Books by writing buddies.... Tracey O'hara

Released this week (though not in Australia until the 1st September) is 'Night's Cold Kiss' by Tracey O'hara. It's Tracey's debut book (woohoo Tracey!) and Book One of the Dark Brethren Novels.

Here's the blurb to entice you:

For centuries war raged between the humans and Aternus vampires - until the efforts of the courageous on both sides helped forge a fair, if fragile, peace.

But the rogue, vicious, and half-mad Necrodreniacs will never be controlled - addicted as they are to the death-hight...and blood chaos.

Wowza ha? I've ordered it from my local bookseller and it's going to be the reward book for going to the conference and pitching. Good eh?

You can visit Tracey at her website here.


And don't you just love this cover.

SARA conference pictures

Go to the SARA website to have a look at our Conference pictures...so far.

As you will see, there are smiles all around.

Yia...

Angel pic

Have had to get to some housework in the last couple of days. Visitors today, so nice. But brain can't now get into submissions mode. Will have to start afresh tomorrow. Was hoping some artwork would inspire me, but it isn't working right now. Oh well. Maybe I can get an early night's sleep. Ha ha ha ha ha.

Night....

Other posts

How remise of me....I had blogged over at the Bootcamper's blog and posted on the SARA News but didn't get my act in gear to post on this site. Post conference durrs, perhaps?

Was fabulous meeting the Bootcampers face-to-face and spending time together chatting and brainstorming.

Oh and how spectacular to see SARA members Trish Morey and Tess LeSue get awards. Woohoo!!!

And of course members of both groups getting requests for submissions. Yay!

Can you guess how proud I am to be part of these groups? Love them to bits. They totally enrich my life. Thank you ladies.

Yia x

Books by writing buddies.... Mel Teshco

The more you get involved with a writing organisation, obviously the more writers you know, the more books you buy as a result.

I'm going to try and spotlight new books by writing buddies in future.

Released during the conference was 'Stone Cold Lover' by Mel Teshco . It is Mel's debut book (congrats Mel!) and published by Ellora's Cave.

Blurb:

Heiress Loretta Shaw is notorious for her loose morals and sexual needs. Trouble is, it's taken her one too many one-night stands to realize that no man can extinguish the sexual fire she feels toward her guardian, Cray Diamond.

A long-ago curse made Cray immortal—a gargoyle, a guardian, who is impelled to protect a human chosen by the curse. He is imprisoned in stone during daylight hours but dusk returns him to flesh and bone to carry out his immortal duty.

That Cray can shift between human and living gargoyle at night bothers Loretta not one bit. She's seen him naked many times and her desire for him—in any shape or form—knows no bounds. She's tired of his resistance. He's her gargoyle…and she wants him in her bed.

Sounds great doesn't it... and it's waiting on my e-TBR pile. I have to resigned myself to the fact that I'm never going to get through my TBR pile as I keep on adding more titles. But hey if it's to support a fellow writer, it's a good thing. And keeps the industry going. I'm all for it...

Yia.

Back from conference

Well the RWAus 2009 conference was a blast. Fantastic to catch up with so many people I know from online, including the Bootcampers. It was non- stop since the moment I met up with them at the airport to when I got home.

So many highlights:

• meeting online buddies
• attending Cocktail party & Awards dinner
• getting requests for partials (yeeha!)
• SARA member Trish Morey winning the Short - Sexy R*BY award & the Honourary Lifetime Membership award.... yay Trish
• SARA member Tess LeSue for winning the STALI and the Anna Campbell Award (yay)
• Fantastic workshop by Anne Gracie & Mary Jo Putney - nuggets of great info
• All workshops and panels attended:

1. Bronwyn Parry and Bernedette Foley with publisher/author relationship;
2. Worldbuilding with Rowena Cory Daniells;
3. Blogs & Blogging;
4. Spotlight on The Knight Agency,
5. Trish Morey's Great Beginnings, Big Bang Endings & High Stakes in Between;
6. Paranormal chat

I had to miss a couple of sessions due to my pitches, but between nerves and then joy at requested material, I think that is a-okay to do (*wink*). So it will be busy here for abit. The short, snappy posts may have to continue. I shall see.

Here's a snapshot taken by Monique Wood (thanks Mon) of us at the Arabian Nights Cocktail Party. More photos to follow in time....

Yia...

And here's something I prepared earlier.... the day after

I think I will be expecting to be doing this the day after I return...

Talk to you soon & will give you the low-down about the conference.

Yia.. yawn....

And here's something I prepared earlier.... last day

Last day in Brisbane. Flight this afternoon.

Pretty good eh, I've had more blogs organised in the week that I've been away than times when I'm home. But of course, they haven't exactly been in-depth philosophical discussions and ponderings. Just good ol' fun.

And here's a picture from when I was in Greece in 2000. A view of Santorini by boat. Gorgeous and fascinating place.

yia..

And here's something I prepared earlier.... funny

This made me laugh...hope you found it funny too.

Yia!

And here's something I prepared earlier.... art on website

On 'The Work' page....

pretty cool hey.

Yia...

And here's something I prepared earlier.... Dogs

LOL!! Love the look....

Yia!

And here's something I prepared earlier.... grant

I should be busily working in a workshop presented by authors Anne Gracie and Mary Jo Putney today.

In the meantime, this is a brief post to say thank you to Arts SA & my local council for the grant money making this trip possible.

It's funny but when I think grants, I really do think literary writers, not writers like me who write commercial fiction and wanting to attend a romance conference. But it just goes to show you can but try.

So "This project is proudly supported by the Richard Llewellyn Arts & Disability Trust".

ie project being attending the conference, but I will be talking about the conference when I get back and plan on some promotion activities... so stay tuned. I'll be getting ideas whilst in Brisbane on what exactly I should do, but it should be fun.

Yia!

And here's something I prepared earlier.... traveling

As you read this, I should be making my way to Brisbane on a flight with other SARA writers. There's been a flurry of activity in the last couple of weeks especially and so it would be just nice to enjoy the conference & meet other writers we've 'met' in cyberspace.

So up, up and away.....

That's it...

I'm not reading any more blog posts, getting sucked into too many stuff on twitter or doing things in emails unless absolutely necessary.

Good news: polished off HD. Bad news: haven't finished pitch yet. Should be done by tonight.

Good news: worked out what clothes to wear to the conference. Bad news: I have to organise & pack everything & pray it's under 20kgs.

Good news: I'm checking things off my list. Bad news: I keep adding more things on there!

Good news: I'm going to the conference!!

So folks, I'll see you when I get back. If I have time, I will prepare some posts while I'm gone. But if not, see you next week.

Yia!!!

50 books reached

I'm quite pleased with myself. I have read 50 books for the Harlequin Book Challenge (shorter books and novellas are put together to make up an entry). So I'm doing better than last year when I had reached this number in November.

I haven't been reading as much this week as I polish and prep for the RWA conference. Blog posts will probably continue to be short, sharp and shiny or there may be an absence (gasp!) of them as I go to the conference. Only 4 sleeps to go.....

Currently reading: The Flame & The Shadow by Denise Rossetti (reward book)

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer

Blood Price by Tanya Huff

In remembrance

In Rememberance for my aunt who passed away 5 years ago on Monday... miss you, Thea. xx

Happy Birthday Mister 1

Well Master 5's brother, Mister almost-1 turned 1 today. Happy Birthday little munchkin!!!

And in a few days, "our mikri" Princess turns 20. Oh my goodness, I remember when she turned 1. (I'm getting old....)

Happy Birthday!!

Very honoured to be part of Master 5's, Mister 1's, Princess 20's, and Starlet 15's god family.

Mwah to you all....

Oh and Happy Nameday to my brother and cousins.

Now going back into the bat cave...ewwww what did I just step on?!!!

LOTR influence...

Orkut Happy Funny Comments & Graphics

Yia!

Art on my website 2

Yes still busy getting conference things into gear. Had a headache yesterday, so took a wee nap. Today got my hair coloured and hair feels so healthy and soft. Watched 'While You Were Sleeping' for Friday's workshop. I do enjoy that film. Now back to the mines!

So no long post.... in the meantime, I bring you another picture that is on my site.

Yia...

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Finally got the chance to see this and I did really enjoy it. I can disentangle myself from the book to see the films as separate entities - otherwise I would be disappointed because so many plot points are left out in the film. Loved the cinematography. The look of the films are getting darker and darker. Though there was enough humour to balance this out.

The characters are getting older and so there was lots of talk and scenes about snogging. And that's what I also loved about the books and now the movies - watching these characters grow. Well I am looking forward to the two parter movies for the last book. There is just too much to for one movie, actually it could be too much for two. We'll see how they tackle that.

I loved the world J.K. Rowling created and I love the fact there is a very smart and brave young witch called Hermione. A girl who tells it like it is, well except for matters of the heart. A girl who is Muggle born (ie not from the magical world for you non-Harry Potter readers/watchers) and who is so adapt at magic she pretty much aces every subject. Oh and the actress reminds me of a relative.

One thing about the Harry Potter phenomenon - it certainly got many children to read again and that truly is magical.

(I'm still editing but took some time out to go to the movies - after all a writer needs some R&R/research/inspiration!)

Yia...