"FROM HERE TO ETERNITY"
CONFERENCE BONUS SESSIONS

NB: these sessions are a free bonus with your conference (Sat/Sun) registration, BUT you need to book your place in these sessions when registering.

Due to high demand, extra "Now We're Talking" sessions have been added. If you booked prior to April 13 and would like to switch your preference to B9 or B10, email Bronwyn Jameson conference@romanceaustralia.com

Thursday, 5.30-6.30pm

NB: TAKING THE TERROR OUT OF PITCHING has sold out. A second pitching workshop, PANIC-FREE PITCHING, has been added in the same timeslot. Places are limited and it is selling quickly.

SESSION FULL - Panic-Free Pitching, Anna Sugden
SUITABLE FOR: all writers pitching at this conference and those who want the skills and confidence to pitch next time
Anna Sugden, a two-time Golden Heart finalist and veteran of numerous pitches, presents a hands-on guide to preparing for that all-important editor/agent pitch. By the end of this interactive workshop you will have practical hints and tips, an invaluable list of dos and don'ts and all the necessary tools to make the most of your appointment.

Anna Sugden is a two-time Golden Heart finalist who has won numerous awards for her writing. She is a founder member of the Romance Bandits and a regular contributor to The Healthy Writer blog. Her background includes thirteen years in business, working in marketing for a major blue-chip multinational, and six years as a teacher. Anna presented this workshop at the New Jersey Romance Writers Conference where it resulted in many successful first pitches.

SESSION FULL - TAKING THE TERROR OUT OF PITCHING, Jaye Ford and Christine Stinson
SUITABLE FOR: all writers pitching at this conference and those who were too terrified to book a pitch
Two newly published authors with ten years of face-to-face pitching experience between them Present a practical workshop for those who have never pitched, those in need of a refresher course, and those who’d rather have root canal therapy than pitch their novel. Covers timing, personal presentation, what to include (and what to leave out,) and managing performance nerves. Participants will consider their own work in each section of the workshop and finish with one-on-one
rehearsals.

A language teacher, Christine Stinson joined RWA in 1992, after having several short stories published in magazines. She joined the Turramurra critique group and began what felt like an endless round of submitting partials and receiving rejection letters. In 2009 she submitted her first single title novel to Pan Macmillan. This time, success! Getting even with Fran, a humorous story about the power of friendship, was released in April, 2010, and re-released in paperback in February, 2011. Christine now writes full time. Her second novel, It takes a Village, will be out in May, 2011.

 

Jaye Ford is a former news and sport journalist who in 1988 became Australia’s first female presenter of a live national television sports show. After leaving the media, she ran her own public relations consultancy before deciding to chase her lifelong dream to become an author. It took ten years to realize the dream. In 2010, she won a two-book contract with Random House Australia. Beyond Fear, released in March 2011, is a fast-paced thriller set in rural New South Wales. It has also sold in Europe. She writes full-time and is currently working on her second thriller, Scared Yet?

 

For more information on this session, click to our blog spotlight from March 8.

Friday, 4.30-5.30pm
OPTION A: SESSION FULL - AN AGENT READS THE SLUSH PILE, Kristin Nelson
Have you ever wondered how an agent reads the fiction submission slush pile? What an agent is thinking during the opening pages? What makes an agent stop and what makes an agent read on? This workshop is your chance to get the inside scoop. Literary Agent Kristin Nelson will read from the “slush pile” of submitted pages and give feedback as to why she would or would not read on.
Participants are invited to submit two copies of the first 2 pages of their novel as contributions to the session's "slush pile" although this is not compulsory.

Warning: This workshop is not for the faint of heart and can be tough. Before submitting pages, be certain you’re ready to hear bluntly honest criticism. The point is not to dishearten but to provide an honest, inside look at how an agent really reads the slush pile.

Kristin Nelson established the Nelson Literary Agency in 2002 and in the short time since has sold over a 100 books to all the major publishers. She has landed several film deals and has contracted foreign rights on behalf of her clients in many territories. Kristin specializes in representing commercial fiction (mainstream, women’s fiction, romance, science fiction, fantasy, young adult & middle grade) and literary fiction with a commercial bent. Clients include New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling authors such as Ally Carter, Jamie Ford, Gail Carriger, Simone Elkeles, Courtney Milan, and RITA-award winners Sherry Thomas and Linnea Sinclair.

Friday, 4.30-5.30pm
OPTIONS B1 - B8: NOW WE’RE TALKING
Small group chats in an informal setting provide the perfect opportunity to pick the brain of a successful author in your genre. Learn about their books, their process, the market, the many joys and the day-to-day life of an author under deadline. Choose from eight sessions but note that
numbers in each are limited. First in, best educated.

B-1. SESSION FULL - ANNE GRACIE : Anne writes Historical Romance for Berkley US
Anne Gracie started her writing career while backpacking solo around the world. She started with Harlequin, has written nine ST historical romances for Berkley (Penguin Group, USA) and wrote the novelization of the first "The Tudors" TV series. An internationally bestselling author, Anne is a former president of RWAustralia, a three time RITA finalist, and has twice won RWAustralia's Romantic Book of the Year and the National Reader's Choice Award in the USA.

 

B-2.SESSION FULL - MARION LENNOX : Sweet and Medical Romance, Harlequin Mills & Boon
Marion Lennox has published 86 romances with Harlequin Mills & Boon but continues with the belief that she has the best job in the known universe. Since the award's inception in 1999, a staggering 20+ of Marion's books have been shortlisted for the Australian Romantic Book of the Year (RBY.) She has twice taken home the RBY and twice won RWAmerica's RITA Award. Her books are fun, lighthearted celebrations of the human spirit and the power of romance to conquer all.

 

B-3. SESSION FULL - JAYE FORD: debut author of psychological thrillers for Random House Aust.
Jaye Ford is a former news and sport journalist who in 1988 became Australia’s first female presenter of a live national television sports show. After leaving the media, she ran her own public relations consultancy before deciding to chase her lifelong dream to become an author. It took ten years to realize the dream. In 2010, she won a two-book contract with Random House Australia. Beyond Fear, released in March 2011, is a fast-paced thriller set in rural New South Wales. It has also sold in Europe. She writes full-time and is currently working on her second thriller, Scared Yet?

B-4. KELLEY ARMSTRONG : YA urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, and crime
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon in southwestern Ontario. She's the #1 NYT bestselling author of the "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series, "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, and the Nadia Stafford crime series.

B-5. SESSION FULL- MELANIE MILBURNE : Modern (Sexy) and Medical Romance, Harlequin Mills & Boon
Melanie Milburne is the author of over 40 books for Harlequin Mills and Boon. She has won several awards for her romances and has featured on bestseller lists in the UK and USA as well as receiving many five out of five reviews. She writes for both Presents and Medicals and also has an ongoing interest in screenplay writing having co-written a Romantic Comedy with Hollywood writer Paul Margolis. She writes five books a year as well as mentoring several writers.

 

B-6. SESSION FULL - ROBYN GRADY : Modern Heat (Sexy Sensation) and Desire, Harlequin Mills & Boon
Robyn Grady was published with Silhouette in 2007 and Mills & Boon in 2008. Her books feature regularly on bestsellers lists and at award ceremonies, including The National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, and Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year. Robyn lives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with her husband and daughters. When she can be dragged away from her computer, Robyn visits the theatre, the beach and the mall (a lot!). To keep fit she jogs (and shops) and dances with her youngest to Hannah Montana. She believes writing romance is the best job on the planet.

B-7. SESSION FULL - SARAH MAYBERRY : Harlequin SuperRomance and Blaze
Melbourne-born Sarah wanted to be a writer from the time she stapled together her first "book" in kindergarten. In line with this ambition, she completed a BA majoring in professional writing, then sat down to write a book. When inspiration didn’t strike, she began to wonder if, perhaps, she needed to live some life before writing about it. She found her way into trade journalism, then to storylining for Neighbours. Sarah still writes for TV but mostly she's kept busy by what she describes as the best job in the world, writing romance.

B-8. SUSAN WIGGS : contemporary romance and women’s fiction, MIRA
#1 NYT-bestselling author Susan Wiggs has been described as "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who captures] emotion on virtually every page of every book." She is the recipient of three RITA awards and several of her novels have been optioned as feature films. Her titles regularly make national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists. A former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker and amateur photographer, Susan lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound. She is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

B-9. ANNA CAMPBELL and TERRI GAREY : two award-winning Avon authors for the price of one!
Anna Campbell's dark, passionate Regency romances have won numerous awards including the Golden Quill, the Aspen Gold, the Booksellers Best, Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Heart of Excellence and the Australian Romance Readers Association favourite historical romance. She was also voted ARRA’s most popular Australian author of 2009 and 2010 and has twice been nominated for both the RITA and R*BY awards.

Terri Garey grew up watching cool shows like The Twilight Zone and Dark Shadows. After balancing a career with marriage and motherhood, Terri dove deeper into the world of the unexplained and started writing demented tales from the dark side. Her debut, Dead Girls Are Easy, won the 2008 RITA for Best First Book. Her books have been described as "Wild, witty and fun." (There may be cookies.)

 

 

B-10. JANE PORTER and MEGAN CRANE : contemporary womens' fiction and HM&B Sexy.
Jane Porter is the bestselling author of 30 novels for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Grand Central Publishing and a four-time RITA finalist. Jane's Flirting With Forty went back for seven printings in six weeks before being made into a Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. A busy mother of three sons, Jane holds an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and is an inspiring speaker.

Megan Crane is a New Jersey native now living in LA, with a MA and PhD in literature from the University of York in England. Megan writes mainstream womens' fiction and, as Caitlin Crews , steamy, emotionally intense romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern / Sexy / Presents.