Value Plus

If you’ve never been to an RWAustralia conference before then 2003 is your big opportunity. If you register by 31st May, you can enjoy the entire 2003 conference experience, including Saturday and Sunday sessions, the optional Friday workshop, the Harlequin Night of Stars Cocktail party AND the Saturday night Awards Dinner for just $350!

That’s made up of your basic Saturday and Sunday conference fee of $220 (which includes cocktail party entry - see below), the Awards Dinner of $50, and the Friday Workshop of $80.

To make it even easier, we’ll let you spread your credit card payments over three months.

Harlequin Night of Stars Cocktail Party

Friday evening, meet up with your writing buddies and make new friends while you meet the stars of our Australian category writing fraternity at the Harlequin Night of Stars Cocktail Party.

In a change from previous years, entry to the cocktail party is included in your low conference fee of $220, if you register by 31 May. Tickets for non-members will be available at $35 each.

This will be a night of sparkling talent and conversation, and in keeping with the theme, we’ll be asking everyone to wear something that glitters or shines. It should be one glam night!

Friday Workshop

For just $80 RWA members can spend Friday morning in the company of a triple Rita nominee and nine times RBOTY finalist, and author of more than fifty HM&B novels to date, Australia’s very own Marion Lennox.

Marion will spend the morning covering the trends in romance writing and how you can take advantage of the category market to find a readership for the writing you love.

The afternoon will be spent with Jane Porter, the first of the new wave of writers to sell to Presents, who wrote and was rejected on 10 novels before finally breaking through the seemingly impenetrable Presents barrier with The Italian Groom. Jane has gone on to sell at least 8 books since then and will present two workshops during her after-lunch session - “Love, Sex and the Alpha Male” and “Alpha Females”.

Visiting Editor Appointments

We are also very lucky this year to have secured a visit from Dianne Moggy, Editorial Director (Mira, RDI, Historicals, Harlequin/Sil Single Title) from Harlequin in Canada. Dianne will be speaking to us Saturday and Sunday about exactly what she is looking for and how both the category and single title lines work within Harlequin. 

And as an extra special bonus this year, Dianne is giving editor appointments to interested delegates. If you want the opportunity to pitch your book to a top editor, and maybe avoid that query letter stage, this is your big opportunity. Don’t miss this chance - slots are limited and you can only register your interest by getting your conference registration in early. Please note, this opportunity must be restricted to RWA members only.

Meet and Greets

On Saturday before lunch we’ll be running some “Meet and Greet” sessions. From the information you give us on your registration form as to your writing preferences and the markets you’re aiming for, we’ll do our best to match you up with other writers and authors so you can get together, talk about what you’re writing, and share editorial and publisher developments. You may even find that special critique partner you’ve been looking for!

Even More!

Other speakers for the weekend include Barbara Hannay, who will share her experiences with creating believable characters and balancing their sizzling attraction with sustainable conflict; Lynsey Stevens, who will speak on passion and heat; Romance Writers of NZ President, Barbara Clendon, who will challenge you with questions of exactly why you do write; and Dr Kashonia Carnegie, who is giving a creativity workshop. Dr Carnegie has some surprising and fun ideas about how to open the floodgates to creativity, so you won’t want to miss that.

In addition we’ll have representatives and editors of other publishing houses available for consultation and advice to writers.

Saturday AGM

On Saturday afternoon we’ll be holding the RWA AGM from 4:30pm, because we realize that Sunday afternoon can be difficult for our travelling members and we want to make it easy for as many as possible to attend. Please, RWA is YOUR organisation and we ask all of you who can make it to the conference to participate. We promise to make it as pain free as possible. And who knows? - it may even be fun!

Awards Dinner

Saturday night is the Awards Dinner which gives us the opportunity to thank our sponsors and honour those of our members who have been successful in both their careers and in our competitions throughout the year. The 2003 RBOTY Award will also be announced during the evening, which will feature a three course sit down meal for just $50 for members.

Sunday Tutorials

There will be two sessions of tutorials, each offering you a choice of 4 topics. The tutorials have been graded from beginner to published, and cover craft, publishing and writing life, all presented by some fabulous writing talent.  Click here for details of Sunday Tutorials.

Lonely Hearts Club

If this is your first conference, and it all sounds a bit overwhelming, never fear. We promise you a special welcome and some friendly support to make you feel at home. Just be sure to mark the “First Timer” box on your registration form and we’ll take care of the rest.

Early Bird Prizes

Register by 31 May and qualify for our discounted conference rates. In addition if you’re one of the first 50 registrations received, you’ll enter the draw for one free night’s accommodation at the Grand Mercure - a prize definitely worth winning! Further early bird prizes are expected - watch for developments in the conference area of website!

Accommodation at Grand Mercure Hotel

Bookings for the Grand Mercure Hotel should be made direct to the Hotel on the conference booking accommodation form to take advantage of the special conference rates negotiated. 

The rates are very attractive, especially as the rooms are very comfortable with ocean or hinterland views and can fit three people using a rollaway. Without breakfast this option works out at a shade over $50 per person per night. Full buffet breakfast is $16, or delegates can choose to stock up at the supermarket downstairs in the Oasis shopping centre and save their money for the Dymocks Book Stall, which will be running over the course of the weekend.

Any Questions?

There’ll be more information as conference time approaches, but if you do have any queries, please contact me at conference@romanceaustralia.com and I’ll be happy to respond.

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Trish Morey

Conference Co-ordinator