Elisabeth Rose

RWA Conference

2011-08-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

350 romance writers are heading to Melbourne this week for the 20th Anniversary conference, our biggest number of delegates yet. Apart from the usual excitement of catching up with friends, meeting new people, brushing shoulders with the visiting editors agents and big name writers, this conference is special for me because of my very first R*BY final.

I never imagined Instant Family would make the short list for this award but it has thanks to some very discerning reader judges--LOL On Saturday evening the results of the R*BY will be announced. Finalling is such a thrill I honestly don't care if my book doesn't win much as I would like it to of course.

Instant Family will be available at the conference bookstore along with two other titles The Tangled Web which was a Golden Quill finalist and Stuck. On Saturday I will be doing a book signing during one of the meal breaks so watch out for that and come and say hello.

New Sale!!!

2011-07-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've just signed a contract with The Whiskey Creek Press for Eve's Passion. Release date is August 2012. I'm thrilled to have a home for this story as it's one of my favourites. It's a sexier read than my Avalon books so was unsuitable to send to my editor there.

I have however, recently sold my eighth story to Avalon--Love On the North Shore Line--no release date as yet.

The fabulous RWAustralia conference is coming up fast and excitement is rising in the ranks.
All is well on the writing front :)

Talking about being an author

2011-06-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

I spoke to 60 six year olds this morning. They were learning about being an author and the process of an idea in someone's head turning into a book. What a fabulous group of children. They were very responsive and amazingly knowledgable. They all had questions prepared and asked them confidently. They all sat and listened attentively and were a credit to their teachers.

I love to think that in that group one little person may be inspired to write by today's experience. I enjoyed every minute with those beautiful children and would love to do it again!

Amazement!!

2011-05-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we went to Narooma for a quick overnight visit with relatives. When we returned I had a phone message from the RWA R*BY manager saying please call her. I assumed it would be some RWA committee business or maybe about the Little Gems Anthology because we're involved in both but no, my book Instant Family had finalled in the Long Romance section of the Romantic Book of the Year. Wow!!!

Then I went to check the pile of emails before I rushed off to Sunday afternoon tennis. There sat an email from the Manager of the Phoenix Desert Rose Golden Quill Contest telling me Instant Family had won the Traditional romance category and my other entry The Tangled Web had finalled. I couldn't believe it!

Instant Family is set in my hometown of Canberra so I'm doubly pleased to be waving the flag not only for my publisher Avalon but for homegrown sweet Aussie romance! If you happen to be one of the readers who read and judged Instant Family as worthy--thank-you very much!!

War and Peace is finally over

2011-04-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

I finished War and Peace! Last night was the end of a 964 page marathon which lasted many years. I've forgotten when I started but it must be at least 5 years ago because the book was a new paperback and now the paper is yellowing round the edges.

There are two Epilogues in which Tolstoy follows his characters into a future where the surviving couples are happily married with children underfoot and life is peaceful for a while. Of course with hindsight we know that those aristocrat lifestyles didn't last. Tolstoy finished W&P in 1869, fifty years after the Napoleonic invasion of Russia and nearly fifty years before the 1917 revolution.

One thing stood out to me throughout the book and that was how little seems to have changed with the warmongers of our society. Tolstoy gives detailed accounts of the way campaigns are bungled and battles lost or won by stupid mistakes, and misunderstood instructions given by inept, lazy or preoccupied commanders with their own agendas.

I'm pleased I read the whole book and am ready to tackle another classic author now. Not sure what yet.

The Wedding Party

2011-04-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy with the cover of my next book, it's so pretty and so romantic, exactly as a wedding themed book cover should be. The Wedding Party was inspired by niece's wedding in beautiful Narooma one summer day several year's ago. Her groom had two Best Men which was rather unusual and the celebrant made it a very personal and loving ceremony.

I was so impressed by the way she spoke I asked her afterwards was she a friend of the couple. She said, "No, I do all my weddings that way. I interview the couple and get them to fill out a questionnaire, secretly, about the other person. It makes it very personal and a surprise for everyone." This girl clearly loved weddings---I had my heroine.

At the reception one of the two Best Men declared he was the last of the trio of best friends to remain single and had no intention of following his mates down that aisle. He crewed on a charter yacht in the Med and loved his unfettered lifestyle. I had my hero.

To find out how I managed to wrangle these two into submission, overcome their totally opposite views on marriage and fall in love forever, snap up a copy of The Wedding Party when it comes out in June.

Keep an eye on my website and blog for a chance to win a copy because closer to the release date I'll be doing a giveaway.

Missing Christmas

2010-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

We're heading off to Egypt via one night in Bangkok ( :) ) next week. My husband has always wanted to see the Pyramids and do a Nile cruise so we're finally fulfilling that dream. Alexandria and Istanbul have been on my list for a long time too so they're in there as well. Can't go all that way and be so close and not do Petra and float in the Dead Sea, of course. It's all very exciting.

BUT for the first time since 1975 and 1976 we're missing Christmas with the family.

At first it seemed like a good plan and we didn't mind because our families are close and we see everyone throughout the year on a regular basis, plus we promised exotic gifts from foreign climes when we return. First a friend issued invitations to his 50th birthday for the week after Christmas Then even worse a nephew announced he and his partner were getting married on Christmas Day to take advantage of the fact the family will be together and her mother and sister will be visiting from Europe. Waaahhh. Then last week a young friend invited us to his wedding in Melbourne just after the New Year.

So we're missing 2 weddings and a 50th birthday. Our only consolation is we'll be drifting down the Nile.

Seasons greetings to all

New site for book lovers

2010-11-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

I've just signed up to this site along with many of your favourite authors. It looks pretty good if a little overwhelming at first. I spent half the morning entering my books into their database.
Check it out. They have author pages, a chat lounge, giveaways, reviews and probably more stuff which I haven't found yet. The link is on the right

New Reviews

2010-10-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

Review time can be almost as nervewracking for an author as sending the new baby off to the editor for approval so it was a relief to read some lovely words about my latest book Instant Family from Coffee Time Romance. 4 Cups!

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/instantfamilybyelisabethrose.html

Fun in Coogee

2010-08-26T16:04:00.001-07:00

Check out my website for photos from the RWAustralia conference in beautiful Coogee, Sydney.
http://www.elisabethrose.com.au

Dogs in my books

2010-08-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Just back from a fantastic long weekend in Coogee at the RWA conference. So much inspiration and so many enthusiastic writers--Wonderful.

I heard someone say there that she'd read anything with dogs in it and it made me think about my own books. Dogs make major appearances in two of them and a minor appearance in one. Cats are in two.

Woof, a malamute, features in The Right Chord. In fact the dog next door inspired the story by howling when he heard sirens. It wasn't a big leap to have a fictitious dog who howls when the heroine plays her violin. Of course he lives next door to her and belongs to the hero.

In my latest release The Tangled Web, the heroine has two dogs. One is a bouncy, friendly terrier called Fidelio ( Fid ) and the other an elderly black Labrador called Hannibal who leaves nasty smells about the house. The hero doesn't like dogs at first but becomes very fond of Fid.

The hero in Stuck takes his young daughters along to the Animal Shelter to choose a kitten. The heroine has a disdainful fluffy white Persian called Aladdin but she calls him Big Al.

In my next release Instant Family, the children are upset because the cat has disappeared, but, as cats sometimes do, it does turn up, much to the youngest girl's delight.

I write pets into my stories quite naturally. We always had cats and a dog when I was a child and my family has had a cat until recently. I hadn't thought much about it until I heard the comment at the conference and realised pets have wiggled their way into all my books except one. Although--there is a cat in Coming Home, he just doesn't belong to either main character!

ARRA Booksigning at the RWAustralia conference

2010-07-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

The RWAustralia conference in Coogee is fast approaching. The Australian Romance Readers Association is having a booksigning. I'll be there and so should you be!

Friday August 13th from 4-30

Latest sale

2010-07-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to say Avalon have purchased my seventh (!!!) book, The Wedding Party. No release date as yet but probably late 2011. Yippeee.

New Cover

2010-05-14T01:21:00.000-07:00

This is the cover for my October release with Avalon. The artists at Avalon really do a great job. I haven't a seen dud cover yet and mine have all been fantastic.

Avalon's new editor

2010-04-20T23:43:00.001-07:00

Pop over to the Avalon Author's Blog and get to know our new editor Lia Brown, in an interview by Avalon author Laurie Alice Eakes.

Berlin Philharmonic

2010-04-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

How exciting! My tickets to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra concert in November arrived yesterday. Can't wait.

Interviewed by the WINK girls

2010-02-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I'll be interviewed by Writers Ink , a romance writing group from Western Australia. Drop in and you may win a copy of Outback Hero, my latest release.

http://winkgirls.blogspot.com/

Large Print

2010-02-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

I've just discovered that the Large Print edition of Outback Hero is up on Amazon. Nice surprise. No cover photo yet but it's out in May.

I used to chuckle at the size of the print in those editions --about 4 words per page--but now I need reading glasses they're not looking so funny after all! LOL

New Cover

2010-01-23T14:59:00.001-08:00

So here's the latest cover. Another beautiful piece of art work from Avalon's artists. This is the most romantic one yet and I couldn't be happier.

The Tangled Web comes out in June. Readers of The Right Chord will recognise some of the characters and I've used The City Symphony Orchestra again which I invented for that book's heroine Grace to play in. The Tangled Web was lots of fun to write and I think Tess is my favourite heroine so far.

Here's what it's about:

Tess Fuller’s plan was simple—take out a loan to buy the Mercedes convertible and find a boarder to cover the repayments. Tess’s problem is, no boarder. That is, until handsome David Montgomery arrives to take up his position as Concert Master of the City Symphony, of which Tess is a member. If she can convince David to rent the spare room in the house she inherited from her millionaire father, her problem is solved.

The trouble is, serious minded David hates sharing, doesn’t like dogs-- of which Tess has two-- and remembers her as an attractive but wild party girl from their Music School days. Tess remembers David as the frustratingly unsociable heartthrob she adored from afar.

When Tess tries to prove to David she has changed, her efforts create even more problems.

Giveaway Winner

2009-11-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Cassie from NSW. Her signed copy of Outback Hero will be in the post shortly.

Win a copy of Outback Hero

2009-10-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

My promo copies turned up yesterday. It's always exciting to open the big box of the newest release. If you'd like to enter the draw for a copy o0f Outback Hero go to my website and email me the answer to a simple question. The contest runs until the end of November.

Wedding kiss

2009-10-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

I played at a wedding yesterday with my wind trio. We've done hundreds of weddings but this time the celebrant said something I've never heard before but was blindingly obvious in hindsight.

When they'd taken the vows he said, "You may now kiss your bride in public."

It never occurred to me before, that this tradition stemmed from giving permission to kiss in public.

My Music Links

2009-10-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun recently finding You Tube versions of all the music in my books. If you go to the Music page on my website you'll find I've listed all the musical references. Now they are linked to performances. I thought readers may enjoy discovering some new pieces.

In my second book Coming Home, for example, the beautiful Elgar Cello Concerto plays a large role. If you haven't heard it the references won't be as vivid, they won't mean as much. I found a YouTube video of Jacquleine Du Pre whose wonderful version I mention in the book.

If you find these links as you read my books you'll be able to, as one of of my lecturers at Music School said, "enjoy two pleasures at once." He was talking about listening to Wagner operas in the bath LOL

Pet peeve

2009-09-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

I've read a few historical romances lately--I'm quite partial to them -- but my enjoyment has been spoiled by American anachronsims in the language. I'm sure the US authors and their editors don't even notice, but I do!

It grates on me when a young lady in supposedly Regency England says "It's time to go wash up." NO!!! Can you imagine Jane Eyre saying that to her charge? I don't think so. And replying to the query "How are you today?" with "I'm fine."

The weird thing is in many other respects the authors go to great lengths to use formal language and terminology relevant to the setting.

Things I learned while unpublished

2009-08-21T21:09:00.001-07:00

I wrote for 6 years before I sold to Avalon. During that time I wrote and learned and wrote some more and learned some more. An ongoing process as we all know . . .

One important thing I learned is how long it takes me to write a book and what my method is. This is valuable knowledge for a writer because when that first sale comes along and with it the first contract, you have a clear idea of what you can manage and in what timeframe.

Publishers buy an author not just one book. They want to know they can rely on their new author to produce good quality, clean, ready to go work, on time as per the contract. Regard your unpublished time as an apprenticeship. This is when you learn not only your trade but about yourself.

Another bonus was that with 6 years of writing behind me I had a nice pile of stories to offer my publisher one by one with only minor revisions needed to suit the house guidelines. No stress involved. I also had vastly improved writing skills to bring to the revision of each suitable, completed manuscript. Suddenly I have 7 books out or in the pipeline.

I'm glad I didn't sell that very first story that went off only to be rejected. I wasn't pleased then despite some nice comments about it, but in hindsight it was a very good thing.

New Sale

2009-08-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

I've just heard from my lovely editor that book number 6 for Avalon, 'Instant Family' is scheduled for Oct 2010.

That means 2 books will be out next year starting with The Tangled Web in June !

Better get writing--fast.

Four Things Tagging

2009-06-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Avalon Wester writer Ian Parnham tagged me. http://ijparnham.blogspot.com
so here goes

Four Movies that I can see over and over.
1. Six Days Seven Nights 2. A Night At the Opera 3. Terminator 14. The Castle

Four Places I have lived.
1. Canberrra Australia 2. Sierre, Switzerland 3. The Hague, Holland 4. Leeds, England --briefly

Four TV shows that I love to watch.
1. Spicks and Specks (ABC Australia) 2. Graham Norton Show 3. Father Ted 4. Silent Witness

Four places where I have gone on vacation.
1. Western Australia 2. Uluru 3. New Zealand 4. China

Four favourite foods.
1. Mangoes 2. Pasta 3. Nuts 4. Chocolate

Four websites I visit daily
1. Nick Hoorweg Music http://nickhoorwegmusic.today.com/2. Avalon Authors blog http://avalonauthors.blogspot.com/3. Facebook 4.RWAustraliaYahoo group

Four Places I would rather be.
1. I like where I am 2. Outside 3. At a good concert 4. Travelling

Four things that I would like to do before I die.
1 Go to Brazil 2. Finish War and Peace 3. Live to 100 (at least)4. See the Pyramids

Four novels I wish that I was reading for the first time.
1. A Dance to the Music of Time--Anthony Powell ( That's 12 in one)2. Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen 3. The Mayor of Casterbridge--Thomas Hardy 4. To Kill A Mockingbird--Harper Lee

Four people to tag.
Nick Hoorweg http://nickhoorwegmusic.today.com/
Tracey O'Hara http://traceyo.livejournal.com/
Christina Phillips http://www.christinaphillips.blogspot.com/
Erica Hayes http://faerylite.livejournal.com/

Washington here we come

2009-06-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

I'm such a slack blogger! Anyone who was evenly vaguely interested has probably wandered off by now.

Anyway. We've been finalising our USA trip which culminates at the RWA conference in Washington. My husband and I are leaving Canberra on July 1st and heading to Las Vegas via LA. We recover there for a couple of days and visit the Grand Canyon, something that's been on my list for a long, long time.

After that we fly to Buffalo for Niagara Falls, pick up a hire car and meander across to Gloucester north of Boston on the coast to visit friends. Train to New York for a week then on to Washington and home on July 21st.
I'm really looking forward to the NY stay because I'll be able to meet my two lovely Avalon editors Chelsea Gilmore and Faith Black, plus visit the Avalon offices in Madison Avenue. Our daughter is joining us for the week in NY so that will be double fun. Jazz clubs and music events are the big draw for our family.

I'm heading to Washington a day ahead of my husband. He's not mad keen on being surrounded by thousands of romance writers LOL but we aim to take in as much as we can of the sights of the famous city. I want to see that long rectangular pool that shows up in movies all the time.

Only three weeks to go now!

New music blog

2009-04-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

Check out this new blog. Looks interesting. The first post is about Steely Dan one of my all time favourite bands.
http://nickhoorwegmusic.today.com/

Giveaway of Stuck

2009-04-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hop over to my website and seek out the answer to this question to go in the draw to win a copy of Stuck. You've got till May 1st.
Name one of the hero Brad's two daughters.
Email me your answer and you could be the winner of my latest Avalon release 'Stuck.'
http://www.elisabethrose.com.au

Reading

2009-04-21T17:49:00.001-07:00

I read a lot and in many genres and absolutely love visiting the library for my next fix. My current page turner is John Grisham's The Last Juror.

If you haven't read any Grisham, why not? He's a master storyteller. He has an incredible ability to set the scene with a few descriptions and deft characterisations. The Last Juror is written in first person which I like-- both to read and to write-- and this gives a very personal intensity to the events which is sometimes missing in third person narrative.

The story reminds me vaguely of to Kill A Mockingbird which I also reread fairly recently. Maybe it's the southern USA small town setting of last century with it's racism and corruption, and the legal drama at the heart of the story.

It's more than that though. Both stories have at their core a deep sense of what's morally right as seen through the eyes of a young person. In this case the young newspaper man Willie Traynor (24) and in To Kill A Mocking Bird. the little girl, Scout.

If you haven't read To Kill A Mockingbird, it's a classic. Read it. Then you can watch the movie with Gregory Peck as the lawyer, Scout's father.

Avalon Authors Blog

2009-03-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

Avalon authors are launching our new blog today kicking off with Chief Editor Faith Black. Pop over to http://avalonauthors.blogspot.com/ to see what she has to say.

April Scavenger Hunt

2009-03-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Long And Short Of It review site is having an April Scavenger Hunt to celebrate romantic comedy. My allotted day is April 20th when a copy of Stuck is up for grabs.

It sounds like lots of fun for the whole of April with lovely prizes donated by the participating authors.

Free download

2009-02-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

My short story "The Interview" is available for free download on the The Wild Rose Press website. The hero Jack is the same don't-waste-my-time character as in my book "Strings Attached." I wrote the short first but Jack had more going for him than just a short story. He was too intriguing to leave.
Go to http://www.thewildrosepress.com for a free read.

An excellent morning

2009-02-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

This morning I had two good news emails from my Avalon editors. They were thrilled to send me the following review for my next book 'Stuck'--to be released in April.

Publisher's Weekly - February 9th 2009Stuck Elisabeth Rose. Avalon, $23.95 (272p) ISBN 978-0-8034-9944-7
Gina Tait, half of this offbeat novel's opposites-attract duo, is a busy woman whose overbooked life takes a 90-minute break when she gets stuck in an elevator with relaxed widower Brad Harding. While the two share an intense physical attraction, their lifestyles are far too different to contemplate a relationship. Still, after they escape the stalled elevator, they can't stop thinking about each other, and when they try to be friends, Brad's daughters decide that Gina is the perfect candidate for motherhood. The transformation of total opposites to plausible lovers happens slowly but organically (despite the absurd setup), and the cast is charismatic and easily lovable. Romance readers looking for a low-key time-burner will have a ball. (Apr.)

Then there was another good review of the same book in Booklist.

Stuck.
Rose, Elisabeth (Author)
Apr 2009. 272 p. Avalon, hardcover, $23.95. (9780803499447).
Brad Harding is making an infrequent trip into Sydney from his country home to lodge a formal complaint on behalf of his community regarding the placement of a cell tower. An artist who works with wood, he enjoys the laid-back, friendly nature of his bucolic home. The bustling, impersonal city seems neatly summed up by the no-nonsense woman who steps into the elevator. She’s slick, uptight, and all business.

Ordinarily, they would have nothing to do with each other, but when the elevator breaks down they’re forced to interact. Gina Tait is exactly what Brad imagines her to be, but much more lies beneath the surface. Gina sees Brad as some sort of counterculture hippie, but that doesn’t stop her from leaning on him when the elevator goes dark. They might never meet again after their rescue, but that short time together leaves an indelible impression. Preconceived notions and prejudices fall by the wayside in Rose’s highly enjoyable out-of-the-blue romance.
— Maria Hatton

Plus my current Avalon release 'Coming Home' will be available in Large Print.

Needless to say I'm very, very happy!

Support for authors from ARRC09

2009-01-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Excitement is rising amongst authors and readers as the inaugural Australian Romance Readers Convention date draws closer.

Meeting hundreds of avid romance readers will be an extraordinarily uplifting and confidence boosting experience. Not once will we authors have to answer such stupid questions as: 'Does your publisher give you a template to write to?' 'Aren't those books all the same?' 'You write romance? Oh that's easy.' etc etc etc

What bliss to be in a massed assembly of readers who all get it!!! And want more of what we give. Even if we don't write in the particular sub genre a reader loves she will still be open and enthusiastic about the fact we write about love and romance.

I can't wait and I know my author friends feel the same.

New Sale

2008-12-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

I got the best Christmas present this morning. My lovely Avalon editor emailed to say they love my story Outback Hero and have scheduled it for a Dec 2009 release. That means I'll have two books coming out next year. 'Stuck' in April and 'Outback Hero' in December!

Slowing down for year's end

2008-12-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Not a lot happening at the moment. We've had our last writer's group meet, the term is winding down with one week to go, I'm thinking vaguely about those gifts I can't not buy and thinking more about my latest pair of characters.

Plus the vacuum cleaner exploded yesterday just as my husband finished the family room. Big bang complete with a shoot of flames from its rear end and a noxious burnt plastic pong. Looks like it's a new vac for Christmas LOL

Blog Interview

2008-11-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

I'm interviewed on Christina Phillip's blog spot today. Come over and say hi

http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com

New Cover

2008-11-18T18:29:00.001-08:00

Here is the cover for my next Avalon release 'Stuck'. My editor assures me the top won't be cut off as in this image. I think it's perfect. Ive been incredibly lucky with my Avalon cover artists. They're brilliant.
'Stuck' comes out in April 2009

Sad news from next door

2008-11-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks we've realised that the neighbour's lovely big dogs--Malamuts--have been very quiet. They live across the laneway between our houses and one of them, Denali, always barked when someone walked past his fenceline. He had a deep resonant woof --a proper doggy bark.

Denali's other personal quirk was howling when he heard a police siren or ambulance. That would set his companion, Cess, off and they'd both howl like wolves. Long, mournful wails. It never failed to make us laugh. When the sirens faded they'd both stop immediately.

Denali was the inspiration for Harry's dog Woof, in my first book, The Right Chord.

Today my husband discovered both dogs, one after the other, had been diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and have subsequently died. Our neighbours are heartbroken.

I'm glad I named Denali in the acknowledgements and I'm going to give my neighbours a copy of my book.

Giveaway winner

2008-10-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

Noelene Jenkinson of Victoria, Australia won a copy of Coming Home, my second book for Avalon.

CLOSING ON FRIDAY

2008-10-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hop over to my website for a last chance to enter the draw to win a copy of my book 'Coming Home.'
http://www.elisabethrose.com.au

Guest author spot

2008-10-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Go here to read what I had to say to author Anne Whitfield

http://authorsandbooks.blogspot.com/

Strings Attached out today

2008-10-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

My The Wild Rose Press ebook comes out Friday 17th US time which I guess is actually tomorrow in Australia.

This book is a long time favourite --full of funny stories and situations and two characters I love. Hannah and Jack. The first half is basically a road trip, the second half stays put in Sydney. I'm so happy this one is finally out there.

Go to http://www.thewildrosepress.com to order your copy. It comes out in print in January

Book Giveaway -- Coming Home

2008-09-29T16:03:00.001-07:00

I have a copy of my new book from Avalon to give away. Go to my website to enter the draw for Coming Home.

www.elisabethrose.com.au

Exciting News

2008-09-14T15:59:00.001-07:00

My grant application for funding to attend the next RWA conference in Washington 2009 was successful!!! Last year I missed out but they gave me a few pointers on strengthening the application this time round and it worked. I can't believe I actually got it. I've amazed myself. See the logo? That's part of the deal--the ACT Government is now my official supporter. How cool is that?

Literary trivia

2008-09-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Canberra Romance Writers have put together a team for the ACT Writers Centre Literary Trivia night in October. Do we know anything about the wide world of writers and books? It remains to be seen. We've decided to dress up and fulfil their expectations of romance writers. If we're not the most knowleadgable table we figure we'll be the noisiest and possibly the group having the most fun.

Sample question from the organiser. Who is the Pirate in Treasure Island? I know that one!

Aussie conference

2008-08-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

We're all home from another terrific get together at the Langham in Melbourne. What a blast these conferences are! If you've ever been to one I need say no more. If you haven't--GO.

I was thrilled that The Right Chord was voted Best Short Novel Cover --in a three way tie but I'm sure none of us mind that. There were 98 entries.

Two of the Canberra girls had very exciting news while there. Tracey O'Hara was contracted by Avon for her dark Vampire book 'Night's Cold Kiss' plus two sequels and Erika Hayes won the much coveted Valerie Parv Award. The prize is a year of mentoring by the very experienced, very generous and very talented writer Valerie Parv.

Next year we invade Brisbane and no-one can wait!

New Avalon cover and music

2008-08-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

You can see the beautiful Avalon cover for my second book, Coming Home, on my website. I had trouble uploading it here because it's in the wrong format. Too technical pour moi. LOL

www.elisabethrose.com.au

While you're there, go to the About page and listen to me in action with the Aeolus Wind Trio. We provide elegant, sophisticated background music at weddings and functions.

One day I'll write a book incorporating all the bizarre happenings and venues we've played or performed at.

New book 'Stuck'

2008-08-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Avalon will keep the working title of Stuck for my third book. I'm so pleased and relieved because it sums up the book perfectly and would have been very difficult to improve upon.

Here's the blurb.

When Gina Tait and Brad Harding spend ninety minutes stuck in an elevator together, neither can deny an intense physical attraction. Neither can they deny that in the real world, their ambitions and life views are the complete polar opposites.

Despite a constant nagging desire to stay in contact both Brad and Gina agree nothing could ever come of a relationship between an ambitious, single, city girl and a laid back widowed father of two from a small country town. Better not to start.

Fate, however, in the form of a raging storm and Brad’s twelve year old daughter, Claire, has other plans.

Australian Romance Reader's Convention

2008-07-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting new venture for Aussie romance lovers. The inaugural ARRC will be held in Melbourne from Feb 20-22, 2009. I received the registration form and brochure yesterday and it looks like being a blast! Plenty of name authors have already signed up to talk and sign books or just be there to chat to readers and each other.

Dh and I are planning a fun weekend away in Melbourne. What a good excuse!
Here's the link for information
http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/

War and Peace

2008-07-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

ABC 2 showed War and Peace last night. A 3 and a half hour marathon starring Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda who sounded and looked rather out of place as a Russian. What a massive cast. The battle scenes were extraordinary and remember this is pre computer enhancement. There must have been tens of thousands of people re-enacting the cavalry charges and infantry fighting. And the winter scenes! Absolutely freezing, struggling knee deep in snow with horses and artillery when Napoleon was forced to retreat from Moscow.

Seeing that movie made me pick up the book and continue my marathon read. I can put faces to the names now and some of the characters are clearer. All the Russian officers seem to be Princes or Counts and it gets rather confusing especially with their triple barrel names. It's a surprisingly accessible writing style though and I am enjoying it. I haven't reached the part where flighty and beautiful young Natasha pledges her allegiance to Prince Andrew, he goes off to fight the French and in the interim she is swept off her little feet by the caddish womanizer Anatol. Audrey Hepburn was so young and lovely in the role. I'm looking forward to that part.

Short story

2008-07-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

I've just been notified that my entry in a jazz short story contest run by magazine Jazz Planet , has been shortlisted. Woohoo! Don't know how many entries went in or how many are shortlisted but hey . . . making the first cut is great. The winning three authors will be notified by the end of July.

This isn't a romantic story at all. I've been married to a jazz drummer for thirty five years, my son is a bass player and my brother's 3 children are jazz musos as well--I've had plenty of experience to draw on.

New Sale

2008-06-27T23:58:00.001-07:00

A lovely surprise this morning waiting in my Inbox. Avalon love my latest submission. This will be book number 3 for them and I am absolutely thrilled. The release date is April 2009.

I'm not sure whether the working title "Stuck" will . . .umm. . . stick ( sorry) but that's what the book is about. My characters become stuck in all manner of ways--physically, by mental attitude, lifestyle, work choices. The hero is a single dad trying to handle daughters-- a rebellious 12 year old, a sweet 5 year old--plus a kitten, and the sophisticated, upwardly mobile, child averse heroine.

The Painted Veil

2008-06-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've finished the book now and can report that the movie quite dramatically changed the relationship between Walter and Kitty from the original. They both chart Kitty's growth both in maturity and emotionally but the movie turns the marriage into a late blooming love affair when it never is in the book. Interesting. Basic events remain the same but the movie fills in a lot of detail, particularly to do with the cholera epidemic-- treatment, causes, cultural impediments etc--which is very interesting and adds to the story, really. We learn much more about the character of Walter through his work. In the book Kitty comes to admire him greatly for his skill and compassion but says several times she could never love him.

I think this is a case of a movie enhancing a book but adding the love affair part was probably a marketing device. Kitty's spiritual awakening isn't such a drawcard perhaps!

Books and films

2008-06-22T21:38:00.001-07:00

My book group has devised a course of meetings where we read a book and see the film version for comparison. Our first one is The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham.

I read a lot of S Maugham when I was in my twenties. Absolutely loved his depictions of the British colonial life and his succinct sparse prose which cut straight to the heart of his characters revealing all their weaknesses and foibles. His short stories are wonderful. He deals with life's basics--love, loyalty, hate, fear, greed. Emotions which cross all boundaries of time, culture and race.

I enjoyed The Painted Veil as a movie but hadn't read the book. I'd forgotten just how good a writer he is. So far, the movie is a very faithful rendition. Naomi Watts and Edward Norton are easy to picture, as I read, in their roles of Kitty and Walter Fane. Similarly the countryside of China is beautifully filmed and having been to China twice I can visualise the sights and sounds, see the local people. Some things in rural China won't have changed very much since the 1920s.

Some book/film transitions are woeful eg I couldn't bring myself to watch Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Couldn't get my head around the concept of Nicholas Cage having anything to do with such a wonderful book. From the snippets I have seen it seems the story was absolutely gutted.

So far so good with The Painted Veil.

Anyone else read and seen it? Or have any other pet hates/loves?

Release date at last

2008-05-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the release date of your latest baby is tough. All those months and months of rewriting and editing on top of months and sometimes years of waiting for a response to a submission and all that after the hard slog of writing the thing in the first place! Just when you think everything is good to go --more waiting while the book goes into the production phase.

E-publishing is faster, of course, than the traditional print firms. The lead time for my Avalon books is by necessity nearly a year whereas the complete The Wild Rose Press process has taken place within a year from submission to e publication.

It's all good exciting stuff and quite by chance my next two releases happen within a week of each other in October. The 17th for Strings and the 24th for Coming Home. And my birthday is right in between on the 19th!

Meditation for creativity

2008-05-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

Like every writer I often have knotty problems to solve in regard to plot or character development. I sometimes lie in bed and turn things over and over to no result.

I've been a Tai Chi instructor for 18 years and practising Tai Chi for 21. Meditation, or as we call it, Chi Kung, is an important component of the practice. It's amazing how many times during one of my daily sessions a solution or an idea has popped into my head from nowhere.

Meditation clears all the rubbish out of your head. It's said the mind is like a pool of clear water and thoughts are the ripples on the surface obscuring the depths. By calming the mind the thoughts, ripples, are smoothed away and the deeper, subconscious thoughts are able to surface.
Of course the benefits are far more widereaching than just for writing. Regular practice brings a sense of calm and wellbeing to everday life, a sense of perspective to problems and confrontations.

As with anything of value, learning to meditate takes time, diligence and perseverance but the end result is worth it -- just like writing!

For more information and some interesting articles on the subject check out the link on my website to the Tai Chi and Chi Kung Academy.

Working Titles

2008-05-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

In the latest issue of Hearts Talk (the RWAustralia newsletter ) there is a very good article by Aussie Harlequin M&B author Ally Blake on the importance of a working title. (Checkout her site on my website links)

It really hit the spot for me. She quoted quite a few well known authors who say their working title sums up the essence or the theme of the book. The title is often changed by the publisher, but for them this is the core, the lodestone of the story while they write.

My first book The Right Chord, was Leopard's Spots. For me that sums up Grace's dilemma. She wants to change her personality from affable and obliging to tough and direct, but can't get it right because it goes against her true nature. The self awareness achieved by attempting the change results in a different Grace by the end of the story.

Strings Attached was always the same title. It's perfect even if I do say so myself ! Jack doesn't like his women with strings attached, but Hannah, in his words 'has more strings attached than a harp.'

My forthcoming Avalon release Coming Home was initially Lame Duck but I knew (sorry in advance :) )that title would never fly. Coming Home does a pretty good job summing up the storyline though. All the main characters find their home both physically and emotionally.

Ally's article made me think about the importance of the working title. I'd always liked to work with a title on the top of the page and I realise now why that was so. It's a guidelight. My current wip didn't have one except for the heroine's name, but as I'm a seat of the pantser that didn't help beyond a certain point. The wip had been muddling along for a while. I had a big think and came up with The Right Place and for me that sums up what my heroine is searching for. The hero has already found his place in the world, but she hasn't and at the moment neither of them can believe it's with him.

Free Read

2008-05-04T16:02:00.001-07:00

The Wild Rose Press is starting a promo for our books using short stories as free downloads. My hero Jack features in both my free read story and Strings Attached. I wrote the story ages before the book but Jack was too good a character to leave behind.

Keep an eye on the TWRP website for details of the free downloads. As soon as I have news of release dates I'll post them.
Happy reading

That was fast!

2008-04-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is already. My cover for Strings Attached.
What do you think?
To read an exerpt go to my website. http://www.elisabethrose.com.au

Covers

2008-04-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

My Wild Rose Press editor tells me my cover for Strings Attached will be available in 3-4 weeks. Knowing the vagaries of cover art and despite having filled out a form re my characters' occupations, hair colour, important items or objects in the book etc, I had a sudden awful thought that the artist may do something connected with puppets.
What a nightmare that would be!

Apart from the fact I detest puppets in any shape or form, my book is about music. My heroine is a violinist and my hero a photographer.
My Avalon cover, as you can see, is beautiful. Avalon covers are. They have wonderful artists and I'm looking forward to seeing what appears for Coming Home. Have to wait till about June, perhaps for that one.

In the meantime help me send thought waves to my TWRP cover artist. No puppets, no puppets, no puppets . . .

Reading, crosswords and increasing your vocabulary

2008-04-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

My 82 year old Mum is very good at Cryptic Crosswords. I'm not bad either. Our local paper has two cryptics and a quick each day plus a nine letter Focus anagram word puzzle so there is plenty to practise on.

Today's Focus letters are EET
HOP
ENL
Find words with O in them of 4 letters or more, and the 9 letter word. 14 words is Good, 18 Very Good and 24 Excellent

Writers need a big and varied vocabulary and doing crosswords is a good way of expanding the archive.
The best way of expanding not just your vocab but your knowledge base is to read--LOTS. And in a wide variety of genres. By that I don't mean romance genres, I mean all sorts of books.

Try this fun site http://www.freerice.com

Conferences and costs

2008-04-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

Conferences are a terrific way of boosting flagging writing energy. Here in Australia we have our national Romance Writers of Australia get together in August. This year we're in Melbourne at the luxuxious Langham Hotel on Southbank. Travels plans and bookings are being made, workshop sessions mulled over and chosen, pennies saved.

One year my aim is to make it to the US for the massive American version. Next year may be the one. I would love to have gone to San Fran in July but the dates are awkward for me in regard to my teaching terms. Washington is a couple of weeks earlier--much more doable.

Then, of course, there is the cost of any international travel for us in Australia. The US exchange rate is good at the moment so that's a bonus but still . . .
Today I'm attending an info session by our local government Arts grants body. Missed out last time round, this time I'll be better prepared.

If you're thinking of attending a conference--DO. If you can't afford it at the moment--look for a grant to help fund the travel or the accommodation or both. Every little bit helps. Try to get along to any workshop sessions on offer or the smaller regional conferences the RWA branches hold in the US. You won't regret it. You'll learn a lot, you'll meet like minded, friendly people and you'll be immersed in the world of writing for hours or even days.
And it's FUN.

Great results!!

2008-03-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

Well! The Aussies have done amazingly well in the newly announced RITA and Golden Heart finals lists. My good friend and fellow Canberra Romance Writer Tracey O'Hara has finalled in the GH Paranormal section with Night's Cold Kiss. She's now excitedly preparing to fly to San Fran.

Anna Campbell has finalled twice in the same section, Anne Gracie, Kelly Hunter and Emily Gee (Kiwi). We'll be hearing the cheering from way down here come July.

On reading

2008-03-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

The book I'm reading at the moment is not from the library. I don't restrict myself totally to the alphabetical system. A while back I read an article about Alexander Mc Call Smith's No.1 Ladies Detective Agency books, set in Botswana. My brother picked up this copy abandoned at the airport and it's doing the rounds of the family. Makes a delightful change from the gritty, gory and or smart talking, hip crime fiction books flooding the market these days. Plus the setting and cultural milieu is interesting.

I like a good murder. My local discussion group has been meeting for over twenty years. Our subject is crime fiction this term. The next book in the course is Dorothy L Sayers 'Strong Poison' starring the inimitable Lord Peter Wimsey. Very dated but still witty, clever and downright funny in places.

In between library and other books I have War and Peace on the go. It is surprisingly readable except I forget who all the multi titled Russians are between outings.

Reading

2008-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

About twenty five years ago I decided to start readng my way through my local library. You know what's it's like in the library. You go back to the same authors because you can't remember that name someone recommended, or you wander up and down the aisles aimlessly browsing and not deciding.

That day I'd had enough indecision. I went to the first two or three books in the A section and took them. Next visit I took the next few. I didn't cheat if the title or genre put me off--I read whatever was there. I didn't always finish a book. Some were just too deadly but I came across some wonderful authors I never would have read. I've read an amazing cross section of styles and storylines.

My library has shifted premises twice in those twenty five or so years but i find my place and continue on.

Guess what letter I'm on at present . . . .

Tagging

2008-03-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Hmmm. I've been tagged, which is nice, but being knee deep in editing/ revising my two coming releases, revising and tweaking what will hopefully be my third book for Avalon, plus keeping tabs on my wip, and revising a mainstream story--whew! Oh--and managing the short story contest run by RWAustralia, plus working---you get the drift? Blogging playtime is limited.
Plus I can't figure out how to add a links section. I thought I did it but it hasn't shown up on the page. I got the photos etc up in a fit of expertise but I seem to have lost the knowledge. Oh well.

Sorry, Suzanne, who tagged me. Here's the view from my writing room window with just a glimpse of the now departed Herbie.

Farewell Herbie

2008-02-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

The time has finally come to sell my beloved 1969 VW Beetle 'Herbie'. He gave good and faithful service for 20 years, taught both my children to drive, and got them through their driving tests.
My son's comment was "My God, woman! Are you mad?" If he wasn't a double bass player he'd be driving Herbie himself.

Olympic Torch in Australia

2008-02-12T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Olympic torch relay comes through Canberra on April 24th. My Tai Chi Academy has been asked to provide people (about 100) to do Tai Chi for twenty minutes just before dawn as part of the starting celebrations. Hot air balloons will lift off as well. All this on the shores of our beautiful lake. (Have a look at the photos on my website). How exciting to be part of such an event!

Wayward characters

2008-02-01T20:11:00.000-08:00

I've reached a point in my wip where the heroine wants to leave town because she feels there is nothing left for her. The hero is backing off and won't say what he needs to, to keep her.

They seem to be telling me very strongly what they're going to do even though neither really wants to take that course of action and I want them to get together.

Does this sound familiar? It happens quite often. Your characters should take on a life of their own-- within reason, of course. They need to follow their natural path or your scenes and actions will feel and read as contrived. Nothing worse than manufacturing a plot point because you want such and such to happen.

Good writers make even the most bizarre twists seem logical because they flow so naturally from the characters personalities. As a reader you believe implicitly in the way the heroine reacts even though you may be thinking, "Oh no! Don't run away. Stay."

Languages

2008-01-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

An article in today's paper said that Australians are falling behind in the area of second language speaking. We are a country of migrants but only a third of the population speaks a language other than English fluently. A percentage of these are of course our own indigenous population. Many Asians and Europeans are multi-lingual and language skills will become more and more important as the world shrinks. Purely English speakers cannot rely on everyone knowing English even though it is widely spoken.

How impressive it is to hear the players in the Australian Open being interviewed in English when it isn't their first language. No doubt many of them could manage an interview in French or another 'foreign to them' language as well.

How many of you can speak more than one language? I can just about manage in French, German and Italian--or I could if I had a brush up. Far from fluent!

Things are happening

2008-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

This is me smiling because January has been a very good month!

The Wild Rose Press has accepted my book Strings Attached for their Champagne Rose line. No details as to release date yet or even if they will keep the title but I'm really really happy to find a home for Hannah and Jack.

Yesterday I had official confirmation of the acceptance of my second book for Avalon. It will be released in October. Not sure of the title but at the moment it's called 'Coming Home'.