Very nearly real

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Bron

I arrived in Melbourne this afternoon, after an early-ish start to the day, and two plane flights to get here.

I’m finding it hard to really believe that tomorrow evening is The Book Launch – I’m excited, nervous, and have to keep reminding myself that this time tomorrow, things will be well under way at Dymocks in Collins Street. There’s quite a crowd coming, so it should be a fun, if busy, event.

In the meantime, Melbourne is a city that I love, although I haven’t visited much in recent years. I wandered around the shops for a while this afternoon – after having afternoon tea at the Hopetoun Cafe in The Block Arcade, a personal tradition I started when visiting Melbourne as a teenager. The historian in me loves the fact that people have been having afternoon tea there for around 100 years!

The sun was setting as I walked over the pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River – wisps of pink clouds draped the skyline behind the tall city buildings, and the light that magical twilight with touches of apricot settling into dark blues.

Tomorrow I may do some more exploring, before coming back to the hotel to get ready for the book launch.

My book launch. Tomorrow.

Now I just have to decide what to wear!!

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Pre-launch whirl

Posted on August 12, 2008 by Bron

I can hardly believe that the official launch of my book is just over a week away, and that it will be on the shelves of bookshops by the end of the month.

After leaving the RWAmerica conference in San Francisco, it was a pleasure to travel to Queensland’s Gold Coast, where I had the wonderful experience of meeting with booksellers at the Dymocks International Conference, and the privilege of being able to talk about my book and my research with them – as well as the opportunity of getting to know more about the bookselling and publishing world. Despite the jetlag and the head-cold I’d picked up in San Fran, I thoroughly enjoyed my two days at the Gold Coast, and managed to not lose my voice totally until after I’d made it to Sydney!

Two days in Sydney followed, with medical appointments (everything’s fine for now) and a couple of relaxed meetings with my publisher and the publicity manager. Plus some shopping 🙂 A jacket in Myers that I’d admired a few times in recent Sydney visits was marked down to below half-price – so it came home with me. So did a couple of tops, that were reduced. With the two jackets that I bought in San Francisco, and other purchases in the past couple of months, I think I now have a reasonably respectable wardrobe – much more presentable than the jeans and big baggy pullovers I’m currently wearing during cold winter days at home!

Next Wednesday – a week tomorrow – I’m off again, this time to Melbourne for the book launch and the Romance Writers of Australia conference.

All are welcome at the launch – it will be held at 5.30pm on Thursday, 21st August, at Dymocks at 234 Collins Street, Melbourne. For catering purposes, RSVP’s are requested – please email levents@dymocks.com.au

In the meantime, I’m having a quiet week (mostly) at home, far away from big city lights, crowds and shops. Some writing is taking place; once I get rid of this cold, more walking will also occur. And it’s nice to be in the bush again, and watching the wildlife, including this echidna who came to our front veranda last night, looking for bugs amongst the strawberries and other potted plants:

Echidna

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RWA conference, San Francisco

Posted on August 1, 2008 by Bron

I made it to San Francisco, and the wonderful, but hectic experience of the Romance Writers of America National Conference. Two thousand romance writers and industry professionals in one large hotel makes for a busy, but enjoyable few days.

I arrived on Sunday, having traveled on the same plane as about nine other Australian writers, some of whom can be seen here, waiting for the shuttle bus:

On Monday, Valerie Parv and I met up with some American friends, and went to Pier 39 for a late (delicious!) lunch and a wander around the shops. A lovely blue glass pendant and matching earrings insisted on coming home with me, but otherwise I managed to resist temptation!

On Tuesday, with the same friends, and joined by Mel Scott from Australia, we took the ferry to Sausalito in the afternoon – a gorgeous sunny day, although windy, making the bay crossing a little choppy – just the way I like it! We didn’t have heaps of time in Sausalito between ferries, but it was an enjoyable interlude, admiring some of the crafts in the galleries, and picking up a few tourist souvenirs.

On the way back, the fog starting rolling in again, across the Golden Gate Bridge:

Yesterday, the conference got underway, and the hotel is full of romance writers. I caught up with some of last year’s fellow Golden Heart finalists at the Golden Network retreat, and later attended the incredibly huge book signing in aid of literacy programs – 400+ authors, a few thousand readers, one large ballroom, and a loud continual buzz of conversation. I was only going to buy two books – but somehow five came into the check-out line with me.

This afternoon, Valerie and I will be giving our workshop. I’m having a little quiet time in our room this morning instead of going to the conference opening but will head downstairs shortly. This evening, I have two functions to go to, which I’m looking forward to, and tomorrow I’ll be moderating a workshop and attending others, instead of giving one!

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Imperial beauty

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Bron

A glorious winter day today, with crisp air and sunshine. DH and I had lunch in town together, and then I did a quick bit of wool shopping while he tackled the supermarket. Walking to meet him, I looked across at the Imperial Hotel building, and loved the contrast of the decorative arches at the top of the building against the blue sky.

Imperial Hotel, Armidale

My town has many beautiful colonial-era buildings, and ‘Impies’, as it’s locally known, is one of the most impressive.

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It’s (almost) real

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Bron

My wonderful publisher phoned this morning with the news that she had a copy of my book in her hands, fresh from the printer and looking and feeling beautiful.

She’s sending a copy up by Express Post, so hopefully it will get here Monday lunchtime, and I’ll be able to post a photo of me, grinning like a goof, with my book.

(Yes, yes, I’m already grinning like a goof in anticipation.)

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