By Cassandra Ssmuels
Greetings everyone, what a month it has been. I had the great pleasure to attend the annual Romance Writers of Australia conference in the picturesque Glenelg in Adelaide.
Fellow Blogger and Breathless member, Enisa Haines and I shared a room, and what an amazing view we had.
Friday night was the cocktail party and what fun that was. The theme was Trope Actually and I must say there were many runaway brides that night. Enisa went as a fortune teller complete with Crystal Ball, and I went as all the tropes - most of which fell off during the night. I got in a quick hug with Hugh Jackman, and enjoyed catching up with writing buddies, and finding out what they have been up to since last year.
Saturday was full of amazing workshops including a key speech from BJ Daniels - "It's never too late to reach your dream". Followed by 50 years of Mills and Boon where Enisa was asked, as a founding member of RWAust, to sit on the panel to discuss her long love affair with Mills and Boon books. She is second in from the left.
I then attended a wonderful workshop on "Success with a Series" by Anne Gracie which was timely as I have a series I am writing.
Sunday was again chocka-block full of workshops and key note speeches. "I Don't Just Write Kissing Books" by Elana Johnson was emotional and really made me think why I write what I do.
I didn't get to hear all of Christina Laurens key note, but I heard it was really good, and there were plenty of laughs.
Next year, the conference will be held in Wrest Point in Hobart Tasmania. So if you are interested, check out the RWAustralia website.
I love to love spending time with my writer friends at conference every year.
I love to laugh with my crit partners.
I love to learn New things and ways of writing
Wow, it sounds like the conference was just so fabulous! So glad you and Enisa could go and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! (Hi, Hugh Jackman...) I think attending a conference always fires up fresh enthusiasm and love for writing and romance in general. And the wonderful thing is it's done with friends old and new, and 'your tribe'. Tassie sounds awesome next year!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great conference and it was great to see friends.
DeleteI LOVE CONFERENCE! It is the most wonderful time of the year (and I'd be insisting we do it more than once except it's crazy exhausting!). The Christina Lauren keynote was amazing (but they're my favourite authors so I could be biased!) and the line up for Tassie is killer! I mean, historical romance fans aren't going to want to miss Sarah Maclean... and I'm a big fan of Sarra Cannon's planning method!
ReplyDeleteI love Sarah Maclean and Sarra Cannons you tube videos are so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an absolutely fabulous conference, Cassandra. So many interesting keynotes and a great opportunity to mix with published and aspiring authors.
ReplyDeleteIt is always fun to be amongst people who understand the ups and downs of being a writer. There is so much inspiration to be had as well.
ReplyDeleteThis conference was one of the best. Always a fabulous time with you, Cassie. And great catching up with writer friends and meeting new, feeling the positive vibes all around inspiring us all to step forward and write. I'm always proud of how far RWA has come.
ReplyDeleteWe do have fun don't we Enisa? RWA is a great association so no wonder you are proud.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have missed the conference again this year, but it's been a busy (and expensive) time, what with moving and all that that involves. So glad you girls had a great time catching up with writing friends and attending workshops.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't the same without you there Marilyn, but it was good to see some of the other Breathless girls there Kristine and Alyssa. Iove the keynote speakers - great for boosting the confidence.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassie, It was great to see you there and I thoroughly enjoyed the conference. Looking forward to 2025! Best wishes Alyssa (Alyssa J. Montgomery
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