Catching up

How can it be so long since I updated this blog? Oops. Life has been pretty full this year.

In February, I went to the wedding of my beloved nephew and the love of his life. It was a beautiful wedding of two beautiful souls.

In May, I attended A Regency Affair, a wonderful weekend of Regency dancing, workshops, costumes and fun. I taught a number of workshops including cutting a feather quill and writing with it.

Then it was off to east Kurrajong and in the Windsor/Richmond area, for my delayed research and writing retreat. My current manuscript is set in Sydney and surrounds in 1817, and with huge thanks to a grant from ArtsNorthWest, I was able to stay in for 6 nights, researching the history and locations in the region as they might have been in 1817. While I didn’t get a lot of words written, I did have some ‘aha!’ moments that will help me as I finish the book.

P. Slager, A View of Windsor, 1815

At the end of May I finished my last contract working for a local museum, which was bitter-sweet but after 4 years of juggling multiple part-time jobs I decided it was time to concentrate on my own creative work.

June and July were mad sewing for the Romance Writers of Australia conference in Sydney, where I was co-presenter for a workshop on Undressing the Historical Heroine, along with Beverley Eikli, Cathleen Ross, Elizabeth Rolls and Alison Stuart. I outfitted Cathleen, Elizabeth, Alison and myself in dresses from 1815 – 1901, and Beverley wore 3 different outfits she’d made from 1789 to 1850. I’d also brought replicas of historical underthings for the audience to pass around and examine. We wore all the correct layers and undressed on stage down to underthings. It was good fun and the audience feedback was very positive. But there was a lot of sewing to get ready – I finished my crinoline with *minutes* to spare!

It was wonderful to catch up with my writing friends for the first time since 2018, and a good reminder of who I am, and aspire to be, as a writer.

In September I was back in Sydney for the Georgette Heyer conference, where I spoke on Heyer’s contributions to romance fiction. I also had a lovely few days with my friends Pamela Freeman and Stephen Hart.

And now it’s October, and I’m heading down south again in a couple of weeks to visit my sister and her family, and cousins in Victoria. And through it all, I’ll be writing. I know it’s been a long time between books; there’s a lot of reasons for that – the combination of other life demands, a challenging book, and some burn-out. But I’ve solved some of those problems and am very hopeful that my next book will be out in early 2024 – more news as it comes to hand!

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Good news

I know it’s been a long time between books. I haven’t stopped writing, but it’s been a struggle, and it will be a little while before the next book is finished.

However, there is some good news! I’ve been fortunate to be awarded a micro grant from the wonderful Arts NorthWest for a week long writing/research retreat which I hope will take place in November. I’m so looking forward to this – it will be great to spend some time in the area where part of the book is set to absorb the feel of the place, and have undistracted time to immerse myself in the story and write words!

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The VIVIAN™ contest: A personal statement

Yesterday I wrote to the President of the Romance Writers of America to express my dismay at the awarding of a VIVIAN™ award to an intensely problematic book in the Religious/Spiritual Elements category, and at the RWA’s response to it.


Earlier yesterday, the president, LaQuette, released a statement, which, although expressing remorse for any hurt caused and advising that processes would be reviewed, was significantly inadequate and even insulting both to readers and authors who write romances in which faith is an integral part by stating that only a very specific sub-set of Christian belief is relevant to that category, which is in fact contrary to the judging guidelines for that category.


I am a secular humanist and a historian as well as a novelist. I am willing to accept that it might be possible (in theory a least) for a person who has been an active participant in genocide to earn, through a lifetime of service, some kind of forgiveness or redemption – although that would take an exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable and sensitive author to write, and is unlikely to be possible within a romance framework, despite the genre’s love of redeeming bad boys.


However, in my view, in this particular book that idea of redemption is extreme, is presented within a clearly racist perspective, and without any comprehension of or sensitivity to the perspectives of indigenous people. In its opening pages the book relates an event in history that has created ongoing trauma for generations, and it does so without regard for historical accuracy or complexity, in order to center a white man’s story and his religion at the expense of indigenous people.


As authors, we have a responsibility to respect our readers and our communities. As authors of historical fiction, we must recognise that history is complex and layered with multiple perspectives, and that the dominant white perspectives of colonialism have been intensely problematic and must be interrogated.


I believe that particular book did neither, and it should not have finaled, let alone won a VIVIAN™ award. That it did so brings the RWA and the genre into disrepute. That the award has now been rescinded does not undo that damage.


I had high hopes for the VIVIAN™ award and the strategies for cultural change that the RWA Board have put in place over the past two years. I was pleased when my judging packets contained more diverse books than in the past, as evidence that authors of color and from diverse backgrounds were entering the contest. I did my best to judge all the books objectively and fairly, on their merits with regard to writing, characterisation, story-telling etc. My packet included several excellent books with diverse characters.


I had concerns when all four finalists in the long historical romance category (including my book) were white women writing heterosexual characters. The other finalists are skilled writers and authors I respect, but where were the great books by authors of colour? Where were the great books with diverse characters, settings, perspectives?


Now, given the awarding of the VIVIAN™ in the religious elements category to such a problematic book, I no longer have any faith that the judging process was fair and equitable across the historical categories either, and I fear that books from diverse authors or featuring diverse characters were not assessed without prejudice.


I acknowledge the hard work and commitment that the RWA Board members have put into rebuilding the organisation, and I recognise that the systemic issues that plague the RWA are a microcosm of the issues plaguing the USA – and I acknowledge that my own country, Australia, suffers similar issues. There are no easy answers, but I strongly feel that the VIVIAN™ award for that particular book was a major error on the part of the organisation, and points to the likelihood of continued systemic bias and racism across other categories as well.


I am saddened to say that I now regret entering the VIVIAN™ awards and I cannot feel that it is an honour to be a finalist this year. I will not be entering again in the future, unless or until characters of colour and diversity and their authors are recognised and celebrated fully and equally.


Although there is little to be done now about my entry, I have asked the President to ensure that my book and name are removed from the list of finalists on the RWA website. I will be deleting social media posts about being a finalist and will not reference it again with regard to my book.


I sincerely hope that these issues can be resolved and that the VIVIAN™ award can evolve to truly honour the influence of Vivian Stephens on the genre, and to represent and celebrate the diversity of romance fiction, and of its authors and readers.

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Buying my books

I’ve (finally!) set up a bookstore for my print books: https://bronwyn-parry-bookstore.square.site/

Postage is to Australian addresses only. You can use the coupon code XMAS10 for 10% off until this Friday, 18th December. Please note that as I’m in rural NSW, add an extra couple of days for postage times – so if you’d like to order a book to arrive in time for Christmas, please order by Wednesday 16th for the best chance. I’ll also be away from 21st December until around the 6th January.

Apologies to my international readers – unfortunately overseas postage is way too expensive to offer. However, you can purchase my books through Book Depository, Amazon, and other online booksellers. And the good news is there will be US editions of the Dungirri and Goodabri books available early next year.

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RuBY award for The Clothier’s Daughter

The Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year awards were announced last night, and I’m over the moon that The Clothier’s Daughter won the Historical Romance category.

The Romantic Book of the Year Historical Romance Winner - Bronwyn Parry, The Cothier's Daughter

The awards are usually announced at a gala dinner at the Romance Writers of Australia national conference, but like so many other events in this year of Covid it had to move online, and so the awards were announced on YouTube. No sparkly party dress for me as it was so cold, but I did find a sparkly tiara to wear with my woolly jumper and jeans while watching the awards!

A couple of weeks ago, the finalists were all asked to video a short acceptance speech in case we won, with each of the category winner’s speeches included in the awards presentations. It was rather weird to record as if I’d won when the winners weren’t announced until last night but here is my little speech:

The full list of winners is:

Novella – Georgia Tingley, Whistler Wonderland

Speculative Fiction – Anna Hackett, Heart of Eon

Romantic Suspense – Leah Ashton, Outrun the Night

RomanticElements – Rachael Johns, Just One Wish

Historical – Bronwyn Parry, The Clothier’s Daughter

Contemporary Romance – Fiona Macarthur, The Desert Midwife

Congratulations to all the winners!

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