of Wives because that's what usually happens (you know what I mean - you're engrossed in a series and then the one week you're away happens to be the finale or the cliffhanger or the who-shot-whom episode or whatever.)

But, no!!! Not only did I catch the last episode of Wives but also the premiere of Grey's Anatomy which I'd heard about from fellow authors in America. (Thought I'd miss the openers while I was way as well.) One episode and I'm totally hooked. Great characters, pacing, dialogue. Woo-hoo.

Anyone else loving this show? This heroine? The romance?

One of the best things I did on this trip was allow my sister-in-law to cajole me into hiring bikes to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. From there we caught the ferry back to downtown. This meant we not only got to ride across the famous bridge, but we got to see it and photograph it during its brief mid-afternoon appearance through the fog. If you're ever in SF and get the opportunity, do this! Don't believe the "there's just one teensy little gentle rise" schtick. Don't do it in a skirt. But do it!

I spent the last two weeks in America, mainly for the RWA conference in Reno. I travelled with fellow-Aussie author Trish Morey and NZers Yvonne Lindsay and Frances Housden, staying a few days in San Francsico before conference and in Squaw Valley (in the mountains near Tahoe) afterwards.

Checking through my photos I notice I have a lot of the before and afterwards, not so many of Reno. Conference (as always) was such a whir of go-go-go that I kept forgetting the camera. Or took the camera and forgot to use it. But the ones I have, I'm going to share through this page over the next week or so.

I also didn't catch up with, or spend enough time with, some of my on-line friends and that's always my one regret of conference. Too many events, meetings, parties, workshops; not enough time to just kick back and spend time with the good peoples I only get to see once every couple of years. (And let's not even mention the fact I was in a casino and didn't go near a blackjack table!!!)

How about you? Did you manage to meet up with everyone you wanted to at conference? Anything you really wanted to do and didn't get around to?

...and to my relaunched website! Do you like the new look? It's taken a little longer to get it all together than I'd hoped, but now it's done and I'm happy and relieved and excited all at once.

The excitement is because I now have this "blog" (hate that word, but what else can I call this forum?) where I can post news and updates and generally keep you all up to date with what's happening in my world. This is also the place where you can say "g'day" or "hi" or "howdy" because I love little better than hearing from my friends and readers and fellow fans of romance.

That's about all I have to say by way of welcome, except I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out my website, especially the new "Behind the Scenes" on my PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK trilogy. I've also added some new articles for writers and the For Fun page is new as well. I'm such a geek about jigsaw puzzles that I had to do my cover one and, wow. Let's just say I love fireworks as well!

So. What do you think? Like the new look? Like Paula's mud-map? Like the fireworks?

posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 3:00 AM 7 comments