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Is it the silly season yet?

18/11/2012

Or have I gotten silly early? Second thoughts, don't answer that.

As we stand at the precipice of Christmas 2012--and I'm finally over September's shock of seeing shiny decorations and red-and-green gift boxed chocolates in the stores--do you fancy taking a little time out and seeing what the SARAs have been up to over the last month or so?

Of course you do! Take down time when you can, I say.

Carla Caruso has been a busy little fairy.

Not only is she fielding fabulously awesome reviews of her new releases, CITYGLITTER (Penguin Books) and MOMMY BLOGGER (Eternal Press), but she's been hanging out in Kingston SE's little corner of the web, talking about the book she's currently writing.

Carla also has a short story available at Alfiedog.com. Check out The Grass Is Greener after November 18th.

If you just can't get enough of Carla (let's face it, I'm sure you're not alone), read her Blog Bite at the RWA Blog.

Lillian Grant has a new cover for HOT MALE, book three in her Reigning men series.

Ahem. Excuse me. Need a drink of water.

Given the covers of MALE ORDER (book one) and MALE REVIEW (book two), book three has always had very big shoes to fill, and I'm sure you'll agree that HOT MALE does not disappoint.

And you know what they say about big shoes...

Dy Loveday is giving away three copies of ILLUSION to some lucky commenters over at her blog--head over and score yourself a book!

Anne Oliver has just had her latest book accepted, MARRIAGE IN NAME ONLY?, out in the UK as a Mills & Boon Modern in April next year. Congrats, Anne.

Lilliana Rose has been hanging out where all good dark romancers do--at DarkSide DownUnder. Get in quick to win an ecopy of CREATING WINGS.

Eleni Konstantine continues to set the world on fire down at the Taverna, and you can catch Tamara Gill and all things historical at her blog.

Congratulations to Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights, who is among Alfiedog.com's top five authors for two months running. Head to her short stories here.

Finally, take a look at the Contest Divas blog, where they have compiled a list of 2011 romance writing contest winners. See if you can spot the awesome SARA girls among the winners--Bronwyn Stuart, Rebecca Sampson and Virginia Taylor.

Nothing like a great book or four to get your mind off the silly season.

Until next time, happy reading,

Emmeline x

SARA News - Blog Rampage!

27/9/2012

Yes, It's that time again--time for a BLOG RAMPAGE!

This is where we very handily direct you to all the SARA members awesome, scintillating blogs.

Are y'all ready for this?

Here we GO!

Bronwyn Stuart - Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Time!

Eleni Konstantine - Trailer Thursday: The Hobbit. Hit the top banner to access all of Eleni's regular posts.

Tamara Gill - Blog Guest and Giveaway with Nicole Hurley-Moore. Hit the tope banner to access Tam's other posts, too.

Lilliana Rose - Creating Wings Launch 2012.

Dy Loveday - Unsympathetic Protagonists.

Maggie Mundy's News - including an offer from Red Sage! Congrats, Maggie!

Susie Hindmarsh-Knights - including recent stories published on Alfiedog.

Lillian Grant - FREEBIE! Happy Birthday, Nancy Tobin.

Carla Caruso - Just back from holidays, lucky duck. :)

Emmeline Lock- the usual meandering ramble.

Check out other member blogs/sites, too:

Trish Morey

Anne Oliver

Claire Baxter

Amy Matthews

Becca J Heath

Virginia Taylor

Finally check out this very nice review at the Book Boost Blog for Carla Caruso's Mommy Blogger, out now!

SARA News - read with care...

6/8/2012

There is so much news, we're bursting at the seams!

You might need two biscuits to get you through this one.

And you'd better make them Tim Tams. :)

Congratulations to Lilliana Rose, who has been selected as the Round 1 Writer in Residence at the South Australia Writer's Centre (SAWC)

This, from the SAWC Newsletter:
WRITERS IN RESIDENCE
SAWC is delighted to announce the first two writers who have been successful in our Writers in Residence Project. We will be welcoming Lilliana Rose (round one) and Dr Ianto Ware (round two).
Lilliana will be rewriting her YA contemporary novel during her residency, with a particular focus on character development. The novel has already received interest from a notable publisher. Lilliana is known for her published poetry, and is part of many strong writing networks.

SARAs are on a roll at the story website Alfiedog.com. Head over for some short story wonderful.

Here are the links:
Claire Baxter
Lilliana Rose
Maggie Mundy
Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights
Virginia Taylor

Congratulations to those ladies!

We also have a number of member websites that have gone live recently.
Check out:

www.suziehindmarshknights.com
www.maggiemundy.com
www.virginiataylor.com

While you're surfing, check out these new blog posts:
Lillian Grant (Win her latest release as she rampages around the blogosphere, performing a very enthusiastic bloghop!)
Eleni Konstantine
Tamara Gill (Includes a Goodreads giveaway of her upcoming release!)
Emmeline Lock

Excellent reviews for Bronwyn Stuart's Scandal's Mistress rolling in.

Have a look at this one from Night Owl Reviews.

And this one from Imagine A World.

In the lead up to RWA Conference, you might also like to visit Bron's blog and read her post on pitching: Pitching and queries and not wetting your pants.

Eleni Konstantine has a cover for her new Musa release, a novella called GATEWAY TO HELL, due for release on September 7th.

Congrats, Eleni!

While the adulation is heading Eleni's way, we should also blow a cornet for her Commended gong in the RWNZ's Clendon Award.

*TOOT!* :)

Tamara Gill also a has a new cover, this one for A Stolen Season, a regency time travel romance, to be released by Crimson Romance on August 27th. Congrats, Tam!

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?

Congrats also to those SARAs who made the RWA's Bestseller Lists for June:

Amazon US
Anthologies Top 100
A Captain’s Order – A Duke’s Command – Tamara Gill

Amazon US
Series Top 100
Forbidden: The Sheikh’s Virgin – Trish Morey

Trish Morey has been a busy little...writer. Not only was she recently in the US to celebrate her RITA nomination with A Storm WIthin, but she has a new release out! THE SHEIKH'S CONVENIENT VIRGIN is in the anthology Innocent in the Desert, HM&B Special Format.

Until next time, happy reading!

Emmeline. x

SARA News - Sales: Keep 'em comin'!

12/7/2012

Congratulations to Bronwyn Stuart, who has just accepted a contract with Carina Press for her second regency novel, Behind the Courtesan, due for publication early in 2013. Scandal's Mistress is out next month, also from Carina!

Here's the blurb:

Behind the Courtesan

When Sophia Martin returns to the village she once fled, she knows it won't be all sunshine and happy reunions but she also didn't expect the name calling and insults to come from her childhood friend. Blake Vale just can't accept the decisions she made, the courtesan's life she leads, or the fact he once loved a girl who no longer recognizes her true self. Plain old Sophie Martin has to be inside this hardened woman somewhere and he's determined to bring her out and make her see she doesn't need rich dukes to be happy and that the future has nothing to do with her past.

Eleni Konstantine has been a busy lady! Not only is she featured in the RWA Blog's Conference Spotlight recently, but she's also been nominated for the Lynne Wilding Award.

Don't know the award? This, from the RWA blog:
Established in 1996, this award’s intention is to recognise and honour an individual’s outstanding contribution to RWA. Named in honour of our first President, Lynne was the driving force behind this award. She understood the importance committed individuals can make to the lifeblood of an organisation.

Big congrats, Eleni, and best of luck! Very much deserved.

Amy T Matthews and her Dobbie Award shortlist nomination for End of the Night Girl have been featured on the Curtis Brown webpage.

Alfiedog.com has secured more short stories from SARAs!

Congrats to Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights, who has sold four shorts, and will be published from August 1st. She joins Claire Baxter, Virginia Taylor, Maggie Mundy and Lilliana Rose, who have stories to be released very shortly.

Speaking of Claire Baxter, keep your eyes open for WINNING WAYS, a short story to be published in That's Life Magazine Issue 23.

Aaaaand, speaking of Maggie Mundy, head on over to the AntipodeanSF website, where her science fiction short, THE THIRTEENTH DOME , is now live.

Trish Morey also The Heir From Nowhere coming out in a HM&B Bestselling Author's collection this month.

In great company there, Trish! Congrats!

Tamara Gill's A Marriage Made in Mayfair BlogHop continues!

Check her blog for dates.

Finally, Lillian Grant's been at Romance Junkies talking Fifty Shades...

Until next time, happy reading!
Emmeline.

SARA News - the HUGE edition!

5/11/2011

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.

An Amy T Matthews interview and we're ringing the finalist bell again!

25/9/2011

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!

Finals, bestsellers and a cameo from Charlie Chaplin

27/8/2011

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!