Fiona Holden – Sweet Treats, 2nd place
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
This one is a bit of a hard one for me, as it was more like a series than a particular book that dragged me down the inescapable spiral of being a romance reader. As a teenager, I was a sucker for the 'Sweet Dreams' series and if the title or cover included a cowboy or a horse, it was a definite read. As an older teenager on the school bus a group of us sat on a small group of chairs reading out loud the good old Mills and Boons. It has always been the case that if the book was a romance with a horse on the cover, it was a 'no brainer' for me to pick up and read. One book that has stuck in my memory was "The Flambards" by KM Peyton as it included horses and romance, the perfect combination.
How did you feel when you learned you had been nominated for an award this year?
When I learned I had placed in the Sweet Treats competition, I couldn't believe it. I was sure they had made a mistake. Yep, sure, I had entered the competition and held some hope but thought it was being unrealistic. I would have been grateful to get just some positive feedback. I felt like an imposter amongst other contestants who have been writing for longer and even have some manuscripts published. Once I realised it was not a dream that I had somehow managed to achieve second place. I am still fighting the imposter syndrome, but I know now it is real. I can't believe after years of dreaming that my name is on the cover of a book.
Lisa Stanbridge – Sweet Treats, equal 2nd place
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
Not an actual individual book or author per se, but a series of books. Back in the 80s and 90s there was a teen romance series called Sweet Dreams. I was a teen in the mid 90s when these were coming to an end, but I devoured them. They gave me such a taste for romance and so when I started writing, I was greatly influenced by this series.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
So many, but Paris will probably have to take the number one spot! I visited Paris on my first ever overseas trip and it was a literal trip of a lifetime. I met some amazing people, saw all the wonderful historic sites, and really found myself as a person. And yes, it does end up in one of my books! My second ever book, which I self-published early this year, is aptly called Lonely in Paris.
Georgia Moore – Sweet Treats, 3rd place
What risks have you taken in writing that have paid off?
Submitting my writing into contests, as well as to publishers and agents. There’s always a risk you won’t do well, or you’ll get some harsh feedback, but I think there’s a payoff to submitting, even if you don’t ‘win’ the thing you’re submitting to. You’re choosing to back yourself! And that’s vital. But in terms of a ‘payoff’, submitting to the RWA’s Sweet Treats and Spicy Bites anthology contests resulted in my first ever published stories. Now I’ve had seven stories published across the anthologies, I’ve been a finalist in the Emerald Award (twice), gotten a lot of useful constructive feedback from judges, and this year, I finally received an offer of publication on a manuscript. And it all started with submitting my work.
If you could be mentored by a famous author, who would it be and why?
Amy Andrews. (Hi Amy, if you’re reading.) She’s got the kind of long-term career I aspire to have, and I’ve enjoyed every book of hers I’ve read. They’re always engaging from the off, and her characters work so well together in the way that romance leads should – getting under the other’s skin and forcing/helping them to confront things they’ve been hiding from. (Amy, I’d love if you could teach me your ways.) Also, she gave the welcome talk to the Newbies at last year’s conference in Fremantle, so I know she’s a big supporter of the writing community, and especially newbie authors.
Lexi Haven – First Kiss finalist, “Forever Hers”
What risks have you taken in writing that have paid off?
Joining RWA Aspirers and jumping into my first Flash Fiction there. That small scene developed into my first published story.
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
No idea on the author/book title, but it was the Sweet Dreams teenage romance books that became the start of a lifetime love of romance stories.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
One day you will actually enjoy writing and even be published. My teenage self would laugh at that, shake her head, and not believe it for a second!
Amy Andrews – “Nurse’s Outback Temptation” (RuBY Contemporary Short nominee)
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Listen to your inner voice and slow down when it tells you to!
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
Positano. It’s so visually stunning it made me feel as if I’d stepped into an alternate universe. And yes, it starred in my 10th book.
Confess your writing quirks OR describe your unusual writing routine.
Whatever my word count is for the day, I will stop at the exact number even if it’s mid-sentence. Hell, I’ve been known to stop mid sex scene and leave my characters hanging!
Anna Hackett – “Hades” (RuBY Romantic Suspense nominee)
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
I don't remember my first romance. I just remember getting into my mother's pile of Mills & Boon books. But Nora Roberts was the author who made me fall in love with the genre (and still inspires me today).
Confess your writing quirks OR describe your unusual writing routine.
I handwrite my first draft. I have a huge obsession with pretty notebooks and nice pens and use them for my writing. With a pen in my hand, the words just flow better. After I've done my draft, then I dictate it.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
My husband, author buddies, and my readers. Whether I win or not, I always need to thank my wonderful, supportive husband. He believed in me and my writing long before I did. My author friends who continually motivate me, push me on when I need it, and are always there when I need them. And my amazing readers -- they keep me motivated and inspired to write every day.
Katrina Coll – “Twice Baked” (RuBY Contemporary Long nominee)
What book or author was your gateway to romance?
Like so many romance readers, I used to nick my mum’s Mills & Boon and Silhouette Romance books as a teenager. Thirty years on, I remember THE book that hooked me: Adam and Eve by Elise Title. The heroine is an amnesiac who calls herself Laura Ashley after the clothes label. (The hero finds her lost among the Women’s Designer Wear section in his family’s department store.) I read it again recently and, while dated, it’s still a cracking story with a terrific ending. To this day, I'm a sucker for stories where dark secrets are revealed.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
Particular thanks to Cassie Laelyn and Liv Arnold who critiqued the final version of this story and to Loretta Hill who helped with the first draft. Way back when, however, Twice Baked was once a manuscript called Sweet Secrets and I was fortunate in having Melanie Milburne and Helen Lacey review my opening chapters through the RWA’s Independent Writing Scheme run by Nas Dean. That opening won the MORWA Gateway to the Best competition, but I parked the full manuscript for a couple of years when I realised the plot drove the story, not the relationship. Gwen Hayes' course on Romancing the Beat was both the cause and solution to this dilemma and I can’t thank her enough for that insight.
Pamela Hart – “The Captain and the Lady” (RuBy Novella nominee)
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
Georgette Heyer! So, it seems just right to have ended up writing Regencies. I was maybe 10 or 11 when I read my first Heyer, and I was hooked immediately. And when my husband and I got married and joined our libraries, it turned out he was a Heyer reader, too! (We ended up with a complete collection.)
Confess your writing quirks OR describe your unusual writing routine.
When I’m in the middle of a first draft, I try to write 2000 words a day. I start around 2pm and finish around 5. But in between, I’m constantly thinking about what I’ll write next, and working out scenes in my head, so that when I come to write, it’s productive. I don’t write on Mondays, because that’s when I do my feedback for my writing students at the Australian Writers’ Centre. I will often write more than 2000 words. If I haven’t made 10K by the end of Friday, I’ll work on the weekend.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Start earlier! My first book was published when I was 34 – I had no confidence in my writing, and that held me back for years. I know now that I should have been submitting and learning from the rejections! And who knows? An acceptance might have come much sooner.
Kaaren Sutcliffe – “Undercover Mage” (RuBY Speculative Fiction nominee)
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
Actually, my favourite place is Dragonfoot Lake in Riverplain, where my lead female Lamiya lives. I’d love to live there! What’s not to like about a stunning turquoise lake with mounded green hills down one end and vivid colourful trees and bushes? Now that you ask the question, I suspect my mind created this special place from a visit to Lake Alexandrina in New Zealand when I was sixteen. My mother was a kiwi, and my mind’s eye still holds images of this beautiful lake, even after all this time.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
First, I’d give a massive crushing hug to my beloved running friend Annette Sugden, for tentatively asking me back in 2020 if I would be interested in being a volunteer judge for RWA. Not a writer herself, Annette has judged for RWA for several years. I agreed and was impressed by, and thoroughly enjoyed the RuBY entries I read for that year. I’d just started my trilogy and promptly joined RWA — one of the best decisions ever. I love being part of RWA and judging other people’s stories, as well as pushing myself to write better. The judging criteria are fantastic, and these certainly helped me to refine my trilogy and boost the romance content. So, a massive shout out to RWA, the tireless and wonderful contest managers, and especially to all the judges who’ve scored my entries and provided such wonderful feedback. Thank you, thank you!
Fiona McArthur – “The Opal Miner’s Daughter” (RuBY Contemporary Long nominee)
I’m so thrilled to be a RUBY finalist for The Opal Miner’s Daughter. This book gave me such an unexpected feeling of connection to the mining town of Lightning Ridge when I went to research. I loved going underground, I loved the desolation and moonscape beauty of the diggings, and I loved the people. I still want to live there part of the year, part of my life. For a bush and beach girl, that’s very strange. And fun. I love writing. Just wish I’d started earlier.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
My support network. My gratitude goes to all the loved ones, friends and readers who have encouraged me over the years, starting with those amazing friends I met through RWA who are still so much a part of my life. RWA is where I was encouraged to find editors who believed in me. It’s how I found my readers who say, ‘you brightened my dark day’, the friend who says, ‘let’s write for a sprint for twenty minutes’, and the husband who murmured, ‘If I hadn’t read your books I’d never have known you.’ Thank you, so much, for being a part of my writing.
We all know there’s so much to learn in this ever-evolving writing game, but don’t be daunted, because RWAus is the place to learn. My advice? Always say ‘Yes,’ to conference. I’ve only missed one and COVID made me.
Frances Cowie – “Hampton Lane” (RuBY Contemporary Long nominee)
How did you feel when you learned you had been nominated for an award this year?
I never imagined I would be a finalist. When I received the email, my husband had to rush into the office to see what all the commotion was about. All I could say was ‘OMyGosh’ and ‘I don't believe it.’ It was such a thrill. I started ‘writing when I was 57. Now, at 66 I am one of the senior members of the group, and my nomination is validation that age is no barrier to writing.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
Firstly, I wish to thank RWAus for being such a supportive group and giving me this opportunity. While I hail from across the ditch, I lived in Australia in my twenties, and now spend a month in Queensland every year, so Australia holds a special place in my heart. Secondly, as well as my family who offer a constant source of encouragement, I would like to thank my copy editor, Elizabeth Dempsey from the Error Eliminator. Through persistence and kindness, she has taught me so much about my craft and made me a better writer. Additionally, my developmental editor, Samantha Burton, whose great tips and ideas were invaluable to my finished product. And last but not least, the judges of this year's competition. I appreciate your time.
L J Perry – “Under the Covers” Cop (RuBY Romantic Elements nominee)
If your RuBY manuscript was made in to a movie, which actors would you want to play your characters and why?
Oliver Ackland would be perfect for the male character of Greg/Andy. He is Australian, he has the looks and characteristics I have tried to strive for and of course he’s a great actor. Emma Hamilton would be my first choice for the female character of Lisa/Leona. An Australian actor of note, Emma would bring all the right look and temperament to this role.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
My favourite place is Hawaii. I am so captivated by the scenery, the weather, the way of life and the easy-going style of the Hawaiians. Yes, I have included Hawaii in the next book to be published from my ‘Perth Detectives’ series.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
I would like to thank Melissa from ReadIt Publishing. Melissa has greatly assisted me with proof reading, editing, grammar and overseen all aspects of book production from beginning to end.
Rachel Armstrong – “Reunited with the Millionaire” (RuBY Contemporary Short nominee)
What's the strangest thing you had to do/try/research in writing your Emerald/Sapphire manuscript?
After writing Reunited with the Millionaire, I went on a research trip to the Whitsundays. I did most of the activities in the book and visited the pontoon on Hardy Reef, though I could not afford to camp there for the night. But I did convince myself to go scuba diving for the sake of the book and it remains one of the best experiences of my life. When I wrote the scene on the cruise back, I was able to put my own emotions and descriptions into the scene as well as include the Maori Wrasse Maggie, who really lives there on the reef.
How did you feel when you learned you had been nominated for an award this year?
Funny story! I had a viral infection and was the sickest I’ve ever been in my life. I had no voice, so when I read the email, all I could do was pass the computer to Mum, smile, thumbs up, and return to trying not to die. There was no cheering. Until days later. But I was very excited.
Maddison Michaels – “The Bachelor Betrayal” (RuBY Historical Romance nominee)
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
One of the first historical romance books I read was Deception by Amanda Quick, which I absolutely adored and hooked me on historicals to the point I knew I had to write my own. I was so fortunate to meet Jayne (aka Amanda Quick) at a high tea in Sydney back in 2017, and even more lucky was that I got to sit right next to her and chat with her! Since then, she and I have kept in touch via email, which has been just amazing!
If you could choose to be any character in a book for a day, who would it be and why?
I would choose to be Lady Kaitlyn Montrose, the heroine from The Bachelor Betrayal which is up for the RUBY, because boy can this lady kick ass! Kaitlyn is super unconventional for her times and truly cares little about what others think of her. She is a woman who is confident and bold, and one who throws daggers, not dinner parties… just the sort of character I’d love to be for a day (plus she gets to wear the coolest detachable skirts on her gowns - making it easier for her to fight if she needs to, which she regularly does, lol).
Virginia Suckling – “Codename Kate” (Emerald award nominee)
What risks have you taken in writing that have paid off?
My husband was in Bougainville with VSA and I went as a support person. It gave me the chance to write a novel which I entered into The Clendon Award—a RWNZ competition. In those days you had to send the hard copy. It was a risk because I wasn’t sure if my entry would get there on time or even reach Auckland, New Zealand.
On a previous visit to the main town and post office, 4-5 hours away, I had some plain paper weighed and bought the stamps, so I would be ready to send it when it was completed. Early one morning I cycled to a taxi firm to ask them to deliver it to the post office. They agreed to do that and I returned the next day to check everything had gone to plan. Imagine my dismay when the man told me that the post office hadn’t accepted my envelope with the stamps on it. I had no idea why. Neither did he. Then the taxi man told me he had put the novel in another envelope, addressed it and paid the postage again out of his own pocket! The manuscript arrived safely and even though I didn’t reach the final, the novel was highly commended.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
I have to say the whole of New Zealand is my favourite place to write about in my books. There are so many beautiful places here and I have travelled a lot around both islands. I also enjoy reading books by New Zealand authors as I recognise the places they are writing about. I think New Zealand has become a popular tourist destination in the last few years and people in different countries like to read about New Zealand, too.
Sara Bennett – “The Keeper of the Lighthouse” (RuBY Romantic Elements nominee)
What risks have you taken in writing that have paid off?
I’m not sure if it is risky or just lack of focus, but I have written under quite a few different names. Writing in different genres suits me. I find I am easily bored, and this gives me a chance to explore. Although not all of my efforts have been as successful as I hoped. Kaye Dobbie: Historical Fiction and Women’s Fiction. Sara Bennett: Historical romance in various time periods. Sara Mackenzie: Paranormal and time travel romance. And early in my career, I was Deborah Miles for Mills & Boon/Harlequin.
I’m not sure if it’s such a good idea these days to have all those different names, not when a writer can use only one name and trust their readers to choose the type of stories they enjoy. When I started, I was told to use different names because my readers might become ‘confused’. I don’t believe that’s the case, I think we should trust our readers, and I’ve found if they like my ‘voice’ then they will follow me whatever I write.
How did you feel when you learned you had been nominated for an award this year?
I was absolutely delighted! I’d love to win, but honestly just being there is a thrill and an honour. This is my last book for HQ, and I put my heart and soul into it. Dual timeline books are never easy for me, and this one was particularly challenging. It was lovely to have all that hard work from me (and my publisher and agent) recognised. And such a nice cover, too. The story is set on a fictitious island in Bass Strait but was based on Deal Island. I had lots of help from one of the conservation volunteers who look after the island and the lighthouse. The research was particularly interesting—what a tough and lonely life those early lighthouse keepers and their families led.
Anne Oh – “Finding Lily” (Sapphire finalist)
What book or author was your gateway into romance?
L M Montgomery’s The Blue Castle was my gateway to romance. I was a young teenager and already loved the ‘Anne’ books when my mother gave it to me to read while I was home sick. Published in 1926 and set in Ontario. I still have my mum’s 1939 hardback copy and it’s still the book I take off the shelf when I need a comfort read.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Why? Does this place ever end up in one of your books?
My favourite place is Scotland. I’ve had a Scottish pen friend (we now FaceTime) since the 1990s and before Outlander was a thing. I love the harsh beauty of the Highlands, the windswept mountains, the castles, its people. I’ve not set a book there - yet.
If you won an award, who would you like to thank, and why?
Whether I win or not, there are people I want to thank. My critique group of five has been meeting for years. We write in varying romance sub-genres, support one another and trust each other‘s opinions. In particular thank you, Elizabeth Rolls for sharing your expertise in all matters historical. Thank you to the reader/judges for their feedback. I’m happy you enjoyed my manuscript. Special thanks to the final judge Rachael Donovan for her invaluable feedback and suggestions. Finally, thank you Jacinta Peachey for your hard work. Without you, we wouldn’t have had a contest.