Just days to go to conference. The Romance Writers of Australia have a major get together every year to talk all things romance and publishing. Writers connect with each other and the movers and shakers in our industry, and attend workshops to hone our craft and professional skills. (For why I’m particularly excited to be going this year, please read my first post below about being a Valerie Parv Award finalist.)
The writing life can be a bit solitary so getting together with other writers and industry folk including publishers is always encouraging and inspiring and usually fun. Particularly if you write romance. It’s mostly written by women and as a collective, romance authors represent the same diversity you’d find in your everyday life. But they are linked by a love of the genre and it’s power to entertain and uplift.
This year I’ll be doing a heap of workshops and networking and volunteering. The event is organised by romance author volunteers and a crack team from the host city. This year it’s Sydney’s turn. It will be something special. I’ll post on social media. And attend the social functions. And leave exhausted and inspired with a swag of new books to read. Cannot wait!
I love meeting authors of books I’ve loved. Last year at the conference in Brisbane I met Clare Connelly, international best-selling author of more than 50 self-published romance novels and a Harlequin author, a delightful and super-talented Aussie gal. Check out her website and be awed and thrilled. Who knows who I’ll meet this year? Really hoping to meet Jane Porter, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and publisher of Tule Publishing where many of my favourite books and authors can be found.
Do you like meeting your favourite authors?