Sydney architecture

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Bron

Although I only managed to get one photo at ARRC09 last weekend, on the Friday morning, before I left for Melbourne, I did manage to take out the camera when walking down George Street in Sydney with my mother.

I’ve always loved old buildings- the decorative details, the lines and shapes and textures, and the beautiful skill and craftmanship in the designing and making of them. In amongst all the modernity of Sydney, the rush and bustle of skyscrapers, there are still some old gems:

Old building, George Street, Sydney

Old building, George Street, Sydney

St Andrews Chruch, George Street, Sydney

St Andrews Church, George Street, Sydney

Sydney Town Hall - front corner

Sydney Town Hall - front corner

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Queen Victoria Building and statue, Sydney

Queen Victoria Building and statue, Sydney

(On the first day in Sydney, Mum and I had a lovely lunch at the Tea Rooms in the former ballroom, on the top floor of the Queen Victoria Building. It’s lovely there – with delicious food, attentive service – a special treat we’ve now shared twice!)

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ARRC09

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Bron

The Australian Romance Readers’ Convention was fantastic! A very enjoyable weekend, well-organised, with a wonderful atmosphere throughout of enthusiasm and friendliness.

I think there were about 250 attendees, and it was great to catch up with some writing friends from the Romance Writers of Australia, and especially wonderful to meet so many readers, and the guest authors from North America.

I’m not sure I can come up with highlights, because it was a buzz the whole way through, but I really enjoyed the two panelsI was on – Romantuc Suspense, with Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Luke Devenish, and Sandy Curtis, and The Future of Romance, with Cristina Lee from Harlequin Australia, and Glen Thomas from Queensland University of Technology.  I also attended the panels on the Academic views of romance, and a great one on The Aussie Voice.

The Welcome Reception on Friday night was fun, metting new people and saying hello to friends, and I particularly enjoyed the dinner on Saturday night.

Would you believe it, though, I only once took my camera out all weekend, so this is my only photo of the event:

Dinner at ARRC09

Dinner at ARRC09

Kudos go to the organisers, who did a fantastic job getting it all happening and running smoothly. And many thanks to al the wondeful readers who came along – from all over the country. Your enthusiasm and love of the genre was a delight to be part of. The authors and sponsors also contributed to a great event. And the silent auction in aid of the bushfire relief appeal raised a staggering $7,500!!

I’m definitely looking forward to the next ARRC!

Posted in Romance genre, Travels | Tagged | 4 Comments

ARRC09 – today!

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Bron

It starts this evening – the Australian Romance Readers’ Convention!

I’ve been down in Sydney for a couple of nights, mostly for medical stuff, but I also saw my wonderful publisher – and my Mum came up from Canberra, so it’s been lovely to spend some time with her.

Now it’s time to pack the bags up again, and head off a little later this morning to the airport, to fly to Melbourne. The convention’s opening reception starts at 6pm, ad then tomorrow and Sunday are packed full of panels, speakers, book signings, and heaps of discussions about books, stories, and the romance genre.

Can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend 🙂

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Library Lovers’ Day

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Bron

Tomorrow, libraries across Australia claim Valentine’s Day for their own, and celebrate it as Library Lovers’ Day.

I’m heading down to Tamworth in the morning, and will be at Tamworth City Library at 2pm to talk about books, reading, and the importance of stories – and libraries! –  to our communities. Tamworth Angus and Robertson bookstore will also be there, with some copies of As Darkness Falls for sale, and I’ll sign books and answer questions about the book, and the next one.

I’m looking forward to the trip – Tamworth is about a 2-hour drive from my home, and it’s the major town in our region, about twice the size of Armidale. If I leave about 9am, I’ll have a couple of hours in Tamworth before I have to be at the library – so a visit to the yarn and fabric shop might be in order!

In other news, it’s been a busy week here. I’m back working at the university, teaching a communications unit this semester in New Media – which hasn’t been offered since 2007, so it needs a fair amount of revising. Teaching starts on the 23rd February, so I have to have all the basic course information finished before I go to Sydney on Wednesday, as well as the study guides for the first couple of topics for our external students.

I’ve also got revisions to do for book 2 by March 10th, so, with the Australian Romance Readers Convention on next weekend in Melbourne, I’m going to be a busy beaver for the next four weeks!

Posted in Book news, Life, Romance genre | 1 Comment

Victorian bushfires

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Bron

It’s been an anxious day here, watching the news as the bushfire devastation in Victoria unfolds. As I write, 65 people are confirmed dead, and 640 houses have been lost. The fires are still raging in many places in Victoria, including not far from where my cousins live. I don’t know how they’re faring; I don’t think the fire has hit their community yet, but it must be within just a few miles. Whether they’ve decided to stay, or to evacuate, I guess they’re going to have a long night – like so many others.

There are also fires in New South Wales, although not currently at the same level of devastation. But in one of those ironic contrasts that nature throws us, in far north Queensland a huge area is experiencing incredible flooding.

My heart goes out to all those impacted by the fires and the floods.

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