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!