The fun is over for another two years and I’m heading home to Cairns after a fabulous weekend at the Australian Romance Readers Convention 2013. Congratulations to the organisers for delivering a great convention. The keynote speakers were excellent as was the mix of panels. Delicious food and convivial company made it extra special (breakfasts with Anna Campbell were the froth on top of a decadent cappuccino!)
Me and Jess
Meeting readers who’d travelled from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and regional Australia is always a treat. (Big wave to Jess who I met at a library talk in Newcastle who made the trek north.)
The main sponsor of the event was Booktopia, Australia’s largest on-line bookseller. It’s great to see them still firmly focused on promoting romance and Australian authors. Dymocks Booksellers provided the bookstore for the event, and book signing, and did a stirling job of adding to toppling ‘to be read’ piles. E-books may be muscling in but there’s still plenty of room for a physical book.
Last night’s glittering dinner also hosted the ARRA 2012 awards. Congratulations to all the winners. Anna Campbell swept the opposition away in the three Readers Choice Awards as well as taking home (for yet another year) the Favourite Historical Award and the Favourite Australian Romance Author award. Kelly Hunter won the Favourite Short Romance Award.
A very happy Rachael Johns
Rachael Johns blitzed the field in the Favourite Long Romance Section, Nalini Singh claimed the Favourite Continuing Series award. Sylvia Day won the Favourite Erotica Award.
Last and definitely not least, Bronwyn Parry won the Favourite Romantic Suspense Award with her wonderful book, Dead Heat. Bron’s been such an inspiration in my own writing life and continues to be very supportive so it was wonderful to be there to help celebrate her success. (Now I’m waiting for Darkening Skies, the third book in her Dungirri series – so no slacking, Bron! Fingers to the keyboard, thanks 🙂 )
There will be photos to follow, but I left the cable to connect camera to laptop on Roo Binesque with GW so he can continue snapping photos of life aboard with Zeus…
Back to reality for me and a busy flying roster. Enjoy your week whatever you may be doing.
Bronwyn Parry with her ARRA 2013 award
A great summing up of what was a fabulous weekend, Helene. It was great to see you.x Bernadette
And lovely to meet you, Nas! It was a wonderful weekend!
Rachael, there’s never enough time to catch up but it was wonderful to be there and help celebrate your win!!!
It was lovely meeting you Helene! I enjoyed my first convention so much!
Congratulations to all the winners!
As always was so fabulous to catch up with you Helene. But it’s NEVER long enough!!! x Rach!
You’ll have to come along next time too, Shelleyrae! Sounds like you had fun at the Harlequin event earlier in the week.
Brenda, I didn’t take as many photos as I usually do but it was lovely having Jess there for the weekend!
It was fun, Sandy. You’ll have to come next time – they’re planning one for Canberra! And yes, Rach’s tiara was very special 🙂
Looks like you all had a fabulous time! Thanks for sharing the event Helene!
Love the photo of you and Jess, Helene! Great photos of Rachael and Bronwyn too:) What a wonderful weekend you all had. Well done to all, and maybe next time I might be able to join in the fun as well 🙂
I love Rachael’s tiara!
Glad you had a great time, Helene. It’s great to see such wonderful talent being acknowledged – bit like your R*bys. 🙂