Today I signed the contract, so I guess I can announce [drumroll] a new sale!

So, okay, it's not really new new as the project has been in the pipeline for a while, through A LOT of planning and working out details, and I must say this is a most excellent and exciting project. Scheduled for 2008, it's a 6-book author-led continuity for Silhouette Desire. One of the most excellent parts is that all the authors involved are from "down under", i.e. Australia and New Zealand, and one of the most exciting things is seeing the evolution of the series from concept to actual storylines. A mountain of work has gone into this and, wow, the stories are really shaping up as salacious, scandalous, sexy, and I can't think of another "s" word that covers intensely emotional. Oh, yeah, and juicy. We don't have a series name yet but when that's decided, you'll be the first to know!

The participating authors and current line-up, books 1 through 6: Bronwyn Jameson, Tessa Radley, Maxine Sullivan, Jan Colley, Paula Roe and Yvonne Lindsay.

I know this because someone using the search string "famous people named Bronwyn" was directed to my site. Also someone searching for "Bronwyn woman bag" (but luckily not "bag woman Bronwyn") and someone else looking for "footballers naked shower". Can't imagine they found what they were looking for.

Writers often talk about their favourite part of the book. Many love the opening, the rush of a new idea that they can't get down on paper (or computer) quickly enough as it builds into a story. Others love the ending, the moving confession of love, the delightful Awwww factor that brings tears and smiles to a reader's eyes. Not so many are enraptured with the middle bit. If they've torn through the early chapters in a euphoric rush of discovery, then this is where is grinds to a halt. Mutterings of "what was I thinking? this isn't a book, this is a rubbish tip!" can be heard.

Me, I hate the opening chapters. I know what has to happen, but I haven't yet found the characters' voices. Usually they're hiding stuff from each other and from me and there's all this emotion (angst, anger, wariness, bitterness, frustration, whatever) to convey. Along with description of said characters and setting and timeframe. Combine that with the need to include all the necessary backstory without boring info dumps and I'm muttering...well, never mind what. Let's just say it's not pretty.

I'm also not a fan of endings. Not just the absolute ending, where I struggle with the line between a touching romantic scene and schmaltz, but the transition scenes between the big black moment (the disaster or climax where everything goes to hell in a handbasket) and the resolution. The part where the characters have to get over the conflict and do so in a way that convinces the reader they're not complete prats for not realizing sooner, and that their love will endure the next major crisis.

Which leads me with the middle, which I love because the characters finally start to talk to each other. Love writing these scenes, the ones where the early dynamic between them changes. They see possibilities that weren't there before. Respect builds alongside the sensual tension and there are smiles for the characters and for the author!

That's where I'm up to the moment in my manuscript. The joyous lovely stage where I adore my job. And where Donovan, finally, gets to smile.

My current book is not going well, one of several reasons I've been slow on the blogging front lately. Today, as I attempted to chisel another page from the rockface, I realized that I do not have a clear picture of my hero. Heroine is hunky-dory, right down to her own particular way of internalising things. Hero was no more than Mr Tall, Dark and Difficult, right out of casting central. I wasn't hearing him and that's because I wasn't seeing him. The two seem to need to come together in that messy place (or rockface) that is my head. Soooo, I've been on a scouting mission and I do believe, yes sirreee, I have found my man. Name is Donovan Keane and I can't say he is pleased to meet you because right at this moment he's not pleased about anything. But that's okay, because it's my heroine who has made him displeased and that is just the way it should be. Phew.

I doubt that yesterday's announcement of Ian Thorpe's retirement from competitive swimming surprised many Aussies. He'd taken time off, missed some major championships, struggled with illness and motivation. From the age of 14 or 15 he's been in the news, and besides carrying the weight of our sports-obsessed population into every Games at which he's competed he's also become a red carpet celebrity. No wonder the poor guy needs a break, although I very much doubt that will be out of the public eye. He already has media contracts and a stock exchange listed company and underwear and jewelry labels. Oh, and even a racehorse named after him. Although we sure will miss him on the dais when the next Olympics come around, Thorpie is not going to go away. I figure he will be a success at whatever he takes on. He's that kind of champion.

The calendar says it's spring and has been for a month or two, although you would not know by the weather. We've been oscillating between "hottest recorded October day ever" and what must be close to the coldest November day(s) with snow in all kinds of places where it has no right to be snowing, even in July, let alone mid-November. But it is spring and the willy-wagtail couple built their nest this year in an ornamental rubber tree in my courtyard, right above the barbecue. She is a very good mum, really she is, getting into outraged squawks whenever we light the thing. These are the newborn hatchlings she is protecting. Only a mother could love 'em!

Loved their songs back in the 90s and was reminded how much by 2 recent happenings. Firstly, whatshername-on-Rockstar Supernova reminded me what a great song Zombie is. Secondly, on one of those many flights I endured Click (I think that's the movie, it was less than memorable) where the lead couple's "song" was Linger. Couldn't get it out of my mind so I ordered a Best of album, which I'm now listening to and being reminded of their other great songs. Dreams. Salvation. Ode to my Family. I love the Irish lilt in Dolores O'Riordan's voice...not to mention her name! Anyone else remember The Cranberries?

I awoke this morning to the sound of rain on the roof (!!!) and this email in my in-box. My smile is a mile wide.


It is with great pleasure that ACRA announces the winners of the 2006 Anne-Bonney Reader's Choice Award Contest. Our first contest was an amazing success. The competition was intense and our thanks to all those who donated their time to judge these wonderful books. The winners were chosen by independent booksellers nationwide, none of whom are associated with the Ancient City Romance Authors (ACRA).

And the winners are:

BEST HERO:
1st - The Rich Stranger by Bronwyn Jameson
2nd - Walks in Shadow by Joyce Henderson
3rd - In Your Wildest Dreams by Toni Blake
Honorable Mention - Worth Every Risk by Diana Love Snell

BEST HEROINE:
1st - Guardian of Honor by Robin D Owens
2nd - His Dark Desires by Jennifer St Giles
3rd- Rugged Loner by Bronwyn Jameson

BEST CHEMISTRY:
1st -- The Ruthless Groom by Bronwyn Jameson
2nd -- The World According to Ali by T.L. Gray
3rd -- Loving Miranda by Teresa Bodwell

MOST HUMOROUS:
1st - How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
2nd - Hocus Pocus by Teresa Roblin
3rd - Big Hair and Flying Cows by Dolores J Wilson

MOST EMOTIONAL:
1st - Miracle in the Mists by Elizabeth Sinclair
2nd - Butterfly Garden by Annette Blair
3rd - A Simple Gift by Karyn Witmer
Honorable Mention - The Promise of Christmas by Tara Taylor Quinn

COVER CONTEST:
1st - Little Big Heart by Dolores J. Wilson
2nd - Tender is The Knight by Jackie Ivie
=3rd - In Your Wildest Dreams by Toni Blake
=3rd - Loving Mercy by Teresa Bodwell

I have been tagged by fellow Aussie, Medical Romance Author, Fiona Lowe, the challenge being to list "five things you might not know about me." Although there are lots of things you don't know about me, choosing five to share is something of challenge. I've decided not to think about it too long. I'm going to just dive in with the first 5 that come to mind.

1. I am the middle child of five. The reason I'm a fence-sitter and a vacillator, do you think?

2. I can touch the tip of my nose (but not my elbow) with my tongue.

3. Too many years ago to count, I spent a working holiday as a rouseabout in New Zealand shearing sheds.

4. I have never suffered a broken bone...oh wait, except for both little toes which have been completely squished by horses.

5. At school I was a nerdish good-girl. I always had my head in a book (some were school books, some were romances) and my father said no good would come of all that reading. In this instance, I was happy to prove him wrong.

I'm tagging fellow Desire authors and all-round champion people, Nalini Singh and Charlene Sands. Check out their blogs in the upcoming week to see if they're prepared to spill some secrets.

The cover of my next book, out in February in North America, was waiting in my inbox this morning. I love how it ties in with the title. Is it just me or does this resemble a certain Aussie actor...?

Here's the back cover blurb:

THE PRICE OF PASSION

Years ago, Max Fortune had a sizzling summer affair with Diana Fielding-Young that she'd ended without warning. Now the embittered Australian millionaire was tormented by memories when he returned to South Dakota and locked eyes with Diana at a high-society soiree. Realizing his hunger for his former flame had never truly been satisfied, he vowed to get her back in his bed and make her rue the day she'd played him for a fool.

But as their spellbinding reunion was reduced to gossip-column fodder, would Diana's shocking confession force this ruthless heartbreaker to change tactics?

DAKOTA FORTUNES: Oil is in their blood...privilege is their birthright.

I read this as an e-Book on my o/s trip and it helped many in-flight hours pass swiftly. I didn't mind the slowish start, trusting the buildup would matter, to character and to plot, and Howard didn't let me down. It's not your usual Linda Howard fare, most notably the pacing and the hero. Yet that's one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much. It surprised me.

Cal is unique, his own man, a character true to his character rather than the plot or romance conventions. He's a quiet, calm, real man, not a larger-than-life in-your-face hero archetype. He is a brilliant example of a capable alpha, in control and self-assured with everyone and in every situation except when it came to the woman he'd fallen for at first glance.

That was so sweet and unexpected, and because we met him first through the heroine's eyes, we were seeing a different man to the one everyone else saw. He didn't scream I Am The Hero at first meeting, one of many things that didn't sit well with some readers. I thought it was a majorly neat twist and a perfect example of how a writer can use point of view to hide and reveal.

Loved Cate as well, and the fact that she loved her late husband. No excuses, no he-didn't-give-me-good-lovin'. Howard master-stroked characters to bond with, and I didn't care that the plot stretched credibility. I cared about the characters--not only the leads, but the supporting cast, including a gorgeous secondary romance--and I settled in for the ride. Another thing I liked: when this couple was on the run and in a desperate situation, they staryed true to that scenario. They didn't forget where they were or the imminent peril because they couldn't keep their hands off each other. (Personal bugbear of mine in romantic suspense.)

The ending didn't tie all the loose ends and I detected a whiff of "sequel" but that's okay. It took me a while to warm to Howard (and those heroes) but ever since Mr Perfect she's been on my auto-buy list.

This week I received a package of Scandinavian translations and this morning, as a means of procrastination from a chapter one which isn't cooperating as I would like, I'm feeding the titles into a translation engine. The results are, shall we say, interesting. Four of the five books are The Rugged Loner, paired with my good friend Emilie Rose's Scandalous Passion. I love this cover -- yes, Emilie, I do! I think it's sexy and suggestive and then there's that tattoo on Carter's biceps. Mmmm.

Where was I?

The titles, right. In Finnish--the one pictured--the literal translation is Proposition Merely Thee or Proposal Only You. Take you pick. In Swedish we have An Exclusive Offer. In Norwegian, the rather confuzzling Rescue from Kjaerligheten. I hope that means Escape from Loneliness. That would be nice. Lastly, and my personal favourite, is the Danish A Lonely Wolf. I think that's a pretty decent synonym for Tomas's Rugged Loner, don't you?

Okay, so those are the 4 2-in-1's for Loner, all in the same duo and all with Emilie's gorgeous cover.

The other book in the same package is The Rich Stranger in Danish, the title being The Exuberant Stranger. Which kinda describes Rafe Carlisle nicely.

Anyway, this cover is probably Darlene's but given that my book's set in the dry Australian outback (VERY dry at the moment, but that's another blog for another time) and the Nevada desert around Las Vegas, the snow's a bit unexpected. It's a pretty cover though, and romantic, and as my next book is set in snowy South Dakota in February, a cover just like this would be very welcome and fitting.

Fingers crossed I'll have a similarly gorgeous cover for Back in Fortune's Bed to share with you later this month.