I’m yet to find a Darry Fraser book I haven’t loved, so I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of The Good Woman of Renmark. Just as I’d expected, Darry reeled me in with strong female characters, the rich historical tapestry of 1890s Australia and a charming storyline.
Tips from and Industry Insider | Don’t Understand High Concept? Don’t Worry
Publishing Trends 2019 Some trends become industry standards. Some die the death they deserve. If, like me, you never did understand exactly what was meant by high concept, raise a glass to its death. It seems that publishers have discovered that while high concept initially excites marketing and sales teams and is easy to pitch to booksellers, it doesn’t necessarily lead to a long sales life. According to Sally Kim (GP Putnam’s Sons / Penguin Random House): ‘For a while it seemed everything had to have a high concept to cut through all the noise. … But those that really …
Simply Writing | THE LESS THAN MIGHTY ‘AS’
I’ve received a lot of requests to do a SIMPLY WRITING post on pacing, and I promise, this is something I’ll definitely address in the future. But as a codicil to that post, I’d like to address an issue that contributes to slower paced writing, something I’ve seen in quite a few WIPs lately—mine included!
Three things I learned while writing… Home at Last
Welcome author Meredith Appleyard! Meredith writes stories set in country Australia. Her books include: The Country Practice (2015), The Doctor Calling (2016) and No Job for a Girl (2017). Meredith joins us today to tell us about three things she learned while writing her new release ‘Home at Last’.
RWA’s got your back…
By Kenny Raine, RWA Professional Development Learn how to manage this challenging part of your writing life by taking part in RWA’s first ever webinar for members, developed in response to a recent RWA Facebook conversation about imposter syndrome’s crippling effects.
Simply Writing | TURN YOUR PASSIVE WRITING INTO AN ACTIVE VOICE
Active vs. passive voice is one of those concepts that seems to confound many writers. We think we’re writing actively, that it’s clear our characters are doing what they’re doing, but often we’re not.
Simply Writing | CHARACTERISATION THROUGH NARRATION
In light of my upcoming RWA OWL and last month’s RWA and RWNZ conference workshops, I thought it would be good to do a short blog on CHARACTERISATION THROUGH NARRATION.
Cover Crush | August/September
There are highlights in the Australian romance writing community, including festivals and workshops, but one of the unmissable events, is the Romance Writers of Australia’s annual conference. This year was one of the best I’ve been to, and I want to take a moment to congratulate the committee for an incredible and memorable event.
Tips from an industry insider | Bad Publicity
Bad publicity, usually in the form of a one-star review, is most authors’ worst nightmare. I have good news. Repeat after me: ‘There is no such thing as bad publicity.’
Kiss and Tell | Alison Stuart
Set in Victoria in the 1870s, The Postmistress tells the tale of Adelaide Greaves and the life she forges in the gold-mining town of Maiden’s Creek. Having worked hard to create a new identity and future for herself, her son Danny and her maid Netty, Adelaide has little time for friendships, let alone relationships. Her quiet existence is sent into a spin with the arrival of Caleb Hunt, a handsome but battle-weary American still reeling from the civil war. Both have their secrets and independent streaks wider than the Shenandoah River, but before long, romance blossoms in the tinder-dry bush …