A: THE MOST PERFECT CLOTH: DRESS FABRICS FOR GEORGIAN & REGENCY CHARACTERS
Bronwyn Parry
For: All writers
On the eve of the Industrial Revolution and colonial expansion, wools, linens, and cottons had their place with silks as highly desirable fabrics, many of them still made entirely by hand, and finer than the fabrics we know today. We’ll discuss some of the lesser-known fabrics – including dress fabrics, linen, bedhangings and other everyday and decorative textiles. Bronwyn will bring a few small samples, and photographs. We’ll also discuss women’s roles in the production of textiles, including a demonstration of spindle-spinning.
Bronwyn Parry writes gritty romantic suspense inspired by the dramatic landscapes and resilient people of rural and outback Australia. Bronwyn grew up surrounded by books, with a fascination for places, people and their stories, and she’s now an occasional academic, passionate about the richness, diversity, and value of popular fiction. Despite writing about murder and crime and putting her characters through daunting experiences, she lives peacefully on 100 acres of beautiful bushland with her husband and two energetic border collies and loves to travel in Australia’s wild places.
For Bronwyn's Conference Spotlight on the blog, follow this link (10th March).
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B: THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF ROMANTIC ATTRACTION
Dr John Barletta
For: All writers
Examine romantic relationships from an attachment perspective. Provides you with psychological information about how and why people connect romantically. Discusses the relative contributions of nature and familyof-origin to the development of attachment. Gender differences in attraction and temperament will be explored in ways that facilitate character development for writers. The challenges in romantic attraction is addressed with potential remedies. Engaging, interactive, down-to-earth, enjoyable, and applied.
Dr John Barletta is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Brisbane. For nearly 30 years he has enjoyed helping individuals, couples, families, practitioners and organisations deal with a range of motivational, emotional, relational and professional issues. John, a graduate of Queensland University of Technology (DipT, GradDipCouns), Australian Catholic University (BEd), University of Queensland (MEdSt) and Ohio University (PhD), is responsible for over 200 contributions to publications and conferences. He held a senior academic position for many years, and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the College of Clinical Psychologists.
For Dr John's Conference Spotlight on the blog, please follow the link (26th March).
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C: THE PANTSER'S PLOTTING KIT
Louise Cusack
For: Intermediate and Advanced writers
Participants should bring a short (max 2 page) outline of their novel, with brief summaries of each scene if it’s written, and ideas for scenes if it’s not. Louise will lead them through identifying main characters and their goal, motivation, conflict (internal and external), then ensuring those goals oppose before moving on to look at a template of generalised plot structure and how their story fits into it.
Louise Cusack is an International award winning fantasy author whose best-selling Shadow through Time trilogy was selected by the Doubleday book club as their ‘Editors Choice’. This series is now available as eBooks, published by Pan Macmillan’s digital imprint Momentum Books.
In 2006 Louise presented the Queensland government’s Queensland Writing Showcase in New York, and in 2009 she was invited to attended the prestigious Crossover multi-media think tank sponsored by the South Australian Film Commission.
Louise also runs her own business Writers: Working with Louise Cusack and has completed over 150 manuscript assessments and tutored more than 80 writing workshops.
For Louise's Conference Spotlight, please follow the link (9th April).
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D: PANEL: FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: THE JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION
Kylie Griffin with Rachel Bailey, Anna Campbell, Paula Roe,
Denise Rossetti
For: Beginners to Intermediate
A panel of multi-published authors in a range of genres guide you along the frequently confusing journey to publication. Participants will receive a package of resource notes, understand the range of RWA services/resources available, comprehend the difference between category & single title, discuss issues involving target markets, contests, query letters & submissions, the publishing process, finding an agent, contracts, pitching and be able to plan & research information about agents & editors.
After selling to Harlequin Desire in 2008, Rachel Bailey's first three books were released in 2010 (all three became USA Today bestsellers), and her seventh book will be released soon after the conference.
In a previous life she was a social worker, working mainly in youth work and hospital social work. She lives on the Sunshine Coast with four dogs and her hero, and is always trying to scam more time to sit on the verandah and read. Visit her at www.rachelbailey.com
Anna Campbell has written six multi award-winning historical romances for Avon HarperCollins and her work is published in eleven languages. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set romances including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (twice), the Heart of Excellence, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association's favorite historical romance (three times). Her books have twice been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award and twice for Australia's Romantic Book of the Year. Visit her at www.annacampbell.info
Kylie Griffin's addiction to all things paranormal started at an early age when she imagined the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship or castle tower used to defend the world from hordes of invading enemies. Writing stories seemed like a natural extension.
She’s a primary teacher who volunteers as a fire fighter, ambulance officer and member of the NSW SES.
An addicted contest diva & winner of an RWA 2010 Golden Heart, Kylie’s debut novel, Vengeance Born released in Feb.2012. Her latest book in the Light Blade series, Alliance Forged, will come out in July. Visit her at www.kyliegriffin.com
Paula Roe is a bestselling, multi-published author with over a quarter of a million books sold world-wide. Her articles have appeared in writing journals, blogs and hard copy and she is a frequent speaker at conferences and local writing groups.
Before publication, Paula's writing won and placed in various contests, including Wisconsin Romance Writers Fabulous Five Silver Quill, Magnolia State Dixie First Chapter, Romance Writers of Australia's Emerald Award and the Valerie Parv Award. When she's not writing, she's designing websites, conducting workshops and tutorials, cooking or building Lego. Visit her at www.paularoe.com
When Denise Rossetti was very small, she had an aunt who would tell her the most wonderful fairy tales - all original. Denise grew up, as little girls do, but the magic of story still dazzles and enthralls her. On the good days, she likes to think of herself as Scheherazade's sister. On the bad days - not so much.
A two-time winner of Romance Writers of America Passionate Plume Award, Denise’s work has been described as "darkly intense, warmly romantic, and blazingly erotic". She is published with Berkley Ace, Berkley Sensation, Ellora’s Cave and Avon Red. Visit her at www.deniserossetti.com
For the Conference Spotlight on the blog, please follow the link (12th March).
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