"From Here to Eternity"

RWA's 20th Annual Conference will be held on the first floor of Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
August 13th and 14th, 2011
Saturday: 8.30am-5.00pm | Sunday: 8.30am-4.30pm
~ with bonus sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoons ~

Featuring Keynote Addresses by Susan Wiggs and Marion Lennox

#1 NYT-bestselling author Susan Wiggs has been described as "one of our best observers of stories of the heart." She is the recipient of three RITA awards and several of her novels have been optioned as feature films. Her titles have been translated into more than two dozen languages and 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, and commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

Marion Lennox has been writing since she was knee high to a grasshopper…which she concedes was some time ago. She's 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. She has twice taken home the RBY award and twice won the prestigious RITA in America. Her books are fun, lighthearted celebrations of the human spirit and the power of romance to conquer all.

 

Closing address by Jane Porter
Jane Porter, the bestselling author of 30 novels for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Grand Central Publishing, has been a finalist for the prestigious RITA award from Romance Writers of America four times. Jane's Flirting With Forty, picked by Redbook as its Red Hot Summer Read, went back for seven printings in six weeks before being made into a 2008 Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. A busy mother of three sons, Jane holds an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and makes her home in Bellevue, Washington where she's working on her next novel.

Registration:

RWA members by April 30: $390	Non-members by April 30: $450
RWA members after April 30: $425	Non-members after April 30: $500

All prices are GST inclusive and also include:

• lunch, morning and afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday
• your ticket to the Harlequin cocktail party on Friday evening
• bonus sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoons
• the opportunity to pitch your completed manuscript to publishing professionals representing nine houses/agencies

***UPDATE JULY 13: REGISTRATION for SAT/SUN CONFERENCE CLOSED.
JULY 27: Friday workshop, A-Day, Cocktail Party and Awards Dinner closed ***

Register using the online system.

On-Site Registration Desk:
For those attending conference only, the registration desk will be open from 3.30pm-4.30pm Friday and from 7.30-8.30am Saturday, for collection of your conference satchel and materials. If you're attending the Thursday A-Day and/or the Friday workshop, you will register and collect your materials then for the entire conference.

Note re Breakout Sessions:
When completing your registration, you will be asked for your first and second choice in each session. First choice will be provided whenever possible, however some popular sessions may sell out. Session places will be filled on a first-in basis.

Download PDF with all Sat/Sun breakout sessions.

Note re Friday Workshop:
Bob Mayer's WARRIOR WRITER workshop on Friday is not included in your conference registration. It is an add-on which can be selected during registration.

Note re Pitches:
Separate registration will take place in May/June. Look for details on the Pitches page in May, in May's Hearts Talk, and in your inbox if you've registered for conference prior to May.

Updates:
Keep up to date on new conference developments by following on Twitter and via the RWAustralia blog and Facebook.