And this past month or two has seen much celebration in the "down under" writing community. As I was flat out finishing a book, I didn't have a chance to share all the fabulous first-sale news as it happened, but I can't let any more time go by without mentioning the first sales to Harlequin/Silhouette of four fabulous writers whose success in contests over many years indicated their time was due...or way past due!
1. Anne Oh, who will be writing as
Anne Oliver for Mills & Boon Modern Extra, out of the UK. Anne's name has featured in countless contest results locally and in America, with both her sexy short contemporaries and her longer paranormals.
2.
Karina Bliss, who sold to Harlequin SuperRomance and is using her own romance-perfect name. Karina won a Golden Heart last year in Short Contemporary and is also a past winner of RWNZ's Clendon Award (the contest which led to my sale.)
3.
Maxine Sullivan sold to Silhouette Desire following the recent logline contest on
eHarlequin and I am so thrilled to have her join me as the second Australian author at Desire. Maxine is another who has consistently finalled in contests in short and long series and single title.
4. Last week
Tessa Rallis became the fourth New Zealand author signed by Silhouette Desire, all in the past four years. An amazing result for a population and writing community the size of the Kiwis! Tessa, a former Golden Heart finalist, also sold following the eHarlequin pitch to Melissa Jeglinski.
So, join me in sending out congratulations and confetti rain and loud applause to all these fabulous writers. I'm sure you're going to love their books as much as those editors with good taste!
posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 10:06 AM
