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 US

Anthologies Romance Top 100

To Sin with Scandal – Tamara Gill

A Captain’s Order – A Duke’s Command – Tamara Gill

November - Barnes & Noble (Borders US)

Series Romance Top 100

Best 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!

 
 
Where to start...where to start.  So much NEWS!  

Shall we start with the beverage and the TimTam (always a first-rate place to start)?  I'll wait...

Mmm, Double coat.  Excellent choice.  :)

Okey doke, hold onto your hat--here comes the news!


*First up, big congrats to Bec Sampson (aka Becca J Heath) who currently has a new finals award in her clever fingers.  She has taken out third place (Contemporary Series Romance) in the Toronto Romance Writer's Catherine Award for 2011, with A FUTURE FOR ABBY.  Nice one, Bec!  

Check out Bec's blog, too.  She's got a cool conference wrap-up there.  While you're hitting the keys, take a look at the RWA blog on the Awards Night.

*In other contest news, Virginia Taylor has been scooping the pool over in the west.  Take a look at these excellent results for her books STARLING, ELLA & BREE:
STARLING, historical finalist in the New Jersey Romance Writers Put Your Heart in a Book.
STARLING, historical finalist in Heart of the West.
ELLA, historical finalist in Heart of the West.
BREE, mystery/suspense finalist in Heart of the West.

Wow, awesome results Virginia!  Best of luck, and we look forward to hearing the final outcomes on those.  

*The Bestseller Lists for July are out, here are the SARAs:

Amazon US
Romance Top 100
His Lady Mistress – Elizabeth Rolls
Regency Romance Top 100 
His Lady Mistress – Elizabeth Rolls 
Anthology Top 100 
To Sin with Scandal – Tamara Gill
A Captain’s Order – A Duke’s Command – Tamara Gill

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Tamara.  Nice job on those lists, too, Tam!  :)

*Speaking of Tamara Gill, her Amazon bestseller A Captain’s Order – A Duke’s Command tied in first place (Historical) in the RWA's 20 Years of Cover Contest.   Congrats again, Tam!  

*In more conference news, the Clayton's Conference (obviously, the conference you're having when you're not having THE Conference) was marvellously co-hosted by our own Eleni Konstantine.  Check out Eleni's 
Clayton's Conference Wrap-Up.

*Fancy a look at the Conference Round up on the RWA blog?  Here it is.  
Scroll down for selected amusing tweets...

...But wait, there's more!

*At the recent Conference, there were more awards for SARAs!  This time, it was for BEST DRESSED at the RWA Roaring Twenties Cocktail Party!  

Third prize went to Sharon (as a Ziegfeld Girl)
Second Prize went to Lynn (as Amelia Earhart)
aaaaaaand First Prize went to Maggie Mundy:

Congrats, ladies.  What a superb effort!  

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