edition #6, march 2012 this issue: new beginningsromanceaustralia.com/pdf/rwa library news march...
TRANSCRIPT
Edition #6, March 2012
New Beginnings
Autumn kicks off with the promise of falling leaves
and new beginnings. In this newsletter, we will look at
how some of our romance authors began their
journey to publication through entering RWA writing
competitions and contests.
Although not a guaranteed route to publication, the RWA’s
Emerald Award provides an opportunity for unpublished
writers to fast-track their writing career. Well known
authors, Rachel Bailey and Paula Roe, began their
publication journey as finalists in the Emerald. Both now
have several books published as well as new releases out
this month. Debut novelist and finalist Helen Lacey’s first
book was released in January.
Happy reading!
If you would like to suggest an idea or write an article for
this newsletter, please email me:
Doreen Sullivan, RWA Library Liaison
This Issue: ♥ New Beginnings
♥ Romance Writing—Competitions & Awards
♥ Published Author @ your Library
♥ New Releases
♥ Discounted Membership
♥ Next Issue
Published Authors @ Your Library
Would you like to know if
there is an author local to you
who might be available for
your library events? They’re
often happy to speak at
libraries throughout the year.
Or perhaps you would like a
romance author to appear at a
library professional
development day or
conference?
You can contact our
published author liaison:
Page 2
Each month Romance Writers of Australia lists member’s new
releases in the RWA’s newsletter Hearts Talk. New releases and
bestseller lists can also be found in the RWA blog: http://
romanceaustralia.wordpress.com/
January 2012 Alison Roberts and Other The Night Before Christmas/The Valentine Wedding Dress - HMB Medical
Anne Gracie Bride By Mistake - Berkley Sensation
Barbara Hannay Runaway Bride – HMB Sweet Romance
Barbara Hannay/Melissa James/Nikki Logan Outback Baby/One Small Miracle/Their Newborn Gift – HMB Specials
Bronwyn Jameson and Others Back In Fortune ’S Bed/Taking Care Of Business/ Rock Me All Night/The Executive’s Valentine Seduction/Captivated By The Tycoon – HMB Special
Helen Lacey Made For Marriage - HMB Special Edition
Karlene Blackmore-Mowle Operation Summer Storm-Eternal Press
Lisa Heidke Stella Makes Good Arena - Allen & Unwin
Loretta Hill The Girl In Steel-Capped Boots - Random House
Australia
Mel Teshco Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ellora ’s Cave
Melanie Milburne and Other – Surgeon Prince, Ordinary Wife/The Future King ’S Pregnant Mistress – HMB Continuities
Michelle Douglas The Secretary ’S Secret – HMB Sweet Romance
Miranda Lee The Man Every Woman Wants – HMB Sexy
Natalie Anderson/Robyn Grady and Other – Bought: One Night, One Marriage/Always The Bridesmaid/Confessions Of A Millionaire ’S Mistress – HMB Specials
Nicola Marsh and Other Interview With The Daredevil/How To Win The Dating War – HMB Sexy Duo
Rhian Cahill Truth Or Dare: Party Games - Bk2 – Samhain
Publishing
Rose Dee Back To Resolution - Even Before Publishing
Shona Husk Brightwater Blood – Samhain Publishing
New Releases
Page 3
Sue Mackay/Liz Fielding – Surgeon In A Wedding Dress/The Cinderella Valentine – HMB Medical
Tina Duncan Playing His Dangerous Game – HMB Sexy
Trish Morey Virgin For The Taking/The Spaniard ’S Blackmailed Bride – HMB Bestseller Collection
Vonnie Hughes Lethal Refuge - The Wild Rose Press
Vonnie Hughes Coming Home – Robert Hale Ltd
Vonnie Hughes Mr. Monfort’s Marriage – Musa Publishing
February 2012
Anne Brear A Noble Place – Museit Up Publishing
Cassandra Dean Teach Me – Decadent Publishing
Imogene Nix Starline Secret – Cravings Publishing
Jennie Brumley The Viking’s Forbidden Pleasure – Ravenous
Romance
Jennifer Lynne Platinum Passion – Amazon
Kylie Griffin Vengeance Born – Berkley Sensation
Leah Martyn Daredevil And Dr Kate – HM&B Medical
Lucy Clark The Boss She Can’t Resist – HM&B Medical
Melissa James/Peggy Moreland The Tycoon Who Healed Her Heart/ The Sweetheart Tree – HM&B Sweet
Meredith Webber New Doc In Town/Orphan Under The Christmas Tree – HM&B Medical
Nicola Marsh Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire – HM&B Sweet
Nicole Hurley-Moore Capturing Bliss – Pink Petal Books
Sophia James High Seas To High Society/Masquerading Mistress –
HM&B Regency
Trish Morey/Tori Carrington Secrets Of Castillo Del Arco/In Too Deep – HM&B Sexy
Vonnie Hughes Mr Monfort’s Marriage – Aurora Regency
New Releases (cont’)
Page 4 New Releases (cont’)
March 2012
Amy Andrews/Susan Stephens Innocent ‘Til Proven Otherwise/ The Shameless Life Of Ruiz Acosta – HM&B Sexy Duo
Anne Brear To Take Her Pride – Knox Robinson Publishing
Annie Seaton Winter Of The Passion Flower – Lyrical Press
Bronwen Evans To Dare The Duke Of Dangerfield - Amazon
Carol Marinelli An Indecent Proposition – HM&B Sexy
Elizabeth Rolls A Compromised Lady/ Lord Braybrook’s Penniless Bride – Regency Marriages – HM&B Historical
Emma Darcy An Offer She Can’t Refuse – HM&B Sexy
Jennie Adams Invitation To The Prince’s Palace - HM&B Sweet
Joan Kilby Gentlemen Prefer Nerds - Carina Press
Kaz Delaney Dead Actually -Allen & Unwin
Lucy Clark Taming The Lone Doc’s Heart – HM&B Medical
Margareta Osborn Bella’s Run – Random House
Maggi Andersen Murder In Devon – Black Opal Books
Maggi Anderson The Reluctant Marquess – Knox Robinson Pulish-
ing
Nikki Logan Their Miracle Twins – HM&B Sweet
Paula Roe Bed Of Lies - HM&B Desire
Rachel Bailey What Happens In Charleston… – HM&B Desire
Sarah Mayberry/Kay Stockham All They Need/Christmas In Mon-tana – HM&B Blush
Suzanne Brandyn Forgotten Memories – Eternal Press
Yvonne Lindsay The Wayward Son - HM&B Desire
Page 5
Awards for Unpublished Romance Manuscripts Library collections staff may be familiar with the literary fiction writing competitions such as The
Australian/Vogel Literary Award for writers under 35 years which unlocked the publication door
for writers such as Tim Winton, Gillian Mears and Kate Grenville. The State Premier Awards for
unpublished manuscripts have provided many opportunities including Carrie Tiffany’s first novel
Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living based on her 2003 successful entry.
The romance writing community has its own acclaimed awards for unpublished writers.
The Emerald Award - Romance Writers of Australia
The Golden Heart® - Romance Writers of America
The Clenden Award - Romance Writers of New Zealand
The Emerald Award
The Emerald Award is designed to mirror the publisher submis-
sion process. Contestants are required to provide the initial 18
pages and a synopsis of their fully written manuscript. The first
round is judged by romance readers and if successful the entrant
then submits the full manuscript for the next round. The final
judges are often agents or editors for major romance publishing
houses. The Emerald is divided into two sections: one for cate-
gory romance, and one for single title romance.
Several well-known Australian and New Zealand authors have
launched careers after placing or winning these competitions.
Sometimes the path from a good result in the competition to a
debut novel is not immediate, but a first-time novelist can attract
significant attention. Kylie Short—now known as Kylie Grif-
fin—first won the Emma Darcy (now Emerald) Award in 2002,
came both second and third in the 2009 Emerald Award, and has
since published a number of novels in recent years.
The current batch of new releases for this year includes former
RWA Emerald winners and finalists, such as Rachel Bailey,
Helen Lacey, and Paula Roe. Helen Lacey won the Emerald
Award in 2009, and published her debut novel in January 2012.
Rachel Bailey (submitting as Rachel Robinson) won the award
in both 2006 and 2007. Paula Roe came second in 2006 with her
manuscript The Wife He Never Knew which became her first
published book re-titled as Forgotten Marriage.
Feature Article
Other now-published authors who won or placed in the Emerald
includes: Emmie Dark (2011), Leonie Knight (2008), M.J. Scott
(2007), Helene Young (2007), and Tracey O’Hara (2007).
Before 2006 the prize was known as the Emma Darcy Award.
For more information about contest winners, check out http://
www.romanceaustralia.com/halloffame.html.
The Golden Heart®
Romance Writers of America accepts 1,200 romance manu-
scripts from unpublished contestants over 10 categories each
year in its prestigious competition. The final round is judged by
acquiring editors from romance publishing houses.
In 2006 Christina Brooke (formerly writing as Christine Wells)
was the first Australian to win the Golden Heart®. Submitting
as Christine Diehm, she won with her historical novel manu-
script Scandal’s Daughter, published soon after.
The following year, 2007, Bronwyn Parry won the Golden
Heart® Best Romantic Suspense Award for her manuscript
‘Falling Into Darkness’, published later with the title As Dark-
ness Falls.
Kylie Griffin (also known as Kylie Short), winner and placeget-
ter in several Emerald competitions, won the 2010 Golden
Heart® Best Paranormal for ‘Bloodborn: Book One in the Light
Blade Series’.
More information about past winners of the Golden Heart® can
be found here: http://www.rwa.org/cs/contests_and_awards/
golden_heart_awards/past_winners
The Clendon Award
The Clendon Award, sponsored by Barbara and Peter Clendon
jointly with the Romance Writers of New Zealand, is a full man-
uscript competition for ‘unpublished, uncontracted and unac-
cepted’ RWNZ contestants. Like the Emerald Award, the judges
are romance readers though the finalists are sent to editors of
romance publishers and similar.
Page 6 Awards (cont’)
Page 7 Awards (cont’)
Their website encourages potential entrants to “check out how
many authors have sold their first book as a direct result or soon
after winning the Clendon: Sophia James, Frances Housden,
Helen Kirkman, Bronwyn Jameson, Melissa James, Yvonne
Lindsay, Karina Bliss, Abby Gaines – last year ’s winner Rebec-
ca Skrab”
More information about the award can be found here:
http://www.romancewriters.co.nz/clendon-2012.
Look out for our next issue…
In our next issue, we will return with a look at librarians as romance writers, and librarians and libraries that feature in romantic fiction, originally scheduled for this issue.
As always, if you have questions, ideas, or would like to submit an article, please drop me a line at
Until next time,
Doreen Sullivan & the RWA Newsletter for Libraries Team [email protected] http://www.romanceaustralia.com
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