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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

SERIES: The Paranormal DownUnder - Mel Teshco

In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. What better way to celebrate this than by finding a new-to-you author or revisiting a favorite one?

This series of blog posts, entitled The Paranormal DownUnder, aims to do just that!

Any of my regular readers know I'm passionate about introducing 'local' talent (aka authors from Australia & New Zealand). This time around I'm keen to feature those who write in this genre.

So, be prepared for a swag of authors & some blatant promotion of their books as they share their thoughts on the paranormal genre and why they find it so compelling.

Please welcome my next guest...Mel Teshco.

Mel Teshco grew up in Australia, where her seemingly gypsy dad and ever patient mother saw her living in many areas of the East Coast, along with her sister and two brothers.

Each new home stimulated an already over-active imagination, where she spent as much time dreaming about fantasy worlds as the real world - the fantasy sometimes being much better.

Now living on a small rural property with three horses and a handful or two of cats, she is happily married with three children of wide-spread ages and loves writing gritty, sizzling paranormals and the occasional contemporary with darker tones.

You can find her at her website. And at her blog.

What compels you to write in the paranormal/sci-fi genre?
I find the world building so liberating–no rules or restrictions—and the hero’s tend to be alpha, the heroine’s strong, often kick-ass. Plus there are SO many variables to writing your own rules and your own world, which I’ve found especially true in my alien sci-fi series (especially on the alien’s planet.)

These genres are also what I’m drawn to read, so it’d be silly not to write what I love to read.

Is there something you'd like to write but have yet to attempt?
I really want to write a YA story. I’m hoping that will be next year’s ambition =)

Who are auto-buys for you in this genre? What makes their books so appealing to you?
I haven’t read near enough authors – so many are on my ‘to be read’ list, but I’m a bit of a fan of JR Ward, Kelley Armstrong, Kresley Cole and our own Keri Arthur. And then we've got our home grown talent, like my CP's Tracey O'Hara and Kylie Scott - and we can't go past Kylie Griffin either =)

Some of Mel's books:









Saturday, August 25, 2012

SERIES: The Paranormal DownUnder - Tracey O'Hara

In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. What better way to celebrate this than by finding a new-to-you author or revisiting a favorite one?

This series of blog posts, entitled The Paranormal DownUnder, aims to do just that!

Any of my regular readers know I'm passionate about introducing 'local' talent (aka authors from Australia & New Zealand). This time around I'm keen to feature those who write in this genre.

So, be prepared for a swag of authors & some blatant promotion of their books as they share their thoughts on the paranormal genre and why they find it so compelling.

Please welcome my next guest...Tracey O'Hara. 

Tracey's Bio: I was born in Australia - Launceston, Tasmania (Australia) to be precise, but actually grew up in North and Far North Queensland. My family is very supportive of my writing. They encourage me to keep writing and pursuing my dream.

I discovered a passion for writing in March 2004. It started after doing some research into my family history. A story came into my head, screaming to get out, about an Irish girl who works for an English captain as a governess/nanny for his children while their mother is very ill. Set in Australia in the early 1820s.

But as I started to plot the story, another one emerged, which was much stronger. It involved the sister of the girl in the first story, who gets raped on the voyage out to Australia and falls pregnant. I wrote 120k in about 4 months – the story flowed out like molasses on a hot day.

This was before I learnt anything about writing, and I followed every bad writing practice known, making every writing mistake. But everyone loved the story – even if it was badly written. So I figured that I am more a story teller than a writer – so now I must learn to write. Now I am writing Dark stories, Dark Urban Fantasy to be precise. 

What compels you to write in the paranormal genre?
I love the richness of world building that writing paranormal allows me.  I can put so much more into my stories.

My books have mystery, thriller, romance, contemporary fantasy and a little horror. It is so call to fit all that into a story. I can write dark, which I love. I can also write sexy.

My first book NIGHT'S COLD KISS was nominated for best Horror in the Aurealis Awards and the RWA Romantic Book of the Year (Romantic Elements category), that was the coolest thing ever. My second book made the long list of the Sister's in Crime Davitt Award which was also amazing. 

Is there something you'd like to write but have yet to attempt?
Science Fiction. I love it. I watch it and I read some of it. But I have yet to write it. Sometimes I just don't think I am smart enough to write sci-fi but I will give it a go someday. 

Who are auto-buys for you in this genre? What makes their books so appealing to you?
At the moment I am reading outside my own genre. Or should I say listening. I have discovered audiobooks and adore them. But I guess if I had to say it would have to be Keri Arthur because my mum is a huge fan and Keri tells a darn good story.

I would have said J.R.Ward but have found the last couple of books hard to get through. And of course there is the ever lovely Nalini Singh. Also there is a new writer on the scene - you may know her - Kylie Griffin. I haven't read her yet but her stories are really taking off.

Tracey's latest release from Harper Voyager:


SIN'S DARK CARESS
(released August 1st, 2012) 

An ancient darkness has risen from the ashes . . . and terror has been loosed upon an unsuspecting world.
 
Forensic witch Bianca Sin has never seen anything like it: homeless teenage girls torn to pieces by dark magic in the cold shadows of the city. More terrifying still is the symbol written in blood on an alley wall—the unmistakable seal of the Dark Brethren.
 
Teaming up with NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus and an elite task force headed by the shapeshifter Oberon DuPrie, Bianca knows her worst fears have finally come to pass. A new war of annihilation is looming that will plunge the worlds of vampire, shapeshifter, and human into chaos—and two adversarial tribes locked in uneasy truce will need to take up arms together to save the children. Trust will be essential for Sin and McManus, as the hunt forces them to confront their deepest terrors.
 
For the ultimate evil is no longer approaching. 
 
It's here. 
 
You can find out more about Tracey on her website!


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

CONFERENCE TIME: Memorable Moments with...Anita Joy

Conference season has started! Woohoo! No more counting down the days until I meet up with friends I usually only see once a year.

So much gets packed into 3-4 days and everyone's experiences are different. We go away with a variety of highlights or "a-ha" moments.

I thought I'd poll some of my RWAustralia & RW New Zealand friends and ask them to recall their most memorable moments of the conferences they've been to.

I hope you've been enjoying the snippets I've been featuring. For any first timers out there, don't be nervous or afraid of going to conference. More often than not you're going to find yourself welcomed VERY warmly and will probably go away with a host of friends whom you can't wait to meet next year at conference.

Enjoy!

Anita's Memories: Confession: conference itself is one big, happy memory.

In fact, my first conference 3 years ago was so wonderful that I was determined to never miss one. So far so good (I’ll be at Gold Coast this year, and already saving for Perth next year).

Stand out memories from the three conferences I’ve attended include:
    •    Catching up with my cyber-friends in person
    •    Fan-girl moment with Barb Hannay
    •    Moments of inspiration (and growing determination) every awards presentations
    •    Surviving my first pitch...

Okay, so my list could go on and Kylie’s asked for my favourite. After thinking long and hard I’ve decided my favourite memory is going to my first cocktail party. Specifically Brisbane, 2009. This was also my first conference, and usually if you put me in a big crowd you’ll find me hiding in the corner. Ask me to dress up and you’ll be lucky to get me into the room. Make it a room full of people I don’t know and you’ve lost me.

But in 2009 not only was I there, in the room, in costume, but I was actually talking to people. Strangers. And having a ball. That night was a blast.

I was really anxious getting into costume, but then riding down in the lift realised RWA members really get into the spirit of dressing up. I wasn’t alone (although there was a fair sprinkling of people not dressed up), and the costumes are a fabulous ice-breaker. ‘Love your costume’ is a line guaranteed to start a conversation (much like ‘what do you write’ during the conference days).

In fact, that night I met some people for the first time who are still good friends today. Not in a million years did I expect that to happen. That night also made me realise how friendly RWAers are. Saturday and Sunday conference was no longer so daunting, and because of that I rode a high the whole weekend.

If you are coming to your first RWA conference this year and are feeling a little intimidated about the cocktail party, don’t be. Dress up (hide behind the costume if you have to). You’ll have a ball.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

SERIES: The Paranormal DownUnder - Emily Gee

In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. What better way to celebrate this than by finding a new-to-you author or revisiting a favorite one?

This series of blog posts, entitled The Paranormal DownUnder, aims to do just that!

Any of my regular readers know I'm passionate about introducing 'local' talent (aka authors from Australia & New Zealand). This time around I'm keen to feature those who write in this genre.

So, be prepared for a swag of authors & some blatant promotion of their books as they share their thoughts on the paranormal genre and why they find it so compelling.

Please welcome my next guest...Emily Gee.

Emily grew up in a house full of words and books: her mother worked as a librarian and a proof-reader, and her father was a writer.
 
She had no intention of becoming a writer. Ever. But since getting a science degree, she's spent several years travelling and working overseas, and one day was sitting on a bus in Syria, with the desert stretching in all directions, and she thought, What if...and since then has written manuscript after manuscript.

Emily's been a rehabilitation instructor, a library assistant, a postie, a waitress on the Isle of Skye, and even (briefly) a field assistant in Antarctica. She love to travel and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe, and journeyed overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Most recently she's lived in Marlborough, New Zealand and works in the wine industry.
 
You can visit her website to find out more about her and her alter-ego, Emily May, who writes historical regency romance.

What compels you to write in the fantasy and regency romance genres?
I've loved fantasy novels since being introduced to them as a child (my father wrote children's fantasy novels and read them to us chapter by chapter as they came from his pen) and I've adored regencies since the very first Georgette Heyer I read as a teen. I guess you could say that I write the genres I enjoy reading.

Is there something you'd like to write but have yet to attempt?
Funny you should ask that, Kylie. I've been wanting to write a regency with magic in it for some time now (what sub-genre is that ... regency paranormal?) and I'm making a stab at it this year. So far, it's loads of fun!

Who are auto-buys for you? What makes their books so appealing to you?
Lois McMaster Bujold, because she builds such great worlds and writes so well. I'm a huge fan of her Vorkosigan novels, which are intelligent, complex, and funny.

Diana Wynne Jones, for her imagination and use of language. I love, love, love her Chrestomanci novels for children/young adults. Alas, she died last year, so there'll be no new ones.

My third auto-buy is Jennifer Crusie, because she's so funny and smart and uses English so well. I love the way her mind works!

THE SENTINEL MAGE

Her magic may be the only thing that can save a prince-and the Seven Kingdoms. 
 
In a distant corner of the Seven Kingdoms, an ancient curse festers and grows, consuming everything in its path. Only one man can break it: Harkeld of Osgaard, a prince with mage's blood in his veins. But Prince Harkeld has a bounty on his head-and assassins at his heels.
 
Innis is a gifted shapeshifter. Now she must do the forbidden: become a man. She must stand at Prince Harkeld's side as his armsman, protecting and deceiving him.
 
But the deserts of Masse are more dangerous than the assassins hunting the prince. The curse has woken deadly creatures, and the magic Prince Harkeld loathes may be the only thing standing between him and death.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Conference Time!!! Yee-haa!!!

Tomorrow I jet off to the Gold Coast, Queensland for the Romance Writers of Australia conference and then cross the ditch to the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference.


Over 400 romance writers talking about anything and everything, books galore, books signings, workshops, more talking, rubbing elbows with industry professionals, more books, awards dinners, more talking, cocktail parties, raffles, more books...can't wait!

When I get back I should have a camera full of jpegs to share. :-)


If you're going to either conference, then I hope to see you there!

CONFERENCE TIME: Memorable Moments with...Tamara Gill

With the conference season just around the corner, I begin counting down the days until I meet up with friends I usually only see once a year.

So much gets packed into 3-4 days and everyone's experiences are different. We go away with a variety of highlights or "a-ha" moments.

I thought I'd poll some of my RWAustralia & RW New Zealand friends and ask them to recall their most memorable moments of the conferences they've been to.

Over the coming weeks I'll be featuring these as snippets and as you'll read, you'll see just how special coming to conference can be. For any first timers out there, don't be nervous or afraid of going to conference. More often than not you're going to find yourself welcomed VERY warmly and will probably go away with a host of friends whom you can't wait to meet next year at conference.

Enjoy!

Tamara's Memories: My first romance writer’s conference was the Sydney 2010 Sun Surf and Sizzle held at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee Beach.

I had a fantastic time and enjoyed every second of my time at the conference. I stepped out of my comfort zone for the Friday night Cocktail party and dressed up as a flapper and met so many fantastic people I only knew online. Like many conference attendees you seem to be looking at everyone’s chest reading their name tags. LOL. Trust me I wasn’t looking for anything else. ;p

The seminars were great and I loved the historical panel, could have listened to those authors all day.

Anna Campbell & Tamara Gill
And I lucked out with the awards dinner as I sat next to Annie West, Anna Campbell, Christina Brooke, Heather Boyd, Cheryl Leigh, and Sarah Mayberry. How’s that for cool. And for a country girl from SA I was in awe the whole meal.

I even manage to snaffle a picture with Anna Campbell. Word of warning to Anna, I intend on getting another piccy this year.

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone at the Gold Coast Conference.

I. CAN’T. WAIT!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

SERIES: The Paranormal DownUnder - Christina Ashcroft

In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. What better way to celebrate this than by finding a new-to-you author or revisiting a favorite one?

This series of blog posts, entitled The Paranormal DownUnder, aims to do just that!

Any of my regular readers know I'm passionate about introducing 'local' talent (aka authors from Australia & New Zealand). This time around I'm keen to feature those who write in this genre.

So, be prepared for a swag of authors & some blatant promotion of their books as they share their thoughts on the paranormal genre and why they find it so compelling.

Please welcome my next guest...Christina Ashcroft. 

Christina Ashcroft is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in Western Australia with her high school sweetheart, their three children, an eccentric Maltese-cross and three regal cats. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write, and always managed to include an element of fantasy or the paranormal in her English essay homework. Luckily her English teachers didn’t mind, despite the fact these stories generally finished with the hero, heroine (or both) coming to a sticky end. Thankfully by the time she hit fourteen she discovered romance novels and the wonder of a Happily Ever After. She now writes about hot archangels and the women who capture their hearts for Penguin/Berkley Heat and her books always have a happily-ever-after.

Christina is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the Dark Side Down Under group blog and the Historical Hearts blog. She is a contest judge for RWAm, RWAus and RWNZ. She was a member of the inaugural Professional Development for Authors team and has been part of the editorial team for the Romance Writers of Australia’s monthly newsletter, Hearts Talk.

What compels you to write in the paranormal genre?
I've always written stories that had a touch of the paranormal. Even when I was at school there was always an element of the strange in my English homework. Not that I ever thought it was strange, because in my mind it's all perfectly normal!!

It makes much more sense to me that there are otherworldly creatures among us, as well as among the stars, than the idea we're totally alone in the universe. Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! And so writing about gods and goddesses, angels, demons and vampires feels very logical and sane to me :-)

Is there something you'd like to write but have yet to attempt?
Not that I can think of off the top of my head. I've written about all the fantastical beings that fascinate me, even if all those books haven't been published yet. I do have a couple of time travel romances I'd love to sell one day.

Who are auto-buys for you in this genre? What makes their books so appealing to you?
So many books and so little time! I don't even know where to start. I'm so behind in my reading, my tbr piles (both physical and digital) threaten to tumble at any second.

One series I've been looking forward to reading for ages is Joss Ware's The Envy Chronicles. I hope to emerge from my cave for long enough to devour the whole series in one go!

Archangel of Mercy (December 2012) ~ writing as Christina Ashcroft


Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation - and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn... 
When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together.
After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal.
As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them. 

Writing as Christina Phillips 

Forbidden (out now)
Between a warrior and a princess comes an erotic passion as all-consuming as the hatred between their warring worlds...

Captive (out now)
Trained in sensuality, a Druid priestess finds herself falling for the wrong man - the warrior who's taken her prisoner... 

Book 3 (release date tba)
A Druid priestess is captured and enslaved to a Roman tribune who must decide whether his loyalty lies with his heritage or the woman he suspects may be Rome's deadliest enemy. 

Highland Warrior Series (tba)
An exciting new series with sexy Highland Warriors and Pictish Princesses.

Touch of the Demon (novella - out now)
A bad ass dark angel hero. A reluctant assassin heroine. When their destinies collide raw lust escalates into a firestorm of sizzling passion.
Amazon   Nook

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

CONFERENCE TIME: Memorable Moments with...Jenn McLeod

With the conference season just around the corner, I begin counting down the days until I meet up with friends I usually only see once a year.

So much gets packed into 3-4 days and everyone's experiences are different. We go away with a variety of highlights or "a-ha" moments.

I thought I'd poll some of my RWAustralia & RWNew Zealand friends and ask them to recall their most memorable moments of the conferences they've been to.

Over the coming weeks I'll be featuring these as snippets and as you'll read, you'll see just how special coming to conference can be. For any first timers out there, don't be nervous or afraid of going to conference. More often than not you're going to find yourself welcomed VERY warmly and will probably go away with a host of friends whom you can't wait to meet next year at conference.

Enjoy!

Jenn's Memories: I, unlike a good heroine, have been a round a bit! (I mean online, of course.) Having been involved with the Claytons Conference previously, 2011 was my first ever RWA face-to-face conference and here are a few things I learned.
  1. Not all writers are introverts – just give them a feather boa, some pyjamas, a steamy topic and a microphone!
  2. A hug is the new handshake: hello, goodbye, congratulations, nice to meet you, OMG is that you! Yes, it was hugs, hugs and more hugs.
  3. Everybody really is as friendly, warm and generous as I was told they’d be.
  4. Making a list of people you want to meet is good advice. I had 36 ‘must meets’ on my list and I met them all – almost - plus many, many more. A list gives you a reason to wander the floor and stare at people’s navels (ahhh, name tags!)
  5. If someone enters an elevator but your name tag is un-readable, they may grab it, squeal your name, then hurl themselves at you and hug hello (Hello Helene — my very first conference hello hug!!! LOL)
  6. It helps to have been around a bit (in a good way!). So I can’t stress enough how effective volunteering can be. Now is the time to get involved in this great organisation. Members can email volunteers@romanceaustralia.com. You don’t have to volunteer for anything in particular, just put up your hand. Other ways to get your name out there is to post on RWA loops, comment on blogs, join the forum or win a contest (or two, or three).
So time to set yourself a goal and start saving your pennies if you want to get to the 2012 RWA Conference on the Gold Coast.

Oh, that reminds me.

What I learned #7 is – this conference thing is addictive.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

SERIES: The Paranormal DownUnder - Maree Anderson

In Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. What better way to celebrate this than by finding a new-to-you author or revisiting a favorite one?

This series of blog posts, entitled The Paranormal DownUnder, aims to do just that!

Any of my regular readers know I'm passionate about introducing 'local' talent (aka authors from Australia & New Zealand). This time around I'm keen to feature those who write in this genre.

So, be prepared for a swag of authors & some blatant promotion of their books as they share their thoughts on the paranormal genre and why they find it so compelling.

Please welcome this week's guest...

Maree Anderson is an award-winning author who writes paranormal romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult books. She's a Kiwi, a New Zealander, and she's addicted to chocolate -- the darker the better. Not to mention coffee, and the occasional glass of excellent NZ wine. She's not quite so addicted to her local gym -- she'd much rather do an hour's karate class and go Ceroc dancing than pound the treadmill.

She shares her home with a neurotic cat who likes to bring in the neighbour's dog's bones, and a depressed goldfish who likes to scare her by lying at the bottom of the fish-tank and playing dead.

To date Maree has published three novellas, six novels, and one young adult novel. She's currently working on the sequel to her multi-award-winning YA featuring a teenage cyborg heroine, Freaks of Greenfield High.

For reviews and excerpts of Maree's books, please visit the BOOKS page of
her website.

What compels you to write in the paranormal genre?
My imagination and thought processes are naturally skewed toward paranormal/fantasy. I've tried re-ee-ally hard to write a "straight" story but somehow it never turns out the way I intended.

My attempt at a Regency romance, for example, turned into an alternate-world historical fantasy (with a virgin hero raised in a fanatically religious world where chastity is prized, who woke up one morning to find himself exuding pheromones that made him irresistible to women).

And my contemporary category story about a lawyer and a secretary, turned into a story about an architect and an interior designer who was unaware she was a part-time cat shifter. Go figure. So I guess for me, the lure of the impossible is too great and it's easier to embrace my warped, twisty-turny imagination and just run with it.

Is there something you'd like to write but have yet to attempt?
Ummm.... the aforementioned straight contemporary story with no paranormal or fantasy aspect whatsoever? Seriously, one day I would like to write a really gritty urban fantasy series a la Lilith Saintcrow, Devon Monk, or Karen Marie Moning.

Who are auto-buys for you in this genre? What makes their books so appealing to you?
Nalini Singh, Lilith Saintcrow, Rachel Caine, Sarah Rees Brennan, Holly Black, Ilona Andrews.... the list goes on and on and on!

I think for me the main appeal is the skill with which my favourite authors maintain an ongoing series so it's always fresh and exciting, even if the "world" and the characters are already established. With Nalini's Psy-Changeling books, for example, I love the way my favourite characters from previous books are interwoven into subsequent books in the series so I can catch up with how they're doing, and that there's an ongoing thread throughout the books hinging around the identity of the Ghost.

Lilith Saintcrow's Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet series focussed one heroine throughout the entire series, which meant I could follow the heroine's growth, the way she changed, her relationships with the other characters, over the course of 5 or 6 books before the series ended.

Bottom line? I love reading series! Each time a new book in a series I'm collecting comes out, I will invariably hold off reading the latest book, and re-read the entire series before indulging in my latest purchase. Bliss!

Some of Maree's books:





  
For more information about Maree & her other books, go to her website

Thursday, August 2, 2012

REVIEW of ALLIANCE FORGED

Errant Dream Reviews had this to say about ALLIANCE FORGED!
I love Varian and Kymora as characters...Varian has a darkness to him without falling into the romance “haunted/angry man” stereotypes, and Kymora has a lovely sweetness to her without falling into the spunky or naive stereotypes. Their personalities—and the ways in which they interact—are original and lovely.
Thank you, Heather!

You can read the full review here.

GUEST BLOGGING at the Down Under Divas


I've taken a quick side detour to the Down Under Divas before heading off to the Gold Coast for conference!

I'm over there chatting about some of the volunteer organisations I'm a part of.