Reader Blogger Marg, you can find her at Reading Adventures and Historical Tapestry, was nice enough to agree to share with us her adventure at the Australian Romance Readers Convention this past weekend.

If we get lucky we can talk her into sharing some more photos and stories.

Ever since I have been blogging, each year when everyone started talking about going to either RWA or other major romance conferences, I have sat here in my chair in suburban Melbourne, Australia turning various shades of green. Whether people were posting about meeting their favourite authors, or the goodies rooms, or the signings, I read all the posts thinking about how it was all kinds of awesome that they were getting to do such fun things. The thing was, no matter how envious I became, the simple fact was that at this point in my life there is no way that I would be able to go to the US to attend such an event.

So when I just happened to read something about an Australian Romance Readers Convention back in December 2007, I was over the moon! And then when it was announced that it was in Melbourne, I was again really excited. And then, in what seems like no time at all, the inaugural ARRC is over, all the delegates have gone home and I am sure that the organising committee members are all collapsed in a heap in exhaustion.

It is difficult to give just the highlights so that this guest post isn’t as long as the weekend itself, so instead I will try to just give a taste of the flavour of the weekend. The most obvious place to start is with the keynote speakers – those who were invited to travel half way around the world to come to visit their Aussie fans, and I can tell you those fans were very appreciative! Mary Janice Davidson, Susan Grant, Liz Maverick, Sherrilyn Kenyon (with special guest Dianna Love), and not forgetting Stephanie Laurens (who didn’t come half way around the world, but we still appreciate her nonetheless). We laughed until we cried, we were inspired, we were challenged and above all we were entertained!

One of the things that I often say on my own blog is that I don’t read enough Aussie authors, and I have to say that I learnt something that kind of surprised me this weekend! There are a LOT of Aussie authors out there. They write in various different subgenres, from Mills and Boon (Harlequin), to the big NY publishing houses, to e-books and other publishers like Samhain. I have come home determined that I am definitely going to read more Aussies – Keri Arthur, Denise Rossetti and others, I am talking about your books! An Aussie author that I already read is Anna Campbell and it was great to see her latest book, Tempt the Devil, officially launched in Australia by Stephanie Laurens on Saturday afternoon.

At Saturday night’s dinner, I was lucky enough to be sitting with the gorgeous Kat O from Book Thingo, plus her librarian (yes, librarian and borrower attended together – how great is that!) with some other girls, including two Samhain authors and we had an absolutely fantastic time, so much so that I forgot to take pictures of some of the award winners and of the people sitting at the table. Kat, Vassiliki, Jess Dee and Lexxie Couper, thanks ladies. And don’t worry, what happened at dinner and what we talked about at dinner, stays at dinner. Have to say though – those mini cakes were to die for!

One of the things that the conference coincided with was the National Day of Mourning on Sunday for the bushfire victims from the terrible fires that started in early February with such devastating loss of life and property. As I write this on Monday night, we have been reminded that the fire crisis is not over with existing firest still burning and new fires starting on the outskirt of Melbourne this afternoon with more loss of homes. My point in mentioning this is that one of the initiatives of the organisers was a silent auction with the proceeds being donated to the Red Cross Australian Bushfires Appeal. There were many, many generous authors and organisations that donated great items, and there was over $7000 raised through the auction, plus an impeccably observed minute of silence on Sunday morning at 11am.

There’s so much more that I could mention, but I have to save something for my own blog (*grin*), but I haven’t mentioned the panelists, the books, the signings. So much to talk about!

In closing I want to say to the organizers of ARRC – thank you, thank you, thank you.

You did an amazing job. I don’t think that I can pay any higher compliment to you than to say my friends and I started to make plans on Saturday night to attend the next ARRC – whenever it is and wherever it is held – with at least two more of our friends. I know that I overheard other delegates making their own plans too!

Marg

Devon’s review of Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Susan Squires and Dianna Love
Paranormal Romance Anthology released by St. Martin’s 2 Dec 08

This anthology was truly a mixed bag. One story I loathed, one I loved, one I liked, and one…meh. At least I had a clear reaction to each, that makes it easier to review. I can’t wait to finish this review, because then I can check out other’s reviews. So let’s get to it, shall we?

Shadow of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This story features Fury Kattalakis, Katagaria wolf, brother to Fang and Vane, and familiar to longtime readers of the series. After many years, Fury comes across Angelia, the Arcadian wolf who stabbed and betrayed him hundreds of years ago. The (gag) connection between them is still there, though.

Yeah, whatever, I’m going to cut to the chase. I loathed Angelia. HAAAAATE! I can’t ever remember hating a heroine this much in my life. She stood idly by (twice) while Fury was tortured, both in the past and in the present day. She was involved in some really repugnant stuff. Perhaps if the story had been longer, with more time to develop her psychological issues and her redemption…but I could not believe that she turned from a cold bitch to realizing her love for Fury in 24 hours. Man, I wish Zarek had killed her with his pointy claw jewelry. Poor Fury got screwed. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s usual style is much in evidence, but if you haven’t read her before, please don’t start with this one.

Grade: D

The Summary:
Angelia has fought her entire life to make herself strong. Now, with her patria under fire, she has to protect her people from Fury and his werewolf clan. Vowing to bring him to justice, Angelia sets out alone…until the hunter becomes the hunted, and the only way for her to survive is to trust the very wolf she’s sworn to kill.
Read an excerpt here

The Story of Son by J.R. Ward

I’m very curious to find out the reader reaction to this story. I absolutely loved it. I thought it was pretty sick and twisted in tone. If Ward ever turns her hand to Southern Gothic or something, I’d buy it. I mean, a vampire who has been kept prisoner in a basement for 50-odd years, and who doesn’t even have a name? And the career-obsessed lawyer who’s kidnapped and thrown in there with him?

Son’s situation is treated with the gravity it deserves, not some glowy, sentimental way. And he was quite an appealing character, vulnerable, odd, with an inner strength. I totally bought their attraction and love story. The genius of J.R. Ward’s writing is that it is so immediate and vivid, I find it easy to suspend all disbelief or qualms.

Despite the fact that I thought this was a fascinating and romantic story, I must point out the issues that troubled me (once I wasn’t totally caught up in the story). Astute readers have pointed out the penchant for isolating her characters. In this story, we have an extremely isolated hero, and a heroine who becomes isolated along with him, even in their HEA. The hero is so vulnerable, and will be so dependent upon the heroine, that I found it off-putting. The guy needs therapy for sure.

I’m also sometimes put off by Ward’s characterization of strong women. In the throes of passion, Claire thinks about how she has always felt like a “man in a woman’s body”, I guess because she is career oriented and not girly. Yeesh. She doesn’t find fulfillment until meeting her man, of course, and totally changing her life to suit his. Sigh…oh well. ‘Cuz I still love this one. Great story, great characters.

Grade: B+

The Summary:
Claire Stroughton is a beautiful lawyer who would rather spend the night with a legal brief than the man of her dreams. Then a routine client meeting turns dangerous—and deeply sensual—when she is held captive by a gorgeous man with an unworldly hunger…
No excerpt found

Seize the Night by Susan Squires

This is the only story with a historical setting, and it is connected to Squires’ Companions series. Followers of the series will get the most out of it, I think. This is my first read by Susan Squires, and I found the concepts of “Harriers” and “Aspirants”, especially the role that sex plays, to be a bit unclear. I enjoyed the story though. The hero, Drew Carlowe, and the heroine, sad vampire Freya, had good chemistry and the romance developed nicely. I did find the two characters to be a little bland. And there was something off about Freya, a distance and otherness, which was interesting, but kept me from really getting into the story. Overall, the story kept my interest, and left me curious about the series and what Squires can do with a longer length.

Grade: B-

The Summary:

When Drew Carlowe returns home to win back a lost love, he is quick to dismiss rumors that his estate is haunted by a stunning young ghost…until one passionate encounter leaves him mystified—and aching for more.
No excerpt found

Midnight Kiss Goodbye by Dianna Love

This one was okay, but underwhelming. Everything in it reminded me of something else. We have a secret band of warriors with telepathic powers who fight dark supernatural forces. We have a hero who had to leave his lover for her own good, but has watched over her from afar. Despite his stalking and powers, he has neglected to realize that his ex is a witch. There are evil immortal warriors. The brotherhood is connected to a Goddess (a Celtic one), and there are a bunch of other figures from various pantheons popping in and out. Even the storytelling, the description and dialogue, sounded familiar. The only refreshing thing was the inclusion of Indian mythology and religion, though I was not sure about the accuracy of the usage of the word “Hindu.” I think I’m just burned out on this type of story.

Grade: C

The Summary:

Trey McCree possesses an insatiable desire for Sasha Armand—and supernatural powers that could endanger her life as a human. But when they team up to stop an evil warlord, Trey discovers that Sasha can do way more than drive men wild…
Read an excerpt

Check it out of the library and read the Ward. And let me know what you think!

Overall Grade: C+

With these four tales of paranormal romance, it’s never been hotter to be close to death…

This just in…

Brenda Novak is ready for the holidays.   Her Christmas Bash is just around the corner, so get ready to party!

~ Join Brenda at her website on Tuesday, December 16, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST, which means 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. for you West Coast folks!

~ It will be a fun-filled evening featuring chat opportunities with agents, editors, authors, booksellers, librarians and readers.

~ Susan Mallery, Karen Rose, Christine Feehan, Roxanne St. Clair, Dianna Love and a host of other authors will also be in attendance for the festivities.

~ There will be door prizes and drawings for things such as a fabulous rum cake, a brand new Amazon Kindle, and so much more!

~ Every person who attends will receive a special Christmas present from Brenda.

~ Sign up for Brenda’s newsletter for more information!

Consider yourself flashed.