The view outside my window

The view from our hotel room was amazing!

Hey there, Happy Campers,

I’m just back from the Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Queensland (Diamonds are Forever themed) and my head is buzzing with ideas and plans for the future. Conferences are like that. Always. No matter the plans I had set in motion before the conference I’m now trying to work out how to squeeze in one more novel for next year. I’m placing the blame squarely at Eloisa James’ feet.

  

The agenda - three days of jam packed.  Workshops, dinners and socializing.

Friday’s all day screenwriting tricks workshop with Alexandra Sokoloff was brilliantly timed for brainstorming my next novel. In the afternoon, the Australian Romance Readers Association had organized book-signing for 60+ authors and their fans. Book signings are so much fun and the ARRA committee did another fantastic job with organization of the day. Thank you ladies!

This town smelled really sweet thanks to
the sugar refinery

Ms James was our keynote speaker on Saturday and boy does she know how to make an impression on a room. Her speech really pushed a lot of peoples buttons, mine included. She almost had me in tears. But it was her second session, a ‘Breakfast with Eloisa James’ (at the ungodly hour of 7am) that really made the biggest impression on me. She is one savvy lady. Very astute and very willing to share her thoughts and experiences on publishing. Hence my change of direction for next year. LOL

I’m not sure what prompted me to agree we should drive to Queensland (from north of Sydney) for the conference. It’s only about 800 kms (that’s maybe 500 miles) and there were quicker ways to get there. Flying being the main one. But my hubby wanted the car to see the sights with our youngest son and we did the trip up in two days.

My son and I at Coffs Harbour
(half-way point)

True to form, Queensland weather was beautiful one day and perfect the next. While I caught up with pals, the family hit the pool, theme parks, and that great beach near our hotel. I always feel slightly sad to watch them run off without me. However the pleasure of spending time with peeps like Tamara Gill, Jess Dee, Lexxie Couper, Rhian Cahill and (finally meeting) Sami Lee more than made up for the disappointment of being left behind at the hotel. They're a fantastic and funny group of authors.

The strange thing about conferences though is that when they’re finally over, even if I loved every second, I’m always desperate to get home. So, instead of driving home in two days, and stopping overnight, we came home in just one. Slightly mad decision but after a full three days of sessions and socializing it was fantastic to get home and fall asleep in my own bed. 

The following photos were taken on homeward journey. Here’s a peek at what Australia is like, some at 100km/hr.

Oops, who nicked the bridge!

Many rivers to cross. Lost count actually!

I always manage to find derelict houses

A bright point in the long trip

Now that the view outside my window has returned to my mundane flowerless garden, I'm looking forward to the next RW Australia conference. Next year we are in Perth (wonderful city on the opposite side of Australia than me) and the keynote speaker will be Julia Quinn. I cannot wait!