Very pleased to see the Diamonds Down Under series starting to appear on international Harlequin sites. Holland was first in October, with my Vows & a Vengeful Groom retitled VOWS AND VENGEANCE:


Then the UK in December:


And Germany in January. No cover yet but my title translates as YOUR LIPS, YOUR KISSES. IRRESISTIBLE. (thanks, Paula!)

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, foreign translations, Vows and a Vengeful Groom

The executive editor overseeing popular Silhouette lines, Desire, Special Edition and Romantic Suspense, is our special guest at Diamonds Down Under this week. Come see what she has to say about her job and her favourite books, join the discussion, and ask your questions of a senior editor who really knows her stuff. She'll be stopping by during the week. As always, we'll bne drawing a giveaway prize at the end of the week.

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, giveaway, Harlequin editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey

My guest this week is fellow Downunder Desirabelle, Paula Roe, here to chat about her books, her writing, her website designing and her awesome self. Make her feel welcome, feel free to ask questions, I know she will be checking back to say "G'day" during the week.

Hi, Paula and welcome to Bronz Blog. Let's start with a quick overview: who is Paula Roe?

Paula: Ahhh, me LOL. Former secretary/office manager/computer trainer/aerobics instructor. Now full-time single mom/writer/website designer/tutor. I tend to end up with lots of "/" Must be my Gemini trait (or the fact that I get bored very easily...)

Yep, I suspect the Gemini has something to do with it (not that *cough* I would understand.) So, were you always targetting Desire? Tell us about your road to publication?

P: The first thing I ever wrote (way back when I was 16) was a terrible cliche of my favorite 80s historical romances. Then when I started writing for publication (a strangely optimistic pursuit for a glass-half-empty gal), I targeted Temptation. Surprise! My raw story didn't fit the guidelines, but that didn't deter me. I found Romance Writers of Australia, pored over the articles, entered a squillion contests (Bron: she's not kidding folks, check out her website for verification!) and read, read, read. Then, of course, life intervened, I had a few years travelling, then working to pay off those travels, then a marriage, a baby, a divorce. When my son was about three, I really got back into my writing again, determined to make a go of it now I was a full time mom. So after three rejections (targeting Presents, Special Edition, Intimate Moments) and 86 contest entries (and some wins), I got The Call on 6th September 2006.

That "call" was for the book published a year later as Forgotten Marriage, and it really is a cracker. Many, many people agree, as evidenced by: Borders/Waldenbooks bestseller, RT Reviewers' Choice finalist, CoRW Award of Excellence finalist... What was the most exciting part of your debut?

P: :::blush:::: Thank you! Actually, this is the most exciting part - having people say they loved the story. I never get tired of it. Oh, and getting the covers. I'm like a kid in a toy shop when those covers arrive (I actually thought about copying them a thousand times, chucking them on my bed then rolling around, but the ink would get into places that's hard to scrub off...) And there's also the rush of seeing your book on an actual shelf. You just want to run around the store yelling, "That's my book! That's my book!" But with all these wonderful little bits of icing on the cake, no-one can get as excited as your writing buddies when you share your good news. They know exactly what it feels like.

Yes, we do. *g* The timing of your first sale could not have been better, in that you arrived in time to join the Diamonds Down Under continuity. How did that come about? What did you enjoy most about being part of the project?

P: Well, I was blithely going about my normal day, when Yvonne Lindsay emails to ask if I want to join this author-led continuity they had going. Seeing as it involved writers I already knew personally (except Jan, whom I'm now delighted to say is a wonderfully warm, hilarious person as well as a great writer!) I jumped at the chance. The offer actually came at a significant time, too, because it meant I'd have to write on demand, and to a set deadline. No more playing around, fiddling with words... I was actually getting paid for this! I also wondered if I could write quicker than one book every... hmmm... about 5 years or so. To my relief, I not only wrote that book in six months but the readers seem to love it, which is really where the proof lies.

That book is Boardrooms & A Billionaire Heir out right now in America. What will readers love about this story?

P: Well, I can tell you what I loved about it. First and foremost, it's the characters, always the characters. One reviewer said I write 'complex characters' which is one massive compliment for me. And I really enjoyed Jake's huge conflict he carries around, the gorgeous love story that evolves between him and Holly, and of course, the dialog. I loooove writing dialog! I think readers will also get a thrill from the reappearance of the previous books' characters in the series. As a reader, I always love reading about that - it's like getting a phone call from an old friend you haven't seen in a while.

Yes! That's exactly how I feel about linked books, too. Well said, Paula. Back to Boardrooms & A Billionaire Heir... It's set in your hometown of Sydney, right?

P: Yep. I love Sydney - although didn't love it so much when I had to commute five days a week ;-) It's much better wandering around like a tourist, discovering all the places that you only breeze by on a workday. I was such a city girl LOL! Now, the city has changed so much since the Olympics, with new improved roads and shopping areas, plus a cool monorail system to take you around. I also love the water, especially near Darling Harbour, so I gave Jake an apartment in the new Sydney Wharf complex they're building just a stone's throw away. Holly got an apartment in the nicer area of Surrey Hills, and Blackstones' head office has the honor of actually being where the real-life Sydney Hilton is.

I know you had a ball coming up with those location details and I got to the use the Blackstones' office in my book as well which was cool beans. I have a feeling that this love you have of design might be a factor, both in your writing research and in your other part-time pursuit of website design (Paula does brilliant websites, folks. Check out her own site as well as Diamonds Down Under.) How did you get started in website design and is that something you will continue now your deadlines are coming fast and furious?

P: It's the frustrated interior designer in me ;-) I loved art at school and loved the visual impact of color and shapes, but wasn't that great an artist. And with web design, I don't have to actually draw stuff, rather just shuffle things around until I like it (and my client likes it!). As to continuing it... I love the distraction of web design, it's like a mental break from writing. But I have to work it around my writing deadlines because I tend to say yes to lots of things without stopping to 'protect the work' (as Jenny Crusie advises). :-) I just redesigned Trish Morey's site and added a blog, plus am working on a Down Under Desirabelles blog in between deadlines...

About those deadlines... What new stories do you have in the works?

P: Heaps - I'm a Gemini! At this moment, I'm on a 30 June deadline for my next Desire, a lovers reunited/MOC (tentatively titled The Bad Boy Billionaire), plus a possible second book involving the hero's half-brother. Then I'll be getting stuck into an exciting Aussie Desire project which is the works for 2009 (but that one's top secret for now!) As if that's not enough, I'm toying with an erotic fantasy novella, and have planned out a Desire trilogy about three Gold Coast billionaires. Oh, and I still have those Temptations and Special Editions waiting their turn to shine... not to mention a couple of websites to design...

I'm tired just *thinking* about all that work, so I might just take a short nap (I may be a Gemini but I am so NOT the energiser bunny variety.) Meantime, a few short and snappy questions for Paula....

Desire is... all about the romance - keep it short, fast and tight!

I can't write without... procrastinating first.

On my desk you will always find... a weird black hole that attracts every scrap of paper I need to file but never do.

The perfect man is... an urban myth ;-)

My favourite books are... ones that keep me reading waaaay past my bedtime.

I'm looking forward to... the day I can waltz into a real estate office and pay cash for my dream place.

To be in the draw to win a surprise collection of books (I'm hoping this will be one of the book packs I'm bidding on in the Brenda Novak auction), tell us about your favourite books. What do they have in common? How does a book earn a spot on your keeper shelf? (NB: Comments will remain open until prize draw on May 31.)

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, giveaway, Guest blogger, Paula Roe

Probably you are all familiar with Brenda Novak's online auction to benefit diabetes research. Has been going for several years, and each year Brenda works like the champion she is to line up more, bigger, better items and to promote the heck out of the awesomeness that is her auction.

This year I got together with some of the Diamonds Down Under ladies to donate a gift pack which includes all six books in the series, a diamond-set necklace, Pink Diamonds perfume, a diamond keyring, and a copy of "the bible" we put together for the series, which includes research and character notes, synopses, backstory and all sorts of bonus extras. So, go bid! On this pack and loads of other fab stuff!!

Labels: Brenda Novak Auction, Diamonds Down Under

Mistress and a Million Dollars is in stores now in America and available at your favourite on-line store (incl Amazon and eHarlequin) as a print or eBook. Tell us what you think of the pictures of Jarrod and Briana that Maxine sent to the art department and you're in the draw to win a book from Maxine's Australian Millionaire trilogy. (Prize drawn March 8.)

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, giveaway, Guest blogger, Silhouette Desire

Win not one, but two, fabulous thrillers by mega-talented New Zealand author Fiona Brand. I've read both Double Vision and Killer Focus, the first two books in Fiona's riveting new trilogy from MIRA and I read way into the early hours of the morning because I could not put them down. I can't wait for the final instalment, Blind Instinct, even though this is the book which prevented Fiona joining the Diamonds Down Under team. Grumblegrumblegrumble.

To go in the draw to win Fiona's books, visit her blog at Diamonds Down Under and post a comment before next weekend. It's that easy!

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, Fiona Brand, giveaway

...come and visit at Diamonds Down Under and let us know your idea for a fantasy New Year's Eve. There's a copy of my new book VOWS & A VENGEFUL GROOM up for grabs.

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, giveaway, Vows and a Vengeful Groom

The senior editor with Silhouette Desire has done a Q&A with Jan Colley for the Diamonds Down Under blog. Find out what the line is looking for, both in series and individual books, and there's a chance to win a critique or a telephone consultation with MJ. To enter all you need do is comment on the thread between now and June 08 when the winner will be drawn, randomly, from all the comments.

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, Melissa Jeglinski, Silhouette Desire

Late last week I mentioned that we'd been working toward the launch of our Diamonds Down Under blog which is now up and going. We have a schedule of fun and informative posts for each weekend over the next six months. The opening post introduces the series and what to expect. Go visit, see what we have planned. Especially if you love Silhouette Desire, as a reader and as a writer. That's today's tip from the trenches.

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, Silhouette Desire

It's almost December. Yikes. As well as the whole festive holiday -- which I'm trying to ignore, because I have a book to write between now and then -- this also means the launch of our Diamonds Down Under blog. Which I'm not linking to just yet because it's not launching until December, when the first book in the Diamonds Down Under series (my Vows & A Vengeful Groom) will be available as an early release through eHarlequin.

Since that December launch is -- again, yikes! -- this weekend, I thought I'd lead into it with another backstory snippet about the series. This one is my Dear Reader letter from Vows & A Vengeful Groom.

Dear Reader

It is my great pleasure and privilege to introduce the new Desire continuity series, Diamonds Down Under. A series set in Australia and New Zealand was suggested in early 2006, and the idea of developing a six-book continuity with my friends and fellow Down-Under Desireables excited and thrilled -- and occasionally overwhelmed -- me. Over the ensuing twelve months thousands of emails blazed back and forth across the Tasman as we brainstormed and fine-tuned the underlying premise, the locations, the characters, the conflicts and storylines.

We chose diamonds as the heart of our series for their connection to wealth and glamour, to romance and commitment...and for the cold, hard qualities hidden beneath the surface sparkle. Everything is not how it first appears. We chose diamonds and we started with a rare pink known as the Heart of the Outback, a stone which built one man's wealth and rent a family in two.

For thirty years the Hammonds and the Blackstones have remained at odds, and creating causes of all that simmering animosity was almost as much fun as researching the glamorous homes, boutiques, jets, cars, clothes and jewellery. I hope you enjoy the rollercoaster of passion, drama, secrets and scandal that commences in Vows & a Vengeful Groom and continues to unfold -- with some unexpected twists -- over the next five months.

Cheers from Down Under,
Bronwyn Jameson

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, Vows and a Vengeful Groom

Usually I don't receive my box of author copies of a new book until a few weeks before it hits the shelf in North America. Usually I hear from readers who subscribe to the series or who've bought the book at eHarlequin before I've seen the book myself. So it was a VERY pleasant surprise when my husband returned from a run to the post office yesterday with a big box of VOWS & A VENGEFUL GROOM (January 08.)

This is my 13th published book. Add to that all the foreign copies of each title and I've had scores of open-the-box, see-the-book moments. Let me assure you, it never gets old. I love seeing the cover on an actual book...and this one looks even lovelier in person. I love pulling out multiple copies and spreading them around me. I have been known to joke about rolling in them--it is a joke, honest!

More than anything, I love opening a copy and reading the Dear Reader letter and the dedication, and taking a moment to go back to that time and that story and to reflect on everything it took to get to published book. It's a time to be proud and a little awed and a lot grateful to be given this chance to fulfil my dream of being a published career author of category romance.

Back to Vows & A Vengeful Groom....

This is the front of book piece, written by the editor and printed like a newspaper column.

SYDNEY'S SCENE

In the decades-old feud between the world's richest gem dealers, nothing, apparently, is taboo. For the Hammonds and Blackstones, all's fair in love and business -- and has been since Howard "King of Diamonds" Blackstone allegedly schemed to wrest control of old man Jebediah Hammond's diamond mines and Oliver Hammond allegedly stole the world's most recognizable necklace, the Blackstone Rose.

But yesterday's gossip pales in comparison to today's 40-carat gem: Millionairess and daughter non grata Kimberley Blackstone was on the arm of Blackstone's leader, Ric Perrini. The same Kimberley Blackstone who'd defected to the rival House of Hammond jewelers in New Zealand ten years ago.

According to an industry insider Kimberley was seen entering the Blackstone estate -- a place she reportedly described as off-limits mere months ago. Rumor has it Sydney's No 1 player, Perrini, keeps a room there, too.

"If Perrini has any say," says one source, "they won't be separated for long."

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, Vows and a Vengeful Groom

Just received the cover of my January 08 book, the first in a super glamorous new series called DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER and I love it! I'm showing the whole spread because the scattered diamonds on the back are so pretty, although the clarity of the pic doesn't do it justice.


HIS LOVER OF TEN MONTHS.
HIS WIFE OF TEN DAYS.
HIS EX OF TEN YEARS.

Ric Perrini, chairman of Blackstone Diamonds and Sydney's sexiest bachelor, still had one elusive prize to catch... Kimberley Blackstone. Luring her back to her estranged father's company, back to her birthright, would be Ric's toughest job ever. Luring her back into his arms, his most pleasurable. Ric had laid claim to part of Kim before; this time he'd accept nothing but her total surrender...

DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER
The cut, clarity & cost of family

Labels: covers, Diamonds Down Under, Vows and a Vengeful Groom

In my previous post I mentioned that I collaged the story I'm about to start writing, which is the first book in a 2008 Desire continuity series titled DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER. That's the series title, not my book's. I refer to it as "my diamonds book" and I've worked up a reasonably detailed synopsis to go with the bible of background and research information which the six-author team has put together.

I thought I knew my characters very well. I had compiled a decent mental list of scene ideas and lots of juicy conflicted conversations between Ric and Kimberley. And so it's somewhat of a revelation how much the collaging process added to that compilation. I found a better picture of Kimberley (see the smiling brunette in the center of the collage) than any I'd collected earlier. She even has the widow's peak thing happening, a family trait. I discovered that the book is going to be dark and rich and sensuous and intense; the words and phrases I gathered have much significance. They helped me zero in on character and the central conflict, when I'd been eddying around that all through my plotting and synopsis-writing.

But the richest return, I think, is on a subliminal level where the relaxed and prolonged process of flicking through magazines and letting my mind drift over the story created a deeper understanding and awareness. I'm rip-roaring ready to start writing this one; I'm even considering including one of those worm things here to track progress as I go. I've resisted until now and maybe I'll end up resisting again. We'll see.

Labels: Diamonds Down Under, the muse, writing retreat