Yes indeed, I've been home since late Wednesday night. Always glad to be home, but I had a fabulous and really busy time in Sydney. I still haven't sorted my photos or looked over my notes, but I have been busy catching up on things that have piled up here, as well as working on my submissions - I pitched to an editor and an agent at the conference, in which I received partial requests from both. So fingers crossed for those.
It was absolutely wonderful catching up with my writing buddies, meeting online writing buddies, and just having a jolly good time being around fellow writers. The vibe at the conference was fantastic and I enjoyed all the workshops I attended and hearing our guest speakers. If you write romance, this truly is a wonderful weekend for the writer's soul.
One of the few photos I took with my iPhone - Coogee Beach
As you read this, I'm making my way to Sydney for the Romance Writers of Australia conference. It's finally here!!! I have been looking forward to this for months.
Here's I'm My Way by the Proclaimers (used on Shrek soundtrack)
Thursday - I look forward to catching up with online buddies on the RWAus eloop.
Friday - A day long workshop by Debra Dixon on Goals, Motivation and Conflict. Really looking forward to this in-depth look.
- The AARA book signing event
- The cocktail party - let me give you a clue to what I'm going as....
Saturday - Will be a whole day at the conference with great speakers and workshops, including Tracey and Vanessa's Book Trailers and other author promotions, which I will be moderating.
- I will be pitching
- The Awards Dinner
Sunday - more workshops, including Fight Scenes.
Monday - on the way to BootiCon!!!!
Wednesday - on the way back home.
Phew that sounds like an exhausting week but my crystal ball tells me it's going to be fun, oh fun!
I don't know if I'll get to blog during that week but I will have a couple of blog posts scheduled for my time away :)
In just over 2 weeks, I will be flying out to Sydney for the Romance Writers of Australia's conference: Sun, Surf and Sizzle!!!! Yeeha....
I am really looking forward to sharing an apartment with my Bootcamp buddies, catching up with everyone I know, making new friends, learning, pitching, convening (I'll be the conveyer to a workshop by Tracey O'Hara and Vanessa Barneveld called Book Trailers and other author promotions - how cool is that?!!!), going to the cocktail party, the awards dinner, the Silver charity lunch, the AGM, the Paranormal breakfast, e-list dinner, attending workshops.....and more.....
After the conference, I head to BootiCon - writing retreat with my Bootcampers. Woohoo!!
So I'm going to be gone for 8 days.
The past week has been a flurry of errands. Goodness, just when you think you have them under control, more pop out from under a rock!!!
I'm going to be blogging over at the Romance Writers of Australia's blog on Monday 26th July on the topic of Graphic Novels. Please come along and have a look.
And of course I am counting down until I get to see the next installment of the Harry Potter films. Part one coming out in November this year, and part two next year in July.
Well it's official, I'm going to the Sun, Surf and Sizzle Conference - the Romance Writers of Australia conference - in August. Woohoo!!
I can't tell you how excited I am about this!! And lucky as well. A combination of sharing accommodation at Club Booty (- as in Bootcampers people!) and assistance from RWAus has made this possible. So thank you!
The greatest thing about the conference is meeting with like-minded people and talking shop - as much as non-writing people try and understand, they don't get 'it'. Maybe if I say to those folks that it's like talking about your favourite subject in the world - be it cars, music, shoes even - writing is that and more. Because there is so much emotion involved in it.
So there is going to be three days of shop talk. There is a lot on offer for me as a fantasy writer who has romantic elements in their work. And it is there I'll collect my copies of Little Gems with my winning entry as the cover. Talk about being over the moon.
Another conference that I'm hoping against hope that I will be able to go to is WorldCon being held in Australia this year, hence the title of it is AussieCon 4. It is THE conference for science fiction and fantasy in the world. I'm waiting on funding on that - fingers crossed.
I learned last year via attending Hot August Nights and conducting Eleni-fest, how important conferences and relationships forged there are to writers. It can be a lonely road, and while the internet has helped lessen that loneliness, there's nothing like a face-to-face conference. It definitely gave me a boost last year. And as I struggle along the road to publication, these conferences definitely help me grow as a writer. As Socrates said, we are always students. I like that.
And today here in Australia and New Zealand (it is the 25th here in SA), it's Anzac Day. Please spare a moment to think of those who gave their lives fighting for this country. Lest We Forget!
