Wow, it's getting cold isn't it? Perfect weather for curling up with a beverage of your choice, sitting in front of the heater and consuming a nice spicy novel.
SARA Members have loads out there, and more to come.
 Anne Oliver has been nominated for a R*BY - Romance Writers of Australia's Romance Book of the Year with Her Not-So-Secret-Diary. Fantastic news, Anne! We wait with baited breath for conference when we hear of the winners. Now, SARAs should absolutely correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that Anne is staring down the exciting barrel of her third win, following on from her 2007 win in the short category with Behind Closed Doors, and 2008 with One Night Before Marriage. Way to go, Anne. Other SARA winners/finalists in recent years include Trish Morey and Elizabeth Rolls. Check the RWA R*BY archive for the full list.
Dy Loveday has recently received a contract for her fantasy romance, Illusion. Congratulations, Dy. Very exciting for you and we can't wait to hear more. Bec Sampson continues her winning ways with second place in the Young Adult section of the Connecticut Chapter of RWA 'The Write Stuff' contest, with 'Fake'. Big congrats to you again, Bec. In more awesome news, Amy T Matthews has been shortlisted for the 2012 Dobbie Literary Award with End Of The Night Girl. Fabulous stuff, Amy. Best of luck. See Lilliana Rose's blog for a list of her recently published poems. She's been a busy girl. Tamara Gill has signed a contract with Crimson Romance for her single title regency time travel romance, A Stolen Season, to be published later this year. You're on fire, Tam! Congratulations. Tamara's blog hop to celebrate the release of A Marriage Made in Mayfair is fast approaching, so get thee to her webbie to get a piece of the action. Here's a blurb for A Stolen Season: Archaeologist Sarah Baxter had a clear directive: travel back to nineteenth century London to retrieve the measuring device she left behind. But her bungled attempt at thievery left an English Earl dead and his brother bent on revenge. Sarah must once again go back in time to find the device and return to her own time before her tragic mistake puts a noose around her neck. Unfortunately, the only way to get close to the device is to befriend the very man who wants her dead.Eric the new Earl of Earnston was determined to catch the woman who killed his brother, but she'd disappeared without a trace. Twelve months on and there are still no clues to her whereabouts. As luck would have it, he finds a distraction. A new family have arrived in town and Miss Sarah Baxter is a delightful diversion among the stale debutantes in the ton.Sarah knows it is madness to seduce the man who would want her dead should he know who she was, but the Earl is an alarmingly persistent gentleman. Can Sarah procure the device without her secret being revealed? And what will the Earl do when he finds out the woman he’s in love with is not the woman he thought he knew.Until next time, happy reading. Emmeline.
Once again, we've got a sleigh full of news coming your way. If you have your egg nog and mince pie in hand (bonus points if you're wearing a santa hat), read on! Amy T Matthews' End of the Night Girl received an excellent review in the Speakeasy Creative Reading blog. Here's a snippet: " Far from being bewildering or aimless, however, the novel itself is needle-sharp. Matthews guides us through Molly's nights and days, moment by moment, plunging into her past as the opportunities arise. The result, somehow, is a satisfying novel about dissatisfaction, a precisely structured story of structural breakdown."Read on at the link above. End of the Night Girl has also been voted one of the Australian Book Reviews Books of the year. Rebecca Sampson and Bronwyn Stuart continue to share wardrobe items--namely, the contest getup. Bec took out the winners position in the Contemporary Series Romance Section of the Toronto Romance Writer's Catherine Contest with A FUTURE FOR ABBY. She also came first runner up in that contest's Golden Ticket Final Round. Both Bronwyn and Bec were finalists in the Spacecoast Authors of Romance Launching A Star Contest. Bron's BEHIND THE COURTESAN came first in the Historical Section, and Bec's A FUTURE FOR ABBY came second in the Series Contemporary section, and also finalled in the YA section with LIFER. Great news for Eleni Konstantine! Her fantasy short story, STORMY DIVIDE will be released with Musa Publishing in June 2012, via their Urania Imprint. In recent bestsellers: September - Amazon USAnthologies Romance Top 100To Sin with Scandal – Tamara Gill A Captain’s Order – A Duke’s Command – Tamara Gill November - Barnes & Noble (Borders US)Series Romance Top 100Best Friend…Future Wife – Claire Baxter Pregnant: Father Wanted – Claire Baxter Finally, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May it be safe, fun and rewarding.
Thank you for your support in 2011, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2012!
As the silly season approaches (I don't know about you, but I can feel myself getting sillier by the day!), we have loads of excellent SARA news to keep you up to date with. Without further ado... Amy Matthews has launched her brand new website at www.amymatthews.com. Click on through if you'd fancy following her on facebook or twitter. Speaking of launching great things--we have two new October releases for you! Lillian Grant's MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS is available now from Siren Bookstrand. I've got to say, I am loving that cover. *drool*  Accountant Emily Armitage is stuck in Sydney for the weekend, working on the numbers for a hotel sale while fighting off the unwanted attention of her boss. However, things begin to look up when she steps onto her balcony and meets the man of her dreams.
When her new neighbor delivers room service, along with a shoulder massage, delicious foot rubs, and easy charm, she succumbs to the obvious attraction. Having spent a passionate weekend together, Monday morning brings an unwanted revelation. Randy’s been keeping secrets that could change her life.
Suddenly uncertain, she is forced to make a choice between her career and a man who adds up to perfection. Should she stick with the hotel acquisition or take a chance on their passionate new merger?
Lilliana Rose's CHRISTMAS WINGS, written under the name Lily Rose, is available now. Isn't it pretty?  From Lilliana's website:
'Christmas Wings by Lily Rose is a short e-story published with Rose Dreaming.
Its a great little story, suitable for 12 year olds and those of us adults who love a little dark fantasy in our lives.
Zarna is a shadow fairy born without wings.
To fit in she steals wings from living creatures.
This year she’s looking for her own set of Christmas Wings.
But where will she find them?'
In contest final news (because at SARA, there's much passing of the Contest Queen Get-up), Carla Caruso made it to the Top 21 of the Mills & Boon New Voices Competition with Monaco, Money and Mad Love. Congrats, Carla, a very brave thing and an awesome effort! Bronwyn Stuart and Rebecca Sampson (aka Becca J Heath) have both finalled (Bec, in her quiet achiever way, finalled in TWO categories) in the Spacecoast Authors of Romance Launching A Star Contest. Bron is in the top three in the Historical Section with Behind The Courtesan. Bec is in the top three in both the Series Contemporary Section with A Future for Abby, and the Young Adult Section with Lifer. Bronwyn has also finalled in the historical section of the Heart of Denver Romance Writers' Molly Contest with Behind the Courtesan. We also have received news that Bronwyn and Virginia Taylor have finalled second and third respectively in the Indiana RWA Golden Opportunity Contest. Stay tuned at their website for more details. Big congrats, ladies! Until next time, happy reading. Emmeline.
Amy Matthews' End Of The Night Girl was a 'Pick of the Week' in The Age recently, right alongside Virginia Woolf.
Amy also received this very nice review from ANZ LitLovers LitBlog, which begins, "End of the Night Girl is a remarkable book, I’ve never read anything quite like it."
Catch Bronwyn Stuart at Beauty & Lace Online Magazine, sharing her wedding planning experience as it happens! image from www.beautyandlace.com.au
Check out this excellent interview with Amy for the Australian Literature Reviews for their Authors Compare project. Now, in finalist news, Bronwyn Stuart and Virginia Taylor have both finalled in the Historical Section of the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest. How fabulous that two SARAs have achieved a final gong in the same section of the same competiton. Stay tuned for the final results! My humblest apologies to Virginia, but I've missed a final for her from back in July. The Hearts Through History Romance Through The Ages Contest, where her story ELLA placed third in the Georgia/Regency/Victorian Section and second in the Man For All Reason Section. Congrats, Virginia!
Click to enlarge. I hope.
Lillian Grant's Siren BookStrand release Speak To Me of Abduction recently received an awesome 4.5 stars out of 5 review from BookWenches. Here's a snippet: If you are looking for a story featuring a little bit of glamour, a fair share of danger, and love scenes that are hot enough to make you squirm, then I recommend you give Speak to Me of Abduction a shot. Ms. Grant has penned a very readable, enjoyable story here. And if you enjoyed these characters, you’ll be happy to know that Ms. Grant has just released Jonathan’s story. I can’t wait to see what kind of situation he finds himself in next.Read the full review at the July reviews page at BookWenches.  Amy T Matthews' End Of The Night Girl was very favourably reviewed by Gillian Dooley on Writer's Radio/Radio Adelaide.
'I can see I'm going to have trouble reining in the superlatives for this review. How can anyone
complain about the state of Australian fiction when novels like Amy Matthews' End of the Night Girl are being written, winning awards and getting published? Let's just hope they're also being bought and read widely, and will find their way onto curricula in universities - because novels like this have limitless capacity for stimulating deep thought and intelligent discussion.
End of the Night Girl is a novel of ideas in the best possible sense. It's a
novel that asks questions it doesn't know how to answer about the most profound issues humans have ever faced.
It's also witty, dry, unsentimental and sharply observed.'
 This year, the Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) celebrates it's 20th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion and just to generally party, The RWA held 20 Years of Romance Covers contest. We're very pleased to announce that two of our members made the top fifteen! Trish Morey (THE STORM WITHIN, in A Royal Wedding) and Tamara Gill ( A Captain's Order, A Duke's Command) will now have to wait until the RWA 20th Annual Conference "From Here to Eternity" to see if they took out the top spot--the best cover of the last 20 years. Congratulations, everyone!
It's big news! Amy T Matthews will be featured on the ABC's 7:30 Report talking about her new Wakefield Press release, End Of The Night Girl. Tune in to the 7:30 Report on June 24th, and find the episode on the ABC website after that date.  SARAs abound in the Romance Writers of Australia's Bestseller list for May. * Trish Morey, The Heir From Nowhere (Borders US Series Top 100) * Elizabeth Rolls, His Lady Mistress (Amazon US Historical Regency Romance Top 100, Amazon UK Top 100, Amazon UK Historical) *Elizabeth Rolls and others, Delectably Undone (Amazon US Anthology) *Elizabeth Rolls, A Compromised Lady (Amazon UK Historical) *Elizabeth Rolls, Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride (Amazon UK Historical) *Tamara Gill, To SIn With Scandal (Amazon US Anthology) More on Bestsellers at the RWA Blog.
It's that time again. Have you got your beverage and your bicky ready as we prepare to delve into the wonder that is the recent SARA news? Actually, you've got my permission to grab two bickies - there's lots going on in SARAville.
 *MORE FLASH* Just hold off on sipping your coffee while I make this announcement. Eleni's flashing again! Eleni Konstantine's latest piece of flash fiction, Dragon's Quest, is online now at Antipodean SF. Stay tuned for the AntiSF Radio Show podcast as well, recently recorded by Eleni. Looking forward to your next piece, Eleni (you flasher, you).
 *NEW RELEASES* Check out the SARA offerings in June new releases. Amy T Matthews END OF THE NIGHT GIRL(Wakefield Press) Anne OliverOne Night Before Marriagein RULED BY THE RICH MAN (HM&B Specials) (Alongside Lucy Monroe & Susan Napier) Hit the covers to link up. More Aussie June releases at the RWA blog.
 *PREORDER NOW* Lillian Grant's SPEAK TO ME OF ABDUCTION (SirenBookstrand) isn't available until next week, but you can preorder it now at the SirenBookstrand webbie.
Somebody hand Bec Sampson a sceptre and a tiara, because the contest queen's done it again! This time Bec has finaled in the Romance Writers of America's Wisconsin Chapters' Fabulous Five Writing Contest. And not only that, she does it in style, taking out the Silver Quill (first place) in the Young Adult section, with Alli's Playground. Congratulations, ladies!
There's been some big news coming out of SARA in recent weeks. Grab a beverage, nab a chocolate biscuit, take a seat and enjoy!
First cab off the literary rank is Amy T Matthews' impending Wakefield Press release, END OF THE NIGHT GIRL. This is the manuscript that saw Amy taking out the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Unpublished Manuscript Award last year . Check out that awesome cover. Big congrats Amy, and all the best with the upcoming launch! Two novels teasingly combine in one as End of the Night Girl explores the shadow cast by the Holocaust across centuries, continents, and cultures. Molly’s story, set in Adelaide and told in the first person, is a sassy modern drama of a young woman’s search for purpose amid confused family, sexual and social relationships. Under Molly’s pen emerges, jigsaw-like, the third-person Holocaust story of Gienia, a murdered young Polish Jewish woman who may or may not be fictional. Winner 2010 Adelaide Festival Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript.
Amy will also guest spot on the 7:30 Report soon about her novel. Stay tuned! Cover love continues as we take a look at Lillian Grant's upcoming release from Siren Bookstrand, SPEAK TO ME OF ABDUCTION, due out in June. Congrats, Lillian! Here's a blurb: After accepting a movie role, Charlene Page, worries she might be the next rising porn star. On reflection, that might have been safer.
Stuck in Rio and desperate for cash, Australian backpacker Charlene accepts a minor movie role. When her co-star, Holly wood hunk and serial womanizer, Jonathon Deveraux is abducted from the set she turns to his older brother for help.
Oscar winner and Hollywood good guy Jacob Deveraux is a recluse. However, when his brother goes missing, he agrees to help the hapless backpacker who appears to have been deceived into taking a movie role so that Jonathon could woo her into his bed. The more determined he is to keep his distance the more he is drawn to her. When it becomes obvious his bother’s kidnapping is designed to punish Jacob he worries Charlene may be next. Despite his best efforts to keep her safe she is grabbed off the street. Can he find and save his brother and Charlene or will he lose another woman he loves?Now, you know Rebecca Sampson? You've heard of her, right? Well, big congrats to Bec, who has officially taken out the numero uno spot in the Yellow Rose RWA Winter Rose Contest for unpublished writers in the YA section, with her story ALLI'S PLAYGROUND. Go you, Bec! Congratulations also to our bestselling authors for April, Tamara Gill AMAZON US Anthology) & Elizabeth Rolls (AMAZON US Anthology/Historical/Regency, Book Depository Overall Bestsellers). More at the Romance Writers of Australia Blog. Go SARAs!
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