I achieved a personal dream and BIG milestone with Tears of The Cheetah, this is me, in a bookshop IN BRISBANE AIRPORT.... yip - finally I got into the airports. There were sightings all over and it was so exciting, and I finally got to go into Watermark Cafe, Brisbane Airport, and stand with the awesome sales attendant (who probably thought I was very nuts...) But it was a surreal moment that I had hoped for for so long.

For those who follow me on Facebook and twitter, you will know that I have had a run in with my health these last three months. Had ganglions cut out of my hand, and then a 19mm stone and my whole gall bladder removed in March.. NOT fun.
















I have to admit that I am not a good patient at all... But I’m on the mend!!! And cross fingers the rest of 2016 I will be my normal perky self!

In between these health scares, I was so lucky to presented a workshop at Strathpine library on editing. (For those who asked for the notes - they have gone out in emails today - apologies for the delay... I didn’t forget you,(except Lorraine - I can’t find your card, if you read this PLEASE get in touch with me) for the Moreton Bay Regional Councils Write Around Moreton Bay program.

I’m a Mac baby, iphone, ipad, Macbook Pro, and Mini on my desk... Apple products all the way.... So, most places I present at are windows followers.... one of the ‘always do’ items for me, is to convert my KeyNote into Powerpoint, and have it with me, just incase something goes wrong, then I can just switch to any-old laptop, and still have my presentation work. For some reason, I hadn’t pre-done this, and you got it... I couldn’t find one of my connectors so ... over to windows.

Lucky I had my all my lovely husband with me, and he sorted out the tech issue (Thanks Shaun!) while I talked the hind leg off a donkey as always .... but it was also sad as I had put in these really pretty transitions that then were not there, and the powerpoint just ticked over one page at a time...

When I got home, I began to strip the powerpoint down to bare bones to send out as notes, and it occurred to me that that is sometimes what you do anyway when you edit. You write something, you remove all the candy floss around the story line in the edit, and you are left with great bone structure - and everyone know you need those great bones to be a supermodel... and your book does too.

So what I refer to being brutal in the edit notes, strip out scenes that do nothing, I really do mean - REMOVE the suckers, no matter how pretty you wrote them, if they are deadweight - they go. Just like all the pretty-ones in my powerpoint - gone...LOL

























So my next teaching all day workshop is in Bunderburg 21st May, for QWC.

Date: Saturday May 21
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Venue: 80A Woongarra Street, Bundaberg
Price:
QWC Members - $65
QWC Member Concessions - $59
Young people (25 and under) - $59
Full Price - $110
Concession - $99


To BUY TICKETS press here, it will take you to the relevant QWC page..

A good setting can be more than just the backdrop of your story. Learn how to harness a place, building or landscape to highlight the emotions of your characters and convey your story's themes in this workshop with novelist, T.M. Clark. Across the day, you will utilise research and the five senses to enrich your story, face your characters against the elements and how a setting can bring a narrative to life.

This Course is Ideal For:
New writers and writers with a regular writing practice; writers looking to try new forms; and writers looking to refresh their skills.
 
What You Will Learn:
• About the role of setting to establish tone and genre.
• How setting can inform characters and be used to increase dramatic tension.
• Developing a textured setting that feels real to your readers.
• How to create a workable plan to assist setting development before writing.
• The tools necessary to effectively plan and implement setting as a character within their own books.

I so hope to see you there...

So after a mammoth task of updating everything, I hope I’m now finally up to date.

If you want to know more, follow me on any of these social media outlets,





you obviously get a more intimate look on the day to day what’s happening in my life and my office... if not, no worries, see you right here on my blog, next time..


Bye 4 now
Tina

I still can’t quite believe where this book lead me...

My friend and awesome writer Robyn Grady asked me to be in an anthology she was putting together, it was going to be like a chocolate box, all different stories, different genres, centered around a central theme. Christmas.

Of course I said ‘YES”, as to be in a book with her was a dream come true. Robyn was the friend who years ago told me to stop wasting time on doing things for free for people, and take myself seriously as a writer, give myself back my own time to write...put my own writing first!) Probably one of the best pieces of advice even given to me. She is also one of my long time crit partners, and I still love spending time with her, bouncing stories around over lunch (or early dinner as its become lately...)

One of the most challenging things for me on this story was not only writing short, but also having to rely on an editor that I wasn’t familiar with and hadn’t worked with before. A new challenge and I have to say just as pleasurable one - thank you Serena Sandrin Editing Services.


So originally this story was in CHRISTMAS ASSORTMENT BOX: Holiday stories for everyone!

Cowboys, Babies, Family, Steamy Romance and Edgy Young Adult! And featured, Robyn Grady, Sara Hantz, Mel Teshco, Tabitha Robbins and me.

And what fun I had writing this novella.

























I loved this collection - but it was in steep competition with all the others put out at Christmas time, and it was different. So the stories were then all put up for sale separately too.

A huge learning curve to figure out not only Amazon, and iTunes etc... thank you to my hubby for doing this part as I think it would have been my undoing...

A huge thank you to Michael North Imagery for the fantastic photo on the cover of my sad looking ellie...Ndhlovy! To Robyn for all her encouragement and help along the way and for the fabulous idea of this anthology in the first place!

Its not everyday that you get to meet the people behind your book who get it into the shops for you.
As an author my job is to write the book, promote it and through being myself to sell it.

Met Derek Butterfield our Harlequin QLD rep. This is one of the men on the team who actually goes out and sells my book to the book sellers, so that they put it on their shelves for the public to buy and hopefully read. This is the first time in three years that I have actually met him, and it was a really lovely meet up. I wish I got to spend more time with him, maybe using him to bounce titles off as we had a super interesting discussion on titles. All mine so far have past muster with him just by the way - super proud of that!

And what an awesome place for him to come and say ‘Hi ya’ - at Dymocks in Carindale, where they had put up this sign..( yip I’m bragging... this is their words, not mine...) It made me smile - BIG TIME!






























This catching up on blog posts is an interesting concept.... This was our family photograph I shared with the world on twitter and facebook... hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and a safe New Year. From mine to yours - Happy Christmas! (And we are all too ‘big’ to try fit on one chair now.... how the years pass so quickly...)

Tears Of The cheetah went into stores at the end of November, just in time for Christmas.

Thank you to Amy Andrews who launched my book at North lakes library to a fabulous event there, and thanks library staff - it was awesome! To my family and to Sam and Brian who rushed around, like normal, making sure everything was perfect for me. Love you all!!!


Signings took place, and one of my favourite places is always our local Target store. On our island, this is out book store, and the manager actually has a decent size book store going at the back, that caters for the islands population. On the left is Matt, the store manager, the store Father Christmas and me having a laugh at my signing at the front of the store.

A HUGE thank you to Therese Schirmer, the ‘book shelf packer’ at Target, who did my display and unpacked all the books... it was so lovely - thank you!!!

































A selection of our locals and their support!!! Thank you!


An awesome article also appeared on the same day as the signing, in the Courier Mail! Thank you to my Publicist company - Moray Media!































Over all - and awesome awesome week! What more could a girl ask for because then there were three...( Thanks Louise Hill for this photie - I borrowed it ...lol)

Sometimes in life, you are presented an opportunity that you just need to move mountains and make happen. Getting to see my book Tears Of The Cheetah printed was one of those occasions, and I am so happy that it all worked out just right, so that I could make this trip to Adelaide in October and see my baby become a book. A HUGE thank you to my friend and stable sister, Bronwyn Stuart who came with me to the factory and spent the day with me as we watched the whole process unfold. And to Cheryl Adnams for her hospitality and girls night ... many years since I did that - it was amazing - thank you two!!!!






















Meeting the operators of the machinery in the printing factory was a fabulous moment... actually being in a manufacturing factory for me, was just lovely - many happy memories in manufacturing so I felt right at home. And the guys were so great!!!




















This is my book passing overhead and through that printing machine... Pages of Tears Of The Cheetah...






















The machines fold them.. yip starting to resemble a book now... well part of one...






















Now the parts begin to fly over my head - LITERALLY!!!!! This is parts of the book going along on their process - like flying Harry Potter books!!!






















Sorted and packaged up - Part 1 of 4 prints for the book.
























And here is part 1 on its pallet, now waiting for the other pieces to be printed so that they can all be put together...






















So now the pieces are together - and this part I couldn’t see - I was watching someone else’s book get bound.. but the process is the same...
























Goes through a glueing and then cooling process.
























The cover is put on - look these are my covers in a big pile waiting for my books... (and they were surrounded by friends book, it was awesome to see they all keep each other company in the factory as well as on the shelves in the stores! Old fiends! ) Then they are cut to the right size and boxed... easy as pie - you have a book....LOL
























So in the end this is what I came home with - a cover poster of the 4 covers per sheet and my 4 parts which make up my 115 000 word book.

I am still in awe that I got to see this book printed - and am forever grateful to Harlequin and Griffin Press for allowing me to be part of this process.

I was so excited to be part of the Brisbane Writes Festival program in 2015. I have a long history with this festival, and CYA Conference has its start with the Brisbane Writers Festival, before flying solo. I was super happy to be involved again - as part of the Queensland Writers Centers program - Books from our back yard - the Living Library where I was on a panel with the awesome Christine Bongers and Robyn Collins.
























I also got to read out about 5 minutes of my book at the QWC Re(a)d Box sessions. Which was both nerve wrecking as well as interesting... I had Shona in the first part of my book that I chose to read. I don’t speak Shona at all... not even kitchen Shona... I can only hope that I didn’t butcher it too badly!





















Andrew King, Pam Rushby and I get ready to re(a)d our books in public...


One of my favourite exhibitions at BWF was The BimbleBoxArt Project 153 Birds ... remember them? I wrote a story and then had to record it for them, to help save the Bimblebox Reserve up in northern Queensland.... well I got to see the exhibition, listen to the version of the story with music enhanced.. it was all pretty surreal.. and got to see what the artist did for our Black backed buzzard....






















Myself and Jill Sampson, the creator of this fabulous exhibition. (About Bimblebox - http://bimblebox.org/nature-refuges/)
























My Black Breasted Buzzard, the way the artist Jazmina Cininas interpreted it. I think she is beautiful!!!!



























“Bimblebox 153 Birds offers a celebration of the birdlife that inhabits the complex ecosystems of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge.

Curated and Coordinated by Jill Sampson.”

From the Bimblebox 153 Birds - http://bimbleboxartproject.com/bimblebox-birds-printmaking-project/writers-on-bimblebox-153-birds/































The listening station where people sat and listened to us read our stories....

ahhhh Romance Writers Conference Australia, I look forward to you each and every year. This is the time when I get to run with ‘my pack’ talk all day and night and generally have a ball. I get to meet readers of my books at the ARRA signing and party with my publisher. I get to ‘Escape’ at the themed cocktail party and then dress all nice for the awards the following night, and most importantly, I get to learn new ways to improve my craft of writing.

Highlights from this amazing conference - Dressing up as Morticia and Gomez one night, then ‘posh’ the next... my darling hubby and I ...totally love that he is so comfortable spending so much time around all the women in the romance writing community.
























Winning the RWA Favourite Romantic Suspense Cover 2015 - thank you to my awesome publisher and the cover fairies at Harlequin!

























Being hyper embarrassed that the half naked guy who lead on onto the stage was nearly the same age as my son - only wearing no clothes and getting paid to do that!

























Meeting and having a picture with the very generous (he gave money to the literacy foundation for every photie us ‘RWA girls’ had with him, Graeme Simsion. (The Rosie Project author...for those who don’t know who he is...)



























And of course - the ARRA signing... just an awesome awesome time when you get to feel a little bit like a rock star as people come and ask you to sign your book for them... Love this event!

Book Week - Papua New Guinea - Episode #3

When I began a small project in 2011, to collect a few books together to send to Zimbabwe, Africa, I had no idea that it wouldn’t be the destination of those books, but a place called Papua New Guinea instead. A place much like Zimbabwe, only closer to Australia. A third world country, trying desperately to negotiate and survive in the modern world, and where literacy had been forgotten.... only the good news was that, the books would have a direct route through to the end users, and wouldn’t relay on constant charitable money donation to accomplish the same end result. I still have a dream to get a container to Zimbabwe, but that is a different post for a different day...

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that within 4 years this ‘little obsession’ would become what it is today. With over 100 tons (yes that’s 100 000 kgs) of book shipped to PNG and distributed into the villages around, into the schools, and the communities of Papua New Guinea, we have stopped counting, because its easier to now see instead, the school, and communities that are benefitting from the sustainability of this project.

As mentioned, originally my call was to send books to Zimbabwe, in Africa, but the constraint of the cost of the container forced me to look elsewhere, to find a home for the books. And once the route into PNG was established, the project just drove itself. More schools and libraries came on board, and the trickle into PNG became a torrent, that continues today.

The amazing Kate Skeet started her Mobile Library with books of her own while living in PNG. Then by working with her husband and the staff of Milne Bay Palm Oil Estate, the PNG Books project began with roping in Sue Krone from Fastair as the ‘shipping’ consultant already working with this company, they established a ‘route’ for the books, where it became a sustainable project. The company already had containers going to PNG, from Brisbane and Sue now organised to utilise any spare space, and fill it with books. (I’m telling you Sue can organise anything - she is AMAZING!!!!)

I became the Australian on the ground, one of the links between the libraries, the schools and the public when I collected books (although many are delivered directly to Fastair too!) and constantly chatter to people about the project.

So fast forward a few years..

I was invited to Book Week 2015 in PNG, but Higaturu Oil Palm International School in Popondetta, Oro Province. PNG. But what made this totally amazing, is that I was asked to take another author/illustrator with me... it was to be a volunteer trip, so much so that we were to pay the international leg of the journey, but once we got to PNG, we were covered.

Judy Horacek came with me. Judy had presented at CYA Conference just a year or so before, and while she’s passionate about literature, she’s also passionate about women's independence and issues, and an all round wonderful person!

Father Nicholas Mkaronda,(The Headmaster of the school) is an ex Zimbabwean too. He’s not only passionate about literature, but also about equality both in race and gender. Finding my Ontock in PNG was a priceless moment for me!

So our week was filled with meetings, and visits, being in the International school in the mornings, and then the village school visits in the afternoon, Judy and I were looked after so well.

I thought I’d share a few photies from that time, interesting highlight for us... if you follow me on Facebook you will have seen many of these pictures, as I tried to keep an online diary while there and upload each precious day.

Seeing what the communities had done with so few resources is what got me in my heart. I saw a preschool that learnt to count with sticks and stones, and their few books that they had were treated like precious gold, and yet shared by the children. The books were all so respected.















Popondetta Airport Nicholas and Vongai Mkaronda














Each to their own, but I hated the sight of Betelnut stains...














Mamba guest house - awesome lunch! Barbara and her library at Mamba school.














Books to be sorted at Mamba School A library with a view!



















Kokoda Trail - the end of the line... An emotional place.














Igora Primary School - so proud of their library and the what they have achieved here!















We were greeted with a traditional ceremonial dance (real bird of paradise feathers those and dogs teeth!) The children had written these AMAZING stories for Book Week!














The generator they brought to school for Our ‘pondo’ feast given to us as a thank you.
the occasion. We were treated like royalty! Extremely humbled by this gift.(And the chicken!)














An gift of a coconut given to me by this little chap. Judy drinks a coconut!













A market vendor on the side of the road.












Jonita Elementary School & Preschool













Preschool counting supplies. Preschool books - sooo loved!















Again, the children had written stories for book week. Amazing kids - so well behaved!














Kids and cats! Universal love! We were given these flowers and home
made palm fond bags - they were totally
awesome!















Popondetta Secondary School. About 800 kids - what an amazing place to present, and some of the writing group came and chatted with us afterwards. From a room with no books, this library at this school is now stocked and well utilised by the kids - but I still came away with a wish list from their librarian.

The AMAZING Higaturu Oil Palm International School, who shared us with each of the schools in the community above. A huge thank you for your awesome hospitality and the never ending enthusiasm shown from the staff and the pupils. Book week 2015 rocked! .





























Shoes off to sit together and meet and spend fabulous one on one time with Judy and I.













Getting ready for the Awards Presentation at the end of the week - Judy with her Beautiful artworks from the kids about being a person. Before I went to PNG I’d never seen this cartoon, but it touched me deeply since then and I hesitate to by anything now that just says Princess on it... have a look at her page, and this cartoon. Its totally out there and amazing and made me think!
















Awards presentation at Book week - an awesome performance!



















Next reading levels group- another awesome presentation for Book Week 2015!





















The seniors presentation included an amazing job of singing/rapping about books lighting up their world. It was awesome!













These were outside out accommodation... An example of one of our dinners - yummmo!
don’t mess with these ants!













Vongai, Judy and me just before touring the Meeting the nursery folks, and seeing all the
oil palm plantation factory. growing samplings.













Judy on a driftwood surfboard. WW2 bombs - now defused.














Couldn’t believe it was a week past and it was time to get back on our plane with its propellers and fly back over the mountains into Port Moresby and then home. What an experience, one that will stay with me for many many years to come.

So I travelled to just one place that those books I collect travelled to, they go all over PNG and I am so proud that I am part of such an amazing project as this. As an author, I believe that books do light up our world, and I am so happy to be a facilitator to help share that light across this island in the ocean.

Don’t ask me where to time disappeared too....


Episode #2: New York, United States of America

Traveling overseas is always fun - but then I have to admit that I had never actually done a long distance trip like this on my own. I’ve been spoilt and always travelled with family (even if it was only my boys...) I know I talk to strangers, bad habit #999... I always have talk to strangers, so maybe it was no different... but it was probably the most alone time I have had in many many years.

Sunday 19th July found me on a Virgin flight to USA - New York, via LA. I did however forget to enlighten the airline that I needed a special meal - fail #1... lucky there was this awesome steward on the plane who took fruit and other ‘stuff’ from business class so that I could have something to eat because I couldn’t believe it when both meals had egg in them.... ( And he also told me to bring food for the way home... which I did.) Without any trouble at all, I actually manage the transfer at LA alone and get on my next Delta flight for NY. And on that flight I saw a friend from Aus - Linda Jones (yeah!)

So the 19th was pretty much a write off - just travelled for 30 hours door to door to get to New York. But what view from my hotel room..... Time Square!


















Monday it was time to acclimatize (winter to summer) and get over Jet lag.... And do a spot of sight seeing... okay a bus trip of sights!

And on Monday night - the first of my fabulous Brisbane friends arrived - Leisa Rayven. (So not sure why we didn’t actually take an photies of all of us together... so I stole this from her page instead...).

















And a week of serious writing orientated fun with friends began!

On Tuesday morning I had breakfast with the wonderful editors from Harlequin, Mira. I got there in plenty time,and changed from flat shoes into heels in the lobby of the Woolworths building - YES the actual Woolworths building is where the Harlequin offices are located! I got to go out to this little french restaurant with them. Now editor meetings always make me nervous - so right up I knew that eating was going to be hard... add to that that the restaurant served my hot chocolate in a bowl (yip that is right - a BOWL). But it all worked out alright - they laughed, as did I and we were all happy I sipped at the weird crockery didn’t try and lap it it like a dog....hehe....

The door man gave me a little business card in the Woolworths building to prove I had been into the lobby and not just looked form outside like a tourist window-shopping! But I was lucky enough to go all the way up to the Harlequin floor. It’s amazing up there - and I’m so sorry to hear they will move offices.

The rest of the day I was back on my bus tour ( yes in my nice dress.... just wore the flats and I got kind of sunburnt too!) and on the river, doing my thing, seeing the sights and chatting to lots of interesting people from around America and the rest of the world!

A few pictures of my journey around New York City!



















































And what NY trip would be complete without a waving to the Apple Store just for my hubby!

































Amy Andrews arrived on Tuesday...
and the three amigos were together
and ready to face the RWA America
Community.










Wednesday I volunteered for RWA - got to spend hours and hours in the signing room unpacking 8 pallets of books. And the room looked so awesome when we were all done. Next we chair dropped a room for about 1000 people who would attend the signing, unpacking those boxes there and arranging everything on the chairs so they could sit, and then go through the signing in an orderly fashion - crowd control was fantastic at this conference.

I didn’t get to attend the actual signing as again, I was on the ‘bag’ table ensuring that people going in were not carrying books they could get charged for on exit.

I then went to dinner with the other Aussie and NZ girls and Harlequin Junkie - Sara! It was sort of Stefanie London’s idea to get together, but it was such an awesome dinner. Us down under d are loud but it was so much fun!
















Thursday the conference started and what an amazing time. I met with editors from HarperCollins and St Martin’s, both not the editors I needed to see, but people who could tell me who the right person within their publishing house was to approach - or not... and agents and again... an awesome time was had. And within that awesome was also lots of hard work, lots of management of time and ensuring that I was on time to places and where I had to be in the the right place in a HUGE hotel.

I attended workshops and panel discussions and generally immersed myself into the conference, enjoying it, learning not only my craft, but also how the American market works!

On Thursday night I attended the Harlequin Pajama Party - and yes, I walked down Times Square with my pajamas on... no one batted an eye lid... So this is the Harlequin publicity lady, Kendal Talbot and Emily Madden both fellow stable sisters.





























Friday night - I was dancing in the Startlight Roof of the Waldorf Hotel, attending my very first American Harlequin Black & White ball. So fancy they even gave us socks to dance in so that no one danced bare foot. Glammed up, and alongside all the other Harlequin authors it was such a grand affair! This was THE event to have a ticket to at the conference, and they ticked our names off at the door. Yes, they really did - an invitation only event . Felt surreal to be honest! But I had an amazing time - totally!








































































































An awesome new friend and my doppelgänger .... Mia Kay (I love writers we all have so many names... and yet us two have 2 real names the same... amazing stuff! )

Saturday I met with an agent for two hours over lunch, and it was really not only interesting, but work wise, it was extremely productive and I began to understand why in the NY publishing world, they all breakfast and lunch so much. When you are trying hard to not slurp your lobster bisque, you have to concentrate on every word the other person says so that you can coordinate your eating with her words so if you do happen to drip or anything, it passes in a flurry of words and by the time she is finished, your mouth is empty again and you can answer back... lol


Saturday night was the end of the conference... and the night of the stars - The Rita awards. No dinner or anything, but we got these great gifts, and a chocolate RITA. I brought mine home and it is sitting on my dressing table... I told my family it can only be eaten when its replaced with a Oscar ( I don’t qualify for a RITA as my books have a romantic element and are not romance driven) So Oscar it has to be - for the movie (Talk about aiming high expectations and dreams! )




















On Sunday I met up early with a familiar face and friend - Paul Griffin. He came to CYA Conference a few years back, and we had an amazing time together both then and in NY. Being a paramedic it was handy having him in my home when my one son’s nose decided to do the mother of all bleeds, but he’s also an author, and so we chatted away our time together, and only just as he was putting me on the subway, did we remember to take a ‘selfie’ together. Amazingly, we chatted heaps about the plot for my book #5, and how it effects people in NY and how they cope with it there... you will have to wait and see that subject when it comes, but it was so interesting, I was sorry when our time was up.




Later in the day, Amy and I took the free Staton Island ferry, and while I sang ‘Let the river run’ from Working Girls (quietly so as not to disturb fellow passengers,) Amy was doing these awesome selfies with the statue of liberty in the background.







We ended off with a visit to Ground Zero. Last time I was in NY the towers were still standing, so for me it was an emotional visit to this site. The tastefulness of the memorial is beyond words, and I was surprised at the amount of mums and babies who perished. Yes, I went around looking at all the name!












































Finally, on Monday before we flew out, we visited a post office, and on the way I saw this... there is a construction site on the other side, and there are peep windows to see whats happening.... I was laughing and thinking how the world has changed - 100 years ago it was men who had a peep show from the ladies - now these are ‘perv’ windows for us ladies to goggle at the construction guys... lol

Flight home to Australia was uneventful and I was really happy to get home to my family - but I had such an amazing adventure in NY - I want Shaun to come with me next time, and redo NY through my older eyes... It really is very beautiful!

Till next installment - PNG...

My festival season started on 3rd July 2015 - so Episode #1
Romance Writers of America - New York - 19 July to 26 July - Episode #2
Book Week - Papua New Guinea - Episode 3
Romance Writers of America - Melbourne - Episode 4
Brisbane Writers Festival - 6th September - Episode 5.

Two full months of travel, living out of suitcases, and talking books!
3rd and 4th July 2015

CYA Conference is obviously my heart conference, and this year it was our 10th year anniversary. And what better way than with a cake! Okay enough cake for 160 people - but you get the idea....


















Was so lucky to have a heap of the success stories with me to celebrate, and to give them their new badges. Knowing that in the last 10 years I have made a difference to each of these people, and they have book babies because of some small part me and the whole CYA team played - its heartwarming!


















And of course - I couldn’t continue to bring CYA Conference to the writers and illustrators if it wasn’t for a few really special people.






















My husband Shaun, for all his help, patience, support, and belief in me and my conference - thank you!






















The amazing Ally Howard, who has been with me for so many years, and has continued to do everything with me. To those in the know, Ally is the ‘people person of CYA Conference’, a HUGE value in our relationship, and she deals with any tears... because those I am not so good at!

Sam Eeles who works tirelessly during the year as the volunteer admin assistant. Thank you Sam - you are so totally relied upon, and thank you for being there!


















Debbie Kahl and Natalie Hatch who are so much part of the CYA Conference team too. (And both appear camera shy... okay admitting they were both working their butts off during the day up in the pitching room! )













A special thank you to all the other volunteers, new and repeat offenders - thank you!!!! (Next year we need to get a quick photo of all the volunteers together in the morning!!!)



















And all of those I didn’t get pictures of too!!!!

A special mention and a thank you was made to Sharon Norris (far right), who was one of the three people who began the original CYA Conference idea, and unfortunately had to resign because of ill health at the time. (The other, who resigned for the same reasons was Di Bates). Thank you for joining us in year 10 Sharon and for being part of the CYA Volunteer team!!!!











































And to Peter Allert. Peter and I are the only 2 people who have attended every singe CYA Conference, and he continues to want to hang around even though he knows that I can’t give him a gold watch - I LOVE that he is one of the CYA Team! For these amazing pictures at the networking party and on the day - thank you Peter!

Finally - just a few photos of the Networking party and the CYA Conference day. An awesome time was had by all, but I have to admit that at the end of the day, I was ready for bed. I will load these and many more photies into the CYA Conference photo album so these are just a few...











































































































































































































































Happy 10th Birthday CYA Conference!

See ya next year at CYA Conference 2nd July 2016!

And so I returned home, and the suitcase was unpacked, and then repacked for Episode 2...on 19th July 2015 - I left for Romance Writers America Conference....

Very excited to reveal the cover for Tears the of Cheetah. Once again the Harlequin Cover Fairies have worked their wonderful magic to produce another beauty for me.

I am not sure where the times goes... on minute its February and the flowers are wilting in the 30’ heat, and the next it’s July, its cold and I’m trimming back plants that die down in winter, planting the spring flowering lobelia, stocks, phlox, snapdragons and sweet-peas. And its almost time to prepare the new garden bed for planting all the spring and summer flowering bulbs I have ordered. Oh yes, and I’m also running about like a chicken with no head getting ready for CYA Conference.

This year is rather special to me because its the 10th anniversary. From when ‘my little project’ became a reality, and began growing up...its an exciting time of the year - much like planning a wedding, annually!

And speaking conferences - I have a few of them coming up in the near future...

RWA - Romance Writers of America®
35th Annual Conference
New York Marriott Marquis 
New York, New York
July 22–25, 2015


I’m attending the RWA Conference in New York, America :


Yip - New York city - here I come!!! Obviously not looking forward to the chronic jet-lag when I get there (as last time I crossed the time zones I suffered jet-lag - seriously badly) but I have a few days before to acclimatise and get on top of it.

RWA Conference - Australia














I will be attending the RWA Conference in Melbourne this year - yeah!!!!


One of the agenda items is the ARRA book signing - so looking forward to this too!














Part of this event is the TREASURE HUNT... so if you are looking for a Treasure Hunt code - and you missed in on my front page - here it is again:









Good luck!


Well back to the grind stone....no rest for the wicked!

Bye 4 now
Tina

My web site got a upgrade.. did you notice it at all? Thank you to my beautiful husband Shaun for the time he has put into making it look better, neater, cleaner and overall just improving it...

Each year I make a list of items I want to achieve in the next writing year, and I share it with a small group of writing friends. We also look back at the previous years list and see if we achieved what we set out to do. Having done this for a number of years. One of my ‘wants’ during 2014 was adjusted last year, it used to be ‘blog each month’, but I changed it because with deadlines, conferences, because after failing at this same goal for the last few years, it obviously needed a revamp. I needed some way to change the failure to an achievement. So it became - ‘make at least 12 entries into the blog during the year.’

And I achieved it!!! I did 13... so yeah! Celebrating each small milestone along the way!

And yes, the resolution remains... I hope to update this page at least 12 times in 2015. I can share a few other resolutions both writing and life ...
Submit at least one picture book, and one chapter book, to publishers during the year.
Lose weight during the year
Attend Bootcamp at least X2 a week, if not more.
Recover my lounge suit with my dad-in-crimes help for the extending it into a 3 seater so I can sleep on the couch and not get neck ache...
Say ‘No’ more often (this is on my list every year and I do try honestly!)

I had to share MY shiny with you - The Queensland Literary Awards nomination badge that I get to put on my book now because of last years nomination. While I didn't win on the night, I still felt I was a winer because I got to spend the evening with some incredible writers, and inspirational people, and it was an evening of awards that will not be easily forgotten.










As you know, no girl every said ‘No’ to a gold and shiny - so you bet I am sharing it! Soon I will be able to share it on my book cover - that I am looking forward to!


I was also nominated for the ARRA Favourite Romantic Suspense Book of 2014 for Shooting Butterflies, and I will be in Canberra for the conference and awards dinner. Being honest I’m just happy to be in there at all, there are some legends in the same category as me! So it will be an amazing night I am sure, celebrating with so many other talented authors friends also nominated. I have never been to Canberra, so its going to a first on more than one level.
















Oh and I am doing a panel at ARRC too - so if you are in the area - check out this conference, complete with its huge author signing (+- 70 authors under one roof signing...) and if you are there, please come say hi ya to me, don’t be a stranger!












So, talking books.... Tears Of The Cheetah has been handed in, and is in edit with my lovely external editor Glenda Downing. I know you will all love this story as much as I do when it hits the shelves in December. I will keep you up to date on the progress... one of my ‘want list items’ for the year is to go to Adelaide and see this book bring printed, so hold thumbs for that one to happen, because somehow it needs to happen within my tight time schedule.

My middle of my year diary looks a little hectic like this:
CYA Conference - Brisbane 4th July.
RWA National - New York, USA
RWA Australia - Melbourne - August
Hand in Book - August

So you see why I am seriously hoping I make it to Adelaide too!

I’m already 21k into my next book. Book #4 has a working title of Ifele - this means ‘dead’ in Ndebele - but it can also be used for BROKEN, something that needs to be fixed. Like the tractor is Ifele, meaning it won’t start... ....and I have to let you know I’m loving it...I have been looking forward to writing this book for many years, actually the idea for this book started fermenting in my head at Christmas 2010 on a trip home to Zimbabwe, and finally, its getting its turn to be told. You can view a few inspirational picture ideas for this one on its Pinterest page... Sneak peek - this is one of the pictures used as inspiration for my hero - thank you Michael Stokes - you are an amazing man who sees the human body as art and beautiful, not matter what the condition of the flesh.




























(I know, a little naughty but he is so pretty...and so perfect for my hero. Meet Brad Ivanchan - wounded marine, veteran now home in America.

Obviously I always put my own twist on the hero, so you will have to wait and read who he is and get to know him then... (And if anyone knows of any British Commando’s who have fabulous photies like this - please do share them with me!)


On the gardening front. When I completed Tears, I treated myself to a few days in the garden. One of the jobs I got done was that I planted my 10 seeds from the Bryce Courtney sunflowers. Thank you again to Juliet M. Sampson for continuing his legacy and sharing the love of writing and gardening with others. Unfortunately I only had one come up, but it is looking strong (and tasty apparently..)












Just a few days old, broken the surface Today its growing taller...


This is just outside my study window - yes under the washing line so when it gets bigger I will have to move it to the other side of the alcove so that it doesn’t get damaged by the flapping washing in the wind. I am looking forward to seeing its happy yellow face soon because they grow so fast!




























My nephew Luke, in South Africa planted some sunflowers too. This is his at the moment ...looking seriously awesome!
















And these are my January tadpoles. Getting fatter everyday, these will become common green tree frogs soon, and populate our little island with beautiful frogs. I love these little critters and feed the boiled lettuce daily. Yes, I do changed their water, I use tank water for them,( no chlorine) and do this every few weeks to keep the mozzies down, I drain them through a kitchen colander, and they don’t seem to mind too much, perhaps they have just got used to me...LOL. Anyone wanting some to populate their areas around, just shout, there are plenty to share! They do need at least a pot plant saucer filled with water in the garden for fresh water all the time. As frogs, they look after themselves. I do not advocate anyone putting them in a tank, these are born wild, and I would like them to remain wild.

So, just a reminder that my next public engagement at the moment is ARRA in Canberra - hope to see you there, or someone around.

Until next time, be safe!

Bye 4 now
Tina

So Shooting Butterflies is launched, and its out there... I have had confirmation of it being seen across Australia - and even in New Zealand! So exciting!!! People send me pictures of seeing it all over the place and the little flutter in the stomach never goes away seeing my book on the shelf next to other books in shops, and I hope I never lose that feeling. Some of those pictures...








































This was my very beautiful cake from my Brisbane launch... thanks Woolworths Bribie Island for the cake, and then I bought the beautiful edible giraffe cake topers from Cake Sisters.



















And my cupcakes at the Melbourne launch, leopard print, then blue and pink spots... they were stunning! Again, simple Woolworths cup cakes - then I added to them (okay, thank you again to hubby who actually put them on... admitting that I’m a klutz and didn’t need to get icing from the piping tube on my clothes!) So, I couldn’t fuss much when you are flying into a city to do a launch, but it was great anyhow!!!



























Other book signings have been happened after the launches, and I have been kept on my toes! But there has been an amazing feeling that has been present the whole time during this period: that is the love that readers have shown for my African stories, and that readers have come back and bought my second book. And for that I am grateful.

I have been seriously lucky, just as this book launched, an amazing amount of exposure happened for my first book - My Brother-But-One. It was nominated for a Queensland Literary Award - The Courier Mail 2014 People’s Choice Queensland Book of The Year Award. And although I didn’t win, it was an amazing journey, and I think that the ripple effect from that shortlist is being felt in my sales - my social secretary ( aka my husband) captured this pictures of it back up in the top of the chart again...Wahooo!!!!












While Shooting Butterflies was a New and Hot Fiction feature too...

















Its always great to see your book cover up on the screen - and that never gets old either. I know its been on iTunes, but I was too slow and didn’t grab a screen shot...


Right - now I need to go back to my current WIP - or you won’t have another new book to read this time next year! Thank you to the amazing Ricardo Careaga from Singita - Sabi Sands for this picture.... I’m a really visual person, as I write this I have a play list of songs from Africa playing... and I will go and view my Pinterest page once more - then carry on with my WIP...


























Bye 4 now
Tina

Tomorrow is the official release of my new novel Shooting Butterflies. Harlequin and I decided not to put butterflies on the cover, because of the nature of the butterflies within the book. So I got my stunning giraffes instead, keeping in the Africa theme and keeping my stunning branding going strong.

Shooting Butterflies has already been seen out in the wild, from Toowoomba to Brisbane, to Adelaide and Geelong, and up to Mount Isa! So its out there nice and early!

I have already done the Brisbane and Melbourne launches...in case you haven’t seen all the posts on my Twitter and Facebook feeds...

Brisbane signing at The SA Expats Club in North lakes - thank you to everyone for coming to share this day with me, and also to Thea and her wonderful staff who were so lovely as always. This is me stabbing my cake with my family laughing as always with me...the argument was on with the 3 men as to who was going to eat the head off the giraffe...



























And a little less dramatic - my beautiful cupcakes at the Melbourne launch! Thank you so much to Lousie at Dymocks Collins Street for having me - it was fantastic to be there and to launch in the city!




























Yesterday I did my first book signing for Shooting Butterflies on Bribie island.

This is Laura, not only have I Facebook’ed the beautiful story she wrote for me, but this is her at my signing. She reminds me so much of me at that age - only she can already write at 6 years of age, with the help of a computer - I didn’t then...and my spelling is still not perfect! And she makes the best boxing partner because she doesn't box me hard, and my hands don’t hurt after a session done with her! (I’m getting old... hands don’t take abuse like they used to!)























I also got to meet Theresa, she is the lady who actually packs the Harlequin shelves here on the island. She started this job in June, so she didn’t know I was a local, until recently. Now there is an unexpected link in the retail chain I never even knew. I always thought that the staff within the shops had to unpack and decide where the books go - but not for us Harlequin authors apparently. Our shelf packers get full on instructions and us Mira authors get moved around accordingly. SO thank you to all the shelf packers everywhere!!!






















Thank you to Matthew Hayden, the Manager of Bribie Island Target for being so on the ball, for your wonderful staff who are always so friendly and helpful, and I wish the young Matt (not the manager) luck with his new venture! Thanks for the signing - see you as a regular customer next time I’m in there - shopping!


Today I am the Guest Blogger on the Australian Romance Readers Association page - https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2014/11/30/guest-blogger-tm-clark/ please pop on over and leave a comment for me.


Now talking butterflies...A few months back, our two instructors at Bootcamp Rachel and Leanne held this day for releasing butterflies as part of their fund raiser on the island for their huge 60km walk to support Cancer. These were a few of the images taken on the day by the lovely Angela and her camera. An interesting observation on these beauties is that when they were set free, many came back to where there were butterfly attracting flowers, and didn’t fly away. Some headed off - to find their own path.

I released 3 butterflies that day:-
1. For my dad: Late Barry Edward Wilde
2. My sister: Late Beverley Ann Mack (nee Wilde)
3. For all the butterflies in my new book - even though they are fictional - to them all!



















































I can’t be at the migration of any Brown vein butterflies this year as I’m on the wrong continent right now, but its great to know that my home here is being repopulated with butterflies. Bribie Islands butterfly population is growing all the time because of one couples vision. This is the volunteers page for Bribie Butterflies, and thank you to Ray and Delphine Archer for their vision! https://www.facebook.com/www.bribiebutterflyvolunteers.com.au?fref=ts


So tomorrow is release day for book #2....






















Then I’m taking one day at a time this month as I continue trying to complete my WIP Tears of a Cheetah for hand in now on 31st December 2014.... don’t get excited, it will only be released December 2015 but I have a hectic year ahead, so we are getting it in early to enable us to fit everything in without too much stress!

Take care and thank you as always for your support along the way and for being on this writing journey with me!

Bye 4 now
Tina

Today is 22 days until my book officially comes out on 1st December 2014, BUT today I only have 11 sleeps until my Brisbane Launch.

Details for Brisbane launch of Shooting Butterflies:-
Place: ‘The Boma’, SA Expats Association, 3B, 6 Sibley Street, North Lakes, Queensland, Australia 4510
Time: 11 - 12.30
All invited, if you are not on FB, please just drop me an email on: [email protected] so I can ensure there is enough catering, as South Africa themed snacks will be served.

Am I excited - you bet.

Am I nervous - hell yes - I haven't even received my author copies yet, although I know it was printed... this was from a friend and stable buddy at Harlequin, Mira, Bronwyn Stuart who’s book printed just before mine, and she was in Adelaide to see it.

This was on 20th October - so I know that there are books coming my way any moment now. And living where I do, post always takes a day or two more to get across the bridge...LOL. No seriously, its true - so Bronwyn received hers on Monday, so mine, theoretically, should be here Wednesday...Holding my breath!





































Other author appointment booked in are:

27 November 2014 - Victoria Book Launch - Shooting Butterflies
Place: 234 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic 3000 Time: 6.30 - 8pm
All invited, if you are not on FB, please just drop me an email on: [email protected] so I can ensure there is enough catering.

I am so excited for this one as I will get to catch up with a few Melbourne friend while I am there who I haven’t seen for a while and I have never launched a book in Melbourne before...


29 November 2014 - Book signing - Target Bribie Island
Time: 10am - 12.30
We don’t have a book shop on Bribie Island, so Target is out goto shop for books. The manager of target on Bribie Island is an amazing man, who recognises this and his book section is probably a little bigger that other targets. He also let me sign books last year for my first book, and is now very onboard for number 2. Thanks Matt!


30 November 2014 - Guest Blogger
ARRA (Australian Romance Readers Association) - Guest Blogger

4 December 2014 - Radio Talk On Brisbane 4BC
Time: 11Am

6 December 2014 - Book signing: Dymocks - NorthLakes, Brisbane
Time: 10 - 1pm

17 December 2014 - Book signing: Dymocks - Chermside, Brisbane
Time: 10 - 12.30

And the big exciting news is that I’m touring into QLD Regional and stopping at a few towns, and will be in Mackey for Christmas. At the moment, I’m in talks with a place in Mackey to hold a book signing... so keep checking back with me for details. Its all a tad exciting!

In the mean time, I have my next book, Tears of A Cheetah, due to my editor on 1st December, yes a whole year ahead of when it will come into the shops but there is a reason for that. With my work I do for CYA Conference, I have to block out of time in my calendar because I can’t process both my own work and the conference workload.

And next year I have high hopes to got to the RWA Nationals in New York too, so I have blocked out a month for that. Pretty soon, three months of the year is blocked out, and you don’t have much time for edits.

And I need edits.
Boy do I need edits.
My editors are so my friends as they do see a wider picture and they do help make the stories better.

My schedule for 2015 is tight. But its doable. Remembering that I then need to write the next WIP of over 100,000 words before December 2015 hand in date...

So, thats why I am sitting doing Nanowritmo again this year. National Novel Writing Month. 50 000 words in 30 days. I am using this to complete my current WIP.

This is from my word count spread sheet:















I am just under half way there...but more importantly, my story is now developing well because I am writing constantly, and the story is just flowing. Usually when my writing does this, its a great sign that the story has cooked enough in my head and that I can just tell the story on the screen. Yes,I will still go back and layer it, I will listen again to my Calls of the Wild, and go back and put in the sounds of the animals,and the textures of the bushveld, but for now, I have left a hero and an heroine stuck up a Mopani tree,surrounded by an elephant herd, and I think they would appreciate me getting them back down...

So, back to my cheetah story I go...


Bye 4 now
Tina

Saturday at conference brought with it its own fun and lots of learning. . So I attended the core conference - and it was fabulous.

I did the Build 3-D Characters So They Leap off the Page - Cherry Adair. She is an AMAZING speaker and so great to listen to and learn from.

She still has her BIBLE for sale and its worth getting: http://shop.cherryadair.com/Cherry-Adairs-Writers-Bible-Download-Version-9781937774837wb.htm - if you can’t get to see her in person - she is one really engaging speaker.

Saturday Session 2: I had a pitch session to meet agent Lucienne Diver from the Knights agency and also to meet Kate Byrne from the UK.

Saturday Session 3: Revision and Self-Editing - James Scott Bell - AMAZING!!! I know only one word but he was...


Then we had the ARRA book signing. It was an experience and a half. I had done up my basket for my reader gift - and then given it to ARRA, and they gave it away. I was visited by a number of fans and people who wanted their book signed and who bought a book. I got to sit next to the amazing Dani Collins and Noelle Clark




















































In the photo above Me, Kaz Delaney and Cherry Adair took a moment for a photo op!

There were so many readers coming through, it was fabulous.

I can’t highlight one moment of the afternoon as better than another as it was just all awesome !!!!!

Running from that event back over the road to the Novotel, we attended the Awards Dinner.






















Yes, all dressed up and ready for a night of supporting everyone who was nominated for awards.SO excited to see my friends take home awards...ahhh those glass trophies are beautiful!

I’m not sure who I peed off in the kitchen but my starter was just a cut up tomatoes... But they did make up for it on the delicious dessert - so they were forgiven... my very own desert....


















A highlight of the evening was seeing Emma Darcy inducted into the Hall of Fame based on a stellar, long-time career writing romantic fiction. Here she is with my critique partner Gayle Ash. A magical moment shared...
















Despite dancing late - okay admitting early into the next day, we were up and attending lectures again in the morning.

Sunday Session 1: Psychological Warfare - Prof. Karl Roberts - I could listen to this man talk all day - he was so fascinating and so filled with knowledge on how some people tick...

Sunday Session 2: Self-Defence for Women: How to Write a Fight Scene - Susanna Rogers
This was probably one of my favourite sessions, but not because of the session itself, but because it was fun. This little clip is of Denise Rossetti and Susanna demonstrating a few self defence moves.. and this was the best - throw your bag at him as hard as you can( see the impact that Susanne had from that laptop bag thrown at her ....) - then RUN!















Sunday Session 3: Getting A Grant - Patsy Poppenbeek. I went to this session because I wanted to see if Patsy knew more about individual grants on furthering my writing career. It was a nice informal session where we got to chatter a lot all together about wording in grants, and the online revolution of lodging that is making it so much easier - and harder - with limited word counts so you have to use every word! It was interesting fining out what other people had got grants for in their areas (e.g. A group publishing a book with a Melbourne setting as its main focus to sell in tourist shops, but staying true to their genre...) Overall I was amazed at how many hours everyone puts in to a grant application and to know that you could get nothing out of it. Which I know already but it kind of sunk in again how lucky I was to get my grant to attend this year.
So: Once again - Thank you to Morton Bay Regional Council for my RADF Grant, for helping me to attend The RWA Conference 2014 in Sydney - I so appreciate it.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture. http://www.arts.qld.gov.au










And so, on Monday after a hectic week, I climbed into a taxi with 4 other ladies and we drove to the airport. There we all took flights in different directions, knowing that in another 12 months, once again, we would all get together again to learn, laugh and share knowledge on our chosen carers of writing.

Chatter soon!

Bye 4 now
Tina

So RWA came and went. I came home to Queensland sick with flu and was even put on an antibiotic. I was lucky. Shaun (my husband) didn’t get to the doctor in time, and his turned into bronchitis. Yes, he is now on his second course of antibiotics. Another friend from conference didn’t go to the doctor until she couldn’t even write, and has now landed in bed with phenomena. Its a bad flu season this year, and it seemed to hit the Romance Writers Conference attendees in full force.

But what hit me worse than flu was that there is always still so much to learn. I have been in this business for a long time (over 16 years since I wrote and had my first magazine article published.) And yet, in an industry that is constantly changing, evolving, there is so much I need to keep abreast of. Gone are the days when a novelist could just be at home and write, and that was all. Today, so much more is expected from you, and its organisations like RWA that help me to keep up.

A quick wrap up of conference ( a few things I have taken from my FB and twitter pages...)

Hotel Decor:
Never underestimate the power of decorations within a hotel. After check in and within moments of doing this, the tweets and FB posts from us romance writers began about the Dexter influenced room decorations. the blood splattered curtains and the poor victim who’s neck was obviously cut on the bed - and then there was the canvas that went along with this theme too - of the person who attempted to fight back, but lost against the mirror... oh dear... I don’t think it was what the interior decorator had in mind, but thats exactly what everyone in the suspense writing industry saw in these rooms....















Actually I hauled in Jeff Lindsay in Miami of Dexter fame, into this conversation too - this is from my FB page:






















Thank goodness Jeff Lindsay has proved over and over that he has a great sense of humour and luckily we share the love of boats!

Thursday found me at a published author Professional Development Day - and wow was I glad I took the extra time to complete this day along with the core conference.

Firstly - the food on this day was amazing - I could eat almost everything off the normal conference menu for a change!

After listening to Jim Azevedo, Marketing Manager from Smashwords explain not only the growth within the self published market, but the bar being raised on the quality of the work now being self published and put up onto the internet.

I was in the room when the amazing Marie Force revelled that she went from earning $1500 or something like that a year to $3 million with her writing/books. Yip you saw right - SELF PUBLISHED and earning in the big money - and man does that lady work her backside off to achieve that! But it was her family who captivated me, her son and hubby. I had no idea who they were when I was checking in, and yet - when i was having trouble with my iphone and airdrop they tried to help, and didn’t give up until they had sorted out how to do it. For some reason my friend and fellow harlequin Mira author Alli Sinclair’s phone and mine just refused to talk to each other... no matter what we did. But the men in the Force family were not letting it go, they sorted out how to get it to work... I just couldn’t get it to work with Alli.... Thank you to Mr and Master Force for being such techies that you were determined to help us!!! ( And thanks Marie for bringing them to conference - they were an awesome addition!)

I did an interesting session with Susan Donovan about The Users Guide To The Creative Writers Brain, but I seriously enjoyed Maya Hall’s ( Maya Hall Pty Ltd, Chartered Accountant) Practical Issues for your Romance Writing Business more because I feel that this is a side of writing that many writers neglect - they think they can’t or are incapable of looking after their finances. And they are wrong. Thats another change in todays writing world - you need to be business savvy in the market, and if you aren’t or don’t want to be - hire someone to help you - let them look after your money - don’t let it just flow through your fingers like water!

The day ended with a Literacy High tea.This is just my own video so please excuse the shakiness...
The awesome Jennifer St George, Christina Brooke and Cherry Adair singing...


















Remembering this was a debate.... it was hilarious!

Lastly the big news on that day was that I revealed the draft cover for Shooting Butterflies, and it was revealed to all in the Harlequin flyer at conference. Yip I was so excited to see it out there - sometimes I still want to pinch myself to remind me that its real, and Harlequin really do buy my books to share them with everyone!
























This is what my books looked like next to each other on the big screen at our Harlequin dinner.




















And so Thursday came to a close... and Friday called...

James Scott Bell - held onto his every word - what can I say - I’m a fan....Awesome full day masterclass!
















Friday night was the Destiny cocktail party... Shaun and I had planned, and made our outfits - yes I bought the leopard skin print corset as dang I couldn’t have worn anything better for what I write! But he went above and beyond and grew a beard for 3 weeks. Then on the night he sculptured it into this amazing porn star looking handle bar! The Policeman from The Village People never looked so great as when my hubby pulled off this outfit. The judges thought so too as he came 3rd in the line up - and he won a box of chocolates - that we didn’t have to share with the kids who were back in Queensland!








Shaun & I in the foyer about to go into the pink lights....


























Grey, Gayle Ash & me....


Below: Kaz Delaney, Shaun, Me, Amy Andrews and Anna ClearyAbove: Jacinta Di Mass, Shaun and I.

























Harlequin Babes: Me, Lilia Kanna, Michelle LeForest and Cristina Lee.


















Shaun, Me, Michelle LeForest and Cristina Lee. ( Yes these are my awesome BIG bosses....LOL)




















Me, Shaun and Kaz Delaney.

















Me, Cherry Adair and Shaun...An ex-South Africa get together...


















Dakota Harrison, Shaun and I...




















Kendall Talbot, Shaun and I.





























Okay so we had MAJOR fun!!!!

Okay will fill you in on Saturday and Sunday next time.. its time to end this blog pos as its turning into a novella!!!

Chatter soon!

Bye 4 now
Tina