Fantabulous Friday: Weekend Romance - A Fair to Remember ~ not just for romance writers

A fantabulous event is coming to Adelaide - it's about romance - it's about writing. Wouldn't you know I'd be involved...

Yes, one of the projects I've been helping out with is the Roadshow event. This is RWA's term for an event that is outside of the national conference program and connects areas that don't get conference, like SA (that's changing with SA - newsflash: conference is coming to Adelaide in 2016!)

RWA and SAWC (SA Writers Centre) have joined forces to present this wonderful weekend!!

FULL PROGRAM

If you prefer seeing the workshop blurbs and bios in non pdf format, go to the RWA Roadshow pages.

I'm really excited about the line up. There is such diversity - from people who write historical (romance) adventures like Fiona McIntosh, to those writing rural romance like Tricia Stringer, to Helene Young, who writes romantic supsense, Trish Morey who writes sexy stories, and Keri Arthur who writes dark urban fantasy and paranormal romance! 

Not only that, I think attending any writing event is a fabulous thing. I went to Body in the Garden last year and it's not my exact genre (yeah there's some mystery in my stories, but I don't call myself a crime writer). You mix with other authors, readers, and get to learn something new. Like was said in the movie, 'The Castle' - it's the vibe. A vibe about being around people who enjoy story telling, and writing or reading.

There's certainly a lot of vibe happening with this event!!

While Saturday is full of panels (I'll be chairing the Location, Location, Location panel), chats, author talks, and workshops, the Sunday is purely a workshop event with two streams - one for introductory and one for more mid/advanced. 

While the introductory day long session with Trish Morey (stream A) focuses on romance, you can still use these skills across the board. 

Learning the writing craft is the same in any of the genres - Show, Don't Tell (with Amy T. Matthews). Yep, across the board. Point of View (with Elizabeth Rolls)- yes, the same. All writers want to know about media (with Victoria Purman) and their online presence (I'll be conducting this workshop as my alter-ego). All these can be found in the Stream B workshops.

And let's not forget the fab Quiz Night!!!

It's a fab line up for a great price - hey lunch, and teas are even included!

COST:
1 day* = $130 SAWC and RWA members, $170 non members
2 days* = $240 SAWC and RWA members, $340 non members
QUIZ NIGHT: $20 per head

*Includes lunch, morning and afternoon teas


BOOKINGS: SAWC website or phone 08 8223 7662 or by email admin@sawriters.org.au


NOTE:
ROMANCE WRITERS OF AUSTRALIA MEMBERS - to obtain your discount, please book via
08 8223 7662 during Centre opening hours or email admin@sawriters.org.au.
SAVE $40 when you book for the whole weekend.

Come on this is just sooooo fantabulous!!  So why not come along?

~yia~

Nomination for LWA

I am very honoured to have been nominated for Romance Writers of Australia's Lynne Wilding Meritorious Service Award!!  (or the LWA for short). Actually it is my non writing name that has been nominated. Still it's me and it's to do with writing, so here I talk about it.

This award is to honour a member's contribution to RWA. It is named after the first president of RWA, Lynne Wilding, whom without her efforts, there would not have been an RWA. From all accounts she was a remarkable woman, whom unfortunately I didn't get to be introduced to, but was lucky enough to hear speak at a past conference.

This nomination has stunned me to be honest. My fellow nominees are wonderful women who all do so much for RWA, and being among them is just so surreal. Big group hug.

But I'd like to thank all those who took the time out to nominate me. I'm very humbled.

~yia~

Blog bite over on the RWAus blog

Totally forgot to say that I had a Blog Bite over at the RWAus blog yesterday. You can still visit and comment if you so choose :)

Just some fast facts about me.

~yia~

Romancing the Novel seminar

RWAustralia together with SARA present the 2010 Romance Roadshow Event

~Romancing the Novel~

Featuring Special Guest Speakers - Anna Campbell & Yvonne Lindsay!

 

Plus our local talent:

Elizabeth Rolls

Anne Oliver

Clare Baxter

Trish Morey

Christina Carlisle

Amy T Matthews

Venue: SA Writers' Centre

Date: Saturday 15th May, 9 to 5 (registrations begin 8.30)
Cost:$125 including lunch, morning & afternoon teas

Details and registration forms on the SARA website and the RWAus website.

Hope to see you there!!

~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...

Peddling Poisons and Dealing Drugs

My Critique Partner, Fiona Gregory will be doing a tutorial at the Hot August Nights Conference on Peddling Poisons and Dealing Drugs. Sounds fascinating doesn't it.

Fi has been a pharmacist for a number of years and can tell you some interesting stories from her career. She's blogged over at the Bootcampers 101 blog. Go on over and have a look.

Those of you attending her workshop are in for a real treat! Good luck Fi - you'll do great.

~Yia!

R*BY finalists announced

Pronounced as 'The Ruby', this award is given to the best in the romance books in the Australian and New Zealand market and is judged by readers. There are four categories this year.  So basically it's the Big Kahuna Awards for romance books. 

This year, three of the SARA members are finalists - Trish Morey, Claire Baxter, and Elizabeth Rolls. Bootcamper buddy Melissa James is also a finalist. And of course there are the other writing buddies I know from the RWA and RWNZ groups including the fab Anne Gracie, Marion Lennox, Anna Campbell (remember I had her Claiming The Courtesan as a reward book),  and Paula Roe.

Well done ladies!!! Congratulations to all of you - you are all stars.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner at the Romance Writers of Australia conference in August. What a dinner that is going to be!!

~ Yia!

Proud member

Anyone who has been reading this blog for some time, will know this already, but I am a proud member of the Romance Writers of Australia. Now I have a button to show this off created by our wonderful webmistress, Kiki.  It's also on my sidebar.

~Yia

Doing a dance

My CP Fiona has made it into the Romance Writers of Australia's Little Gems Anthology, with her story 'A Happy New Year'.

Woohoo Fi!! 

It's a wonderful story. Can't wait to read it in print. Doing a little dance for you.

Also Monique Wood made it into the anthology. 

Both Fi & Mon are in the new class of Bootcampers - 109ers. And Sandie has blogged about it here. So pop over to give them your congrats.

Opa!

Hot August Nights

I hope to make it to Brisbane this year for the Romance Writers of Australia's conference in August.  There's a great line up and my CP, Fiona is doing a workshop on Peddling Poisons & Dealing Drugs.  She's a pharmacist and what a workshop that would be especially for those writing intrigue and suspense.  Go Fiona!

Adelaide presenters include Trish Morey, Lucy Clark and Emily Forbes. 

All the conference information is on the website. 

Yia!

Weekend Events...

The Australian Romance Readers Convention is on from today and I wasn't able to go.  I do hope there will be more in future. 

There's a new round of Bootcampers coming through RWA with the Bootcamp 109 this and next weekend. Have fun ladies. We 101ers sure did!!!

Speaking of Bootcampers, I've blogged over at the Bootcampers 101 blog.

Then there's the list of weekend to-dos:

Have a good weekend!!!

Yia!

Yes, well, ha hmmmm.....

Did I say that I was going to do 7K in my BIAW quest?

I am gripping my sides from laughing. I seriously thought that was doable after me be feeling flattened by the 50K?!!!! So you guessed it - I didn't reach 7K but 3,593 words. So at least half way. So that's good. I'm looking at it as the glass being half full rather than half empty. You know it being the Month of Positivism and all. *g*

On other news, I have accepted the role as Deputy Editor with the Romance Writers of Australia's journal Hearts Talk. A great team have assembled and am looking to working with them under the guidance of our Editor, the fabulous Rachel Robinson. If you don't know about RWAus, you can visit the website.

Yia!

Bootcamper Writing Drills - a new blog

I'm pleased to announce the commencement of a new blog called Bootcamper Writing Drills.


This is the Bootcamper group that I have belonged to for 7 months now - a result of RWAustralia's inaugral Bootcamp in November last year. The group is still going strong and so we decided to create a blog. So pop in and say hi to the wonderful Bootcampers.

Yia!

RWA Roadshow success in Adelaide

Yep, it was a great day yesterday at the SA Writer's Centre. The Romance Writers of Australia's first Roadshow was a success in my most humble opinion and judging by the smiles, the enthusiasm and the laughter, I think everyone who attended thought so too.

Our wonderful speakers included RWA's president Anne Gracie, Marion Lennox, and local gal Trish Morey. Other local authors were Elizabeth Rolls, Claire Baxter, and Anne Oliver. Aren't we lucky to have such talented writers in our midsts!

The day was full of fantastic information, workshops, wonderful discussions about writing......and food....of course. And we were not exactly a quiet group at our dinner. I'm sure other patrons at the restaraunt wondered who the hell we were. LOL!

We Adelaide writers are indebted to Trish, who did a wonderful job of pulling it all together. And the SARA group (South Australian Romance Authors) felt honoured to have contributed some help for the day. So if you are in WA and have been wondering if you should attend - I recommend you do so.

Hip-Hip-Hooray: what a glorious day!!

Yia :)

On the Road...RWA Roadshow

This year, Romance Writers of Australia are heading on the road with two one day mini-conferences to Adelaide (May 17th) and Perth (May 24th). Yippee!! It's a great opportunity for writers who are not able to make the annual conference in August in the eastern states - this year it's in Melbourne (but rotates with Sydney and the Gold Coast).

Featuring in the Roadshow is Anne Gracie (historical romance author), Marion Lennox (Harlequin Romance writer) and Trish Morey (local talent writing Harlequin Presents). All are fantastic writers and and there will be more local authors, giveaways and prizes.....so it's looking to be a great day.

For details please check out the Romance Writers of Australia page. I've marked it in my diary :)

Yia!