The Breathless in the Bush blog officially launches today. Welcome and
thank you for visiting.
One of the longest-established groups affiliated with Romance Writers of
Australia, BITB is a group who love romance fiction. RWA’s inaugural President,
Lynne Wilding, formed the first group which met once a month to critique,
network and share knowledge of all things romance writing. Then one day a sad
thing happened. The group had slowly lost its way and Lynne had no choice but
to close it.
 |
| Lynne Wilding |
Some members accepted Lynne’s decision easily. Others weren’t as keen.
Enisa Haines (RWA founding member), Malvina Yock, Lynne Boyd, Helene Cowan and
Katrina Oswald loved romance fiction and their desire to write was too strong
to let go. What to do? Malvina suggested we five members form a new group and
she would lead. Each of us responded with an enthusiastic ‘yes’ and this new
group came into existence. We let it be known that new members dreaming of
publication in romance fiction were always welcome. New members came, and the
group grew.
We were official. We were real. We needed a name for the group.
Suggestions abounded, some greeted with frowns, others with lacklustre shrugs.
Then Enisa said, ‘How about “Seduction in the Shire”?’ Groans echoed around the
group. Not giving up, Enisa tried again, this time suggesting Breathless in the Bush.
Everyone smiled as a chorus of 'Yes' rebounded round the table. The name reflected not only our area, suburbs mere steps away from bushland and bordered by eucalyptus trees, but also revealed our love of romance. A perfect
name.
 |
| An eclectic group with a common goal |
BITB started as a small group of aspiring writers.
Today we are larger and stronger, currently with thirteen members. We write
contemporary, historical, romantic suspense, paranormal, speculative fiction, and sweet. We have
published authors and those yet-to-be published, each willing to share their
writing journey with you here at the Breathless in the Bush blog where we "love to love, love to laugh, and love to learn".
We LOVE TO LOVE the RWA conferences,
catching up with old friends and making new ones. Sydney was sensational
(thanks to Shannon Curtis and her wonderful team) and the Melbourne conference
promises to be just as fantastic (Go girls!). We’ll kinda miss the blood-spatter
curtains, though.
We LOVE TO LAUGH at ourselves. Devils’
eyes, what devils’ eyes??
We LOVE TO LEARN anything and everything about romance writing.
But what we’d really love is for you to visit our blog each
Monday and get to know us and our take
on the romance genre that we love.
A prize for one lucky commenter each hour throughout the day. Please check back after 5pm to see if you are a winner.
Monday and get to know us and our take on the romance genre that we love.
A prize for one lucky commenter each hour throughout the day. Please check back after 5pm to see if you are a winner.
Loved learning about your beginnings. Good luck with the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eleni! Wouldn't be here without your help.
DeleteThank you Eleni Konstantine of Helz Kat Designs! You are awesome! Love your work!
DeleteThanks ladies was such a pleasure.
DeleteThe pleasure was ours. :)
DeletePleased to hear you are flourishing and you certainly have a wealth of writing experience among you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vonnie! We do have an abundance of experienced writers amongst us and a few newish newbies too! All up a pretty rounded group.
DeleteWhat writing groups do you belong to?
Congratulation on your blog launch. Interesting how you started your group. Happy blogging.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandie! I enjoyed finding out the background of our wonderfully supportive group too.
DeleteGreat story and good luck with the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leesa! We're lucky...I'm lucky...to be in such a fantastic group!
DeleteDo you have a local group that you're a member of?
Gooooooood morning!! And welcome to the Breathless in the Bush blog launch!
ReplyDeleteWe're looking forward to getting to know a bit about you and your writing today and in the future.
We've got heaps of prizes for commenters today--Amazon vouchers, eBooks, print books--so be sure to leave a comment or two or three!!! (Check back at the end of the day to see if you've won. If you have email your name and details to breathlessinthebush@gmail.com.)
D
Throughout the day a Breathless in the Busher will be posting questions to get to know a bit more about you. One lucky commenter from each question will receive a prize. Be sure to check back at the end of the day to see if you've won and for instructions on how to claim your prize.
ReplyDeleteAnd good morning from me! I'm Marilyn Forsyth and I write rural/outback romance. Please feel free to join us throughout the day as we discuss all things romance and give away hourly prizes to some lucky commenters.
ReplyDeleteHi, I’m Dee Scully. In the months to come I’ll be blogging about motivation and inspirations.
ReplyDeleteI recently met Lilia Kanna of Harlequin in an elevator (LOL—I actually did an elevator pitch in an actual elevator, but that’s a story for another day) and she asked if I was published. I said, “No, I’m just a writer,” meaning as yet unpublished, to which she answered, “You’re an author who hasn’t found a home for her manuscript yet.” This got me thinking about what I should call myself…a writer or an author? an unpublished writer/author? a wanna-be (rhymes with wallaby, as joked by James Scott Bell)? or what?
What do you call yourself?
Until later…happy writing/reading!
Dee Scully
Unpublished until I find a home for my manuscript wanna-be historical romance writer/author
I love to love—and I hope to help you fall in love with your own writing (and mine!).
I love to laugh—and I hope to make you laugh heaps with every post.
I love to learn—and I hope to learn a bit about you with each conversation.
I love that 'elevator pitch' story, Dee!
DeleteIt's a fun one. LOL--it sounds like the start to a good joke..."So, I was in this elevator when Lilia Kanna walks in..."
DeleteGood morning, Dee. My name is Roseanne and I write as Rosie Miles. I call myself a writer, because, that's what I do. I write Romantic Suspense. My first novel, titled, Never Surrender, is due for release December, this year, I am currently ploughing through edits, but will get there. I like to write anything and everything, short stories, blog posts. I enjoy my daily musings in my grateful journal. Everyone should have a grateful journal, they make you realise how wonderful your life is. Good luck with your blog. Ciao Rosie
DeleteGood morning Rosie! So good to see you here! Who is Never Surrender going to be published with?
DeleteI like your reasoning behind your title of 'Writer'...because it's "what [you] do." Well said.
And I too have a gratitude journal! Any time I'm feeling a bit down, I randomly open a page and remind myself of what beauty I have in my life.
A gratitude journal is a wonderful thing. Keeps me positive in those times when things don't go quite the way as planned. To keep up the positivity I always say 'thank you' as I wake every morning.
DeleteFabulous, fabulous story, Dee. I'm sure that one day your elevator pitch will morph to 'oh are YOU Dee? I just read your book!'...
DeleteMalvina
Thank you Malvina! I so hope some day someone says, "Oh! You're Dee Scully!" and follows it up with "Can I have your autograph?" Sigh...that's the dream.
DeleteGonna happen! xx
DeleteI love the idea of a gratitude journal!! I think I have just the notebook for it.
DeleteAs for what I call myself - I use writer or author interchangeably. Probably writer when I'm actually talking about it as it describes what I do - write!
I'm grateful for a good excuse to buy another gorgeous notebook. :)
DeleteGood morning.
ReplyDeleteMorning Cassie!
DeleteHey...just wondering...now that you've signed with Escape for The Scandalous Wager (out in November) what do you call yourself...what title do you prefer? (I know, I know...Supreme Writing Goddess, but other than that...)
Morning, Cassandra!
ReplyDeleteWe've had some early visitors. That is a good start. I've got pumpkin soup on the stove for dinner and a load of washing on. Anyone else trying to get things out of the way so we can all have a fun relaxing day?
ReplyDeleteI've got tomato soup happening for lunch (thanks to my lovely hubby) and a huge pile of washing to get through (hoping it doesn't rain again today).
DeleteMy hubby is still snoring. :-)
Deletelol
DeleteGood morning and congratulations on this great initiative. This is my first ever blog so not sure if this is ok.! I am interested in trying my hand at writing but not sure the best way to start. Should I be looking at having a clear minds eye view of a plot with start , middle and end and then develop some plots within or is it ok to develop a series of subplots,weave them together and see where they lead?
ReplyDeleteregards David
Oh, David! You ask a very good question! (Thank goodness I've had coffee.) When developing your story, there are various ways to go about it...you can plot it or you can 'pants' (seat of the pants) it. My personal style is to plot (but I'm excessively anal). I plot the overall book then plot chapters as I write...this gives me an outline of where I'm going and keeps me from wasting precious writing time. But...others write by the seat of their pants and do quite well that way too. I think you have to find what works for you. Having said that...come to the plot side--we're organised!
DeleteLet me have a look through my materials and I'll see what I can find for you written by gurus. If you can leave your email address at breathlessinthebush@gmail.com I can forward a list of those books/materials to you.
Every writer is different, David. I'm a plotter and have to have the whole story planned out (with character interviews included) before I can even start a story. Pantsers let the plot and characters take over the writing. Which do you think you might be?
Deletethankyou both for the great feedback. Plotter or Pantser? I'm guessing from what you both have said a 'pantser' just writes whatever she or he is thinking, gets a mess of ideas and then tries to cobble them together in a fluid story line. I'm thinking this might be ok for biographies and such but I suspect the trap of this method for fiction would be wandering far from the beaten track. As I am regarded as a bit of a waffler I suspect a 'plotter' maybe a better approach for me -at least as a starting point.
DeleteI don't mean to disparage 'pantsters' and not being one I'm not sure of the method/methods used, but it would seem likely that they write themselves into corners, but they may also write themselves into amazing new plot twists too. There are pros and cons to each.
DeleteAgain, I'm biased but I would think for a beginner knowing where you are headed will save you time and frustration--but...don't be afraid to be a little loose at times too and see where it can take you.
Good advice, Dee!
DeleteDavid, when brand new to writing, I also suggest you join a writer's group for your genre (eg Romance Writers of Australia) or your local writers centre. They are full of information to get you started.
DeleteAlso I'm a pantser - I personally would find it boring if I knew all of the story beforehand. I like to go exploring with the characters.
Good luck!
Good morning ladies,
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question as to what to call yourself... It's a hard one. I call myself a writer because I feel a bit funny calling myself an author. But that's just me. The title of writer encompasses so many things...
I've always thought a writer was someone who wrote for a living, like a blogger, journalist, social commentator etc. I guess that we write for a living (or at least I'd like to) even if it is in the form of a novel. Although Author seems to be directly associated with books doesn't it?
DeleteKaren, as author of Sinister Intent and of Deadly Obsession, I'd think you'd be comfortable calling yourself an author...? Interesting. Very interesting.
DeleteOooo, you make a good point Cassandra. I guess I'm personally more comfortable with the title 'Writer' because I not only write historical and spec fic romances but also health articles...it is all encompassing.
DeleteBTW Karen, congrats on the new book, Deadly Obsession. It's on my TBR pile for near-future consumption. Looking forward to reading it.
DeleteI think it is a personal thing. Although I'm published I just feel more comfortable calling myself a writer. Though if someone asks what I do and I say I'm a writer, the following conversations usually occurs... So what do you write? Oh you are published, so that makes you an author...
Deletelol
DeleteAgain, interesting points Karen Davis. You call yourself a writer but in conversation others clarify that you're an author because your published...which is what Suzanne Brandyn suggested.
DeleteLove the blog layout and colours. My two cents worth. A writer is someone who writes. An author is someone who is published.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne! I've thought this too. As author of numerous books, including Cold Fear, I would definitely put you in the "Author" category...perhaps adding to it "Author Extraordinaire!"
DeleteI'm with you, Suzanne. Although as 'a writer whose ms hasn't found a home yet' I do have a facebook Author page for when it does find its home.
DeleteForgot! Thank you Suzanne Brandyn for your lovely compliment. The one decision that was easy for the 12 ladies and 1 man in our group to decide on was the colour green--being in the bush, it seemed a no brainer.
DeleteIn the sense of how the publishing industry views it, I would agree with you, Suzanne.
ReplyDeleteMorning Georgia! Intriguing, isn't it...writer is considered unpubbed while author is considered pubbed.
DeleteIt is a title to strive for that is for sure.
DeleteGood morning, Dee! I don't think the distinction is necessarily derogatory.
DeleteOh, definitely not, Georgia Carter Mathers! Definitely not.
DeleteI think being a writer is a wonderful state to be. It means you are doing it. Not just talking about it. Someone who says they would like to write a book is not a writer. Someone who says they are writing a book (no matter how long it takes, or how many attempts are made) is a writer. In my opinion anyway.
DeleteHow very affirming Cassandra Samuels! I love it.
DeleteI, Dee Scully, am a writer! (LOL--it almost sounds like the start of a 12 Step program!)
For those just joining us, we're discussing titles...which is your preference, author or writer or something else? For the readers (non-authors/writers) amongst us, what would you prefer a writer/author use as a title and why? I have a $10 Amazon voucher up for grabs to one lucky commenter.
ReplyDeleteI'm Georgia Carter Mathers. I write paranormal romance and young adult fiction. My heroes and heroines fight for love in contemporary worlds touched by magic or demons or even ghosts that have not moved on. These worlds have no boundaries. My heroine usually finds she is empowered when she learns her lesson, realising her hero is right there beside her forever. Did you like the ending of the last romance you read? If you did, what was it about the happy-ever-after that you liked?
ReplyDeleteI love to love my work.
I love to laugh at quirky radio announcers.
I love to learn about new cultures.
Hi, Georgia Carter Mathers! I loved the happily ever after ending of Nikki Logan's recent release The Morning After the Night Before. Harry and Izzy's story really made me believe in romance.
DeleteThat's great Dee. I like the warm fuzzy. Nikki Logan is great!
DeleteHi Georgia Carter Mathers! The last romance I read was Rachael Johns' 'Outback Blaze' and I loved the ending. It's so satisfying to see characters you've come to know and love finally getting the love they deserve.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think a reader invests in the characters when they spend time in a book. A happy ending makes it worth the read.
DeleteHi, Georgia Carter Mathers!
DeleteAbsolutely! I prefer the HEA of a romance to say the not-so-happy-ever-after of a Nicholas Sparks love story like The Notebook or Audrey Neffenegger's The Time Travellers Wife. Don't get me wrong, I loved both of those books but at the end I felt bereft...heart-broken, hurt. It's hard to go about your daily business when you've just read the ending of one of these books and realised that the character/s you fell in love with has died! You never feel bereft or hurt at the end of a romance because the characters you grew to love over-came seemingly insurmountable obstacles in order to be together...you know that (in the fictional future) they will survive any thing else life throws at them.
Yes, Dee Scully. We all want the best for the people we have come to know. I believe it is the same for characters in the books we read.
DeleteThere's also the problem of someone witnessing your 'ugly cry' after just finishing those tear-jerkers. :)
DeleteSo true. No one wants to see my mascara streaked sad face!
DeleteðŸ˜
Hi everyone. It's been a fun and informative first hour. Congrats. I'm with Suzanne on the writer/author definition but do like your new one, Dee. To David, plotters/pantsers? I'll complicate the issue a little more and tell you there's a third group: the sceners. They write separate scenes out of chronological order and then have to place them in correct order in the story. I'm one of those and it's no easy task, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting, Enisa. I've heard of a similar approach before. It would make for some original writing.
DeleteHaving read some of Enisa Haines' very original work, I can vouch for that, Georgia Carter Mathers.
DeleteYes, there are probably a half dozen other types of writers too, but the most important is, as Cassandra Samuels said, 'writer--a person who is actively writing!' It doesn't matter how you go about it in the end...what matters is that you are doing it!
DeleteHi there, Enisa Haines! Good to see you here! Ah, the 'sceners'. Of course. You do like to make your life complicated, don't you. xx
ReplyDeleteThat's me. Complication is my middle name. :)
DeleteAnd 'Awesome Suspense Writer' is your last name.
Delete😉
Oh! I should announce the winner of the first $10 Amazon voucher...Anonymous commenter David!
ReplyDeletePlease email your name and email address to breathlessinthebush@gmail.com so we can get your voucher to you! Congratulations and thank you for being a part of this morning's conversations!!!
Congratulations, David! We'll be in touch soon.
DeleteVery soon.
DeleteCongratulations David. Coming up next: the first commenter to tell me which author in the Breathless in the Bush team will have a romance released with Escape Publishing on 1st November 2014 will win a PDF copy of Imogene Nix’s Tomorrow’s Promise. Hint: the author's name starts with C.
ReplyDeleteAnother clue: she writes witty Regency historicals.
DeleteI thought someone would've told you by now that you're referring to the lovely Cassandra Samuels. Well, she is counting down...
DeleteAh Robyn you are too clever. I am counting down and it is very exciting.
DeleteCongrats Robyn! You've won a copy of Imogene Nix's Tomorrow's Promise. Please send your email address to breathlessinthebush@gmail.com and we will get it to you asap.
DeleteYay! Yes, it's Cassandra Samuels who will release The Scandalous Wager with Escape Publishing in November!!! Well done Robyn!
DeleteCongrats Robyn!
DeleteWriters, congratulations on your official launch. I'm so glad that I've taken a little time out of my editing on this sunny morning and peeked out through my window. The trees and birds outside bring me closer to what's inside my home right now - YOU. Thank goodness for the internet spreading your words of love. As a matter of fact, it's left me feeling a little breathless in the bush. However, I'd better stop chirping...
ReplyDeleteChirp away, Robyn. We love you and we love your comment. Welcome!
DeleteMalvina
So glad you've popped in to see us, Robyn. We're all feeling a little bit breathless at the moment. Did you read the opening blog. Our Enisa gave us our name.
DeleteHi Robyn Aldridge! Lovely to see you here! And thank you for your congrats.
DeleteHi, Robyn Aldridge! It's so lovely to see you here in the bush! I'm looking out my window to the bird feeder...king parrots, rainbow lorikeets, and cockies are sharing bread crumbs. They are so beautiful--just like you!
DeleteAre you working on your romantic time travel?
Hi Robyn. Welcome. Lovely to know you're reading our blog.
DeleteThank you for dropping by Robyn. I am looking out my window too, but it is filled with cars. I have two teenagers with P plates now and they park on the front grass.
DeleteOne reply for all of you. Lovely to speak to you following up so close on the conference. I haven't worked my way around to everything on your site but I'll be more diligent once I have more of my words travelling well together. Yes, it's that TT.
DeleteMy garden is my bird feeder. Will have to post a pic of the flowers that the rainbow lorikeets love best of all. Thought I heard a Channel Bill Cuckoo back down this way, earlier on this week. They love to sneak in - and take over. Reminds me of some of the characters we write about. You did well with your marketing of the site at RWA. Lovely flyer. Time to stop chirping again b/c this bird really has to fly, even if it's only to another location in the present time...
Thanks for visiting, Robyn. Look forward to more visits in the future. xx
DeleteCongratulations on your blog! All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggi. The launch is exciting.
DeleteHi, Maggi Andersen, author of The Duke's Mysterious Lady and numerous other historical and contemporary romances! So great to see you here!
DeleteQuestion for you (from earlier)...what title do you prefer--writer or author--and why?
Hi Maggi. Thanks for dropping by. If you haven't read one of Maggi Anderson's books I highly recommend them.
DeleteI do love the girls - and guy - writing for this blog, they are all very dear to my heart. We have had some fabulous successes in Breathless in the Bush over the years - and we do *love* success stories! What's been a good success story for you?
ReplyDeleteMalvina
Hi Malvina! Thanks for dropping by. We love you too. A success story for me was pitching at the Sydney conference and NOT being nervous! Big step for me. (And I was asked by two editors for my full ms. :) )
DeleteCongratulations, Marilyn!
DeleteI got over my first contest results (with the help of some friends and some overly friendly possums). Doesn't sound like much but after some pretty caustic criticism from one judge, it was a mammoth effort to start writing again.
DeleteThanks, Georgia Carter Mathers! You had requests too, I hear.
DeleteSqueeeee, Marilyn Forsyth!!! Congratulations!
DeleteI believe Georgia Carter Mathers was also asked for her manuscript at the recent Romance Writers of Australia conference in Sydney. Congrats to you to Georgia!
Can't wait to read your books in print!!
Thanks Marilyn & Dee. Yes, I did have requests. The first step is always the hardest. Repeating them ensures success.
DeleteContest judges' feedback can be either totally uplifting or a real downer. So glad you got over your writing phobia, Dee Scully.
DeleteHi Malvina. My favourite success story (or highlight I'd call it) was in 1997. I told Nancy Peters, then boss of Sydney's Harlequin Mills & Boon office that the RWA Committee would love to have Nora Roberts out for a conference in perhaps 5 years time after we'd saved up some funds. And she, in her enthusiasm, took my idea the very next month to the Editors' meeting in Toronto and returned to inform me Nora was coming in 1998! Still a favourite memory of mine!
DeleteWOW! What a coup, Enisa!
DeleteWhich author would you get to come out to the next conference in 2016 Enisa if you could?
DeleteLinda Howard. JR Ward. Robynn Carr. Sharon Sala. And so on... I have a big wish list.
DeleteBreak out and name the hero you’ve been too shy to say you swooned over.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's tough...
DeleteThere's so many to choose from!
I know. I go for the dark, silent type.
DeleteOh, Georgia. No breaking out needed for me. I'm not in the least shy about naming who I swoon over. My fave is Sawyer from Lost and no one has beaten him as yet from top spot.
DeleteIn books it's Nora Roberts' Roarke from the 'In Death' series. He's swoon x100!
So what's happened to the guy from Nickelback???
DeleteNow, let's see, Marilyn. Sawyer for the dark, brooding and dangerous factor. Chad Kroeger for the 'to-die-for' voice - which is my mobile phone ring tone, btw. and Roarke - well, he's my imagination of ultimate hero!
DeleteThere, have 3 faves.
I have used Henry Cavil as the inspiration behind my hero Lord Bellamy in A Scandalous Wager. He is very swoon-worthy.
DeleteWasn't he meant to be Edward in 'Twilight', Cassandra?
DeleteI do believe he was the original Edward in Stephanie Meyer's mind when she wrote the book but he was too old to play him by the time the movie came around.
DeleteIt's a great morning. The sun seems to have won the battle with the clouds of yesterday and the sky is shining a blue welcome to our blog launch. I love it! Hi everyone. Again! I'm Enisa. My highly emotional streak draws me to stories where the emotions are intense and the stakes are high, where heroes and heroines are confronted by danger unimaginable. Danger they must defeat if they are to stay alive and have their happy-ever-after. So it's no wonder I write Romantic Suspense and Paranormal Romance.
ReplyDeleteAt least, that's my reasoning. Danger in stories intrigues me.
How about you? What is it about a particular romance genre that attracts you as a writer and/or reader?
I love to love - how love conquers all adversity.
I love to laugh - laughter guarantees a smile.
I love to learn - about people and what makes them who they are. Knowing my characters helps make them real people.
Good morning, Enisa! Yes, the blue sky is glorious. I'm attracted to elements that the characters have to conquer as well as strange happenings that point to the unknown.
DeleteHi, Georgia May. It's the elements that the characters have to conquer that help them grow stronger throughout the book to the conclusion. I love reading about how they grow to be better characters than they start out as.
DeleteHistoricals are my favourite sub-genre. I love historical characters that inhabit their time periods yet still have a contemporary feel...they have the same underlying emotions that you and I have--happiness, sadness, pain, joy, hurt, anger, love, etc...
DeleteAnd via recommendations of historical novels by you and others, Dee, I've fallen for historical novels, too, especially Medieval Romance. That time period was full of intrigue and danger with people's lives at risk from wars, superstitions, murders. A plethora of reasons.
DeleteSpeaking of medieval romances, have you read Alyssa J. Montgomery's Knight of Her Heart? Beautiful. You'll fall in love with the characters and their story!
DeleteRead it before it got published, Dee. Lucky me!
DeleteLove the cover!
DeleteLucky gal!!!
DeleteKnight of her Heart is by Alyssa James who is also Alyssa J Montgomery.
DeleteThanks Cassie! A link to Alyssa's medieval is: http://www.amazon.com.au/Knight-Her-Heart-Conquering-Book-ebook/dp/B00LNE6Z5Q . I believe she'll be stopping in later today to give away a copy.
DeleteFantastic. That will be great.
DeleteHi Enisa Haines! Nice to see a bit of blue out there, isn't it? The romance genres I love to read are the genres I also write - Rural and Outback romance. I love the sense of community they evoke and the quirky characters you meet.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget the warm and fuzzy feelings of love they evoke in readers, Marilyn. By the end of the stories I feel as if they are part of my family.
DeleteCongratulations on your new blog - looks fantastic. Nicole xx
ReplyDeleteMulti-published Nicole Hurley-Moore! Squeeee!!! So exciting to see you here!
DeleteThanks Nicole Hurley-Moore, author of Seizing Heaven.We're excited to have you. We're talking about success stories. What was your first success story?
DeleteHi Nicole Hurley-Moore! Thanks for dropping by. We're honoured.
DeleteLovely to be here! ;) Hey Dee - love that you did an actual 'elevator pitch', that's awesome. All the best. x
DeleteNicole Hurley-Moore. Happy to see you here. I'd love to know what drew you to the genre you write.
DeleteYes. We thought it was awesome too. Good on you Dee!
DeleteThank you Nicole!!! I'll blog about it in a future post.
DeleteNicole's books are awesome. Try the Trinket Seller's Daughter if you like Knights.
DeleteHi Georgia & Marilyn. :) I guess it would have been when my first book 'The Trinket Seller's Daughter' was accepted. It gave me the confidence to keep writing and that I was on the right path. I always knew that I wanted to be an author and that validated it.
DeleteAw, thanks Cassandra! xxxx
DeleteI love knights! Just added Nicole Hurley-Moore's 'The Trinket Seller's Daughter' to my reading list.
DeleteThanks for telling us your success story, Nicole! I must buy it now - I'll put it on my goodreads shelf to remind myself. :)
DeleteHi Enisa :) I've loved fairy tales and medieval history since I was a kid. So much so that I went on to study it at uni. Sometimes I'll write other genres but medieval romance always pulls me back. It's my first love. :)
DeleteThanks guys - you rock! x
DeleteLovely success story, Nicole. Have to tell you I read the blurb of 'The Trinket Seller's Daughter' on the Amazon site and, wham, it caught my attention immediately. Great storyline. I've just purchased it.
DeleteOnce again - congrats! It looks as if 'Breathless in the Bush Blog' is already a huge success!!!
DeleteThanks so much Enisa - I hope you like it. *bites fingernails*
DeleteFairy tales, Nicole. Same for me. Cinderella got me started on my love of romance. No wonder 'Pretty Woman' is my fave romance movie.
DeleteAnd the winner of Peter McAra's ebook 'A World Apart' is none other than 'bites fingernails' Nicole Hurley-Moore!
DeleteCongratulations Nicole! Please send an email to breathlessinthebush@gmail.com and we'll get that e-book to you asap.
DeleteWow, thanks! I look forward to reading it. :D
DeleteHoly guacamole! 137 comments!
ReplyDeleteAnd you started it all! You're back!
DeleteLovely to see you Vonnie Hughes, multi-published historical romance author!
Hi Vonnie Hughes author of Sister's in Jeopardy. We are having a great time here. Did you see Enisa's question about favourite genre? I suspect I know what yours is.
DeleteYes, 137 and counting. Thanks Vonnie, it has been terrific so far.
DeleteCongratulations Robyn Aldridge on winning Tomorrow's Promise. I love to laugh because the world is too serious if I don't. So for the next prize I'd like to give it to the first commenter to describe the funniest cat video/pic they’ve ever seen. The first commenter will win an e-book copy of Peter McAra’s Love or Money.
ReplyDeleteOmigosh, how could anyone choose?? Looking forward to seeing responses to this!
DeleteWell, now, the cats I love are the big ones that live in the jungles and savannah landscapes. I'll admit to being a dog-lover with plenty of funny dog moments in my memory.
DeleteI like the sad cat diary one - very, very funny. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKffm2uI4dk
DeleteFunny cat pictures are a very important part of romance writing. Very important. Almost as important as pen and paper.
DeleteLOL I love the funny cat pic of the cat looking at the computer (obviously on the net) with a caption saying, "This is relevant to what I'm writing." I have a bad habit of wasting time on (irrelevant) social media...of course, that doesn't include the Breathless in the Bush blog!!!
DeleteThanks for the link, Cassandra. Love cat humour. :)
DeleteCongrats Ladies I love the name and although I am not a writer I am an avid romance reader and look forward to popping in each week
ReplyDeleteHave Fun
Helen :)
Helen, our blog is for readers and writers of romance! I'm looking forward to getting your take on issues on this amazing genre in future blogs!!! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWe love readers Helen. Writers and readers go hand in hand don't you think? Most of us start off as avid readers. I know that the Australian Romance Readers Association (ARRA) is a fabulous organization that promotes Romance reading and many writers are also welcome. :-)
DeleteHi Helen! Thanks so much for visiting us today, and we look forward to your future visits. What types of romance are you particularly interested in...historical, rural, contemporary?
DeleteThere would be no need for romance writers if there weren't romance readers.
DeleteI've just joined ARRA. It's only $20 for the year. Bargain!
DeleteIt is a bargain and their newsletter is fantastic.
DeleteIf anyone would like to know more about ARRA you can find out more here: www.australianromancereaders.com.au
DeleteWelcome, Helen. There's so much choice to be had within romance. We'll look forward to seeing you each week.
DeleteYou're very welcome here, Helen. A writer is a reader who has a yearning to write what they love to read, so as Cassandra said, readers and writers are intertwined. So feel free to visit our blog.
DeleteName two things you would ask for if you were stranded on a deserted island with an immortal being who grants you two wishes.
ReplyDeleteA never ending packet of Tim Tams (naturally) and a kindle full of books (with a solar battery).
DeleteYes, it has to be never-ending. My two things would be an endless massage and a male masseuse. He he.
DeleteI've answered this question a while back on another blog. The same answer still applies. A never-ending supply of batteries for my laptop. And books!
DeleteI'm a purist...I'd want clean water and food.
DeleteHmmm. Apart from the obvious (wishing for more wishes) I'm thinking I'd be asking for a loaded kindle with some way of powering it, and chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike, Cassandra!
DeleteChocolate never hurts.
DeleteWhich reminds me...where is my packet of Freddoes??
DeleteWhich star sign has a picture of a virgin?
ReplyDeleteI've no idea. Anyone else know? I'm a Taurus so I can't be bothered with other signs. lol
DeleteVirgo?
DeleteAbsolutely, Marilyn. Virgo.
DeleteHey, everyone. I have the ebook 'For Love or Money' by Peter McAra to give away. My query is 'Which romance novel would you like to see made into a movie? Third response is the winner.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Karen Marie Moning's 'Kiss of the Highlander' made into a movie. I'm seriously into kilted Scotsmen from the past atm and loving 'Outlander'.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Road trip with an eligible bachelor made into a movie. I'd be crying all the way through.
DeleteI would love to see Nora Roberts' 'Naked in Death'. The first of her 'In Death' series. Mel Gibson bought the rights long ago but never a snippet about the movie being made. Sigh.
DeleteComment Yahoo if you’ve just eaten lunch.
ReplyDeleteJust eating a sandwich now. I was hungry with all this chatting.
Deletemcxxkdjdid (that's 'Me too!' with my mouth full) :)
DeleteJust had a salad sandwich. Now making coffee to feed my coffee addiction.
DeleteFor those of you who have just joined us, what kind of romance does Marilyn Forsyth write? You'll find the answer on her author page and in the comments.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Karen Davis’ latest release called?
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Karen Davis and I write crime fiction. Having been a NSW police officer for twenty years, crime is what I know and love, and I use my real life experiences as inspiration for my stories. In my books, Sinister Intent and Deadly Obsession, there is a strong attraction between my heroine and her work partner that really heats up the pages. I love creating and writing the romantic aspect of the story but I have to be careful not to get carried away and let the love story overtake the plot.
ReplyDeleteSo I ask; how much romance is enough? Asking this of romance writers.... should be interesting. I'll be giving away a copy of each of my books as a prize for the most interesting or unusual answers.
I love to love to read all types of books.
I love to laugh as often as possible.
I love to learn about anything that can improve my writing.