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