Photo: Morey Media
I first met Melbourne-based author Carol Marinelli, best known for her category romances (Medical and Sexy), at ARRC09. Her 2011 sheikh romance, Heart Of The Desert, joined my keeper list this year—I was so amazed at how good this story was.
Carol’s latest book, released last month, is a departure from her usual work. Putting Alice Back Together is her debut novel under Harlequin’s MIRA imprint, and it tackles issues such as depression, substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships and debt. It’s a story of self-acceptance as Alice ‘comes to the harsh realisation that there’s only so much sex, valium and red wine can fix.’
Website: www.carolmarinelli.com
Social networks: Blog
Genre: Category romance (Medical and Sexy) and women’s fiction
Latest release: Putting Alice Back Together
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Source: Nicola Marsh
A big congratulations to Melbourne-based author Nicola Marsh, who is celebrating the release of her latest novel, Busted in Bollywood, today! You might know her best as a USA Today bestselling author, writing category romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon. Her new book is published by Entangled Publishing and is available in print and in digital format.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: For a chance to win one of Nicola’s books, tell us which actor you’d like to be mistaken for and why.
Some rules: Post your answer as a comment to this post. Multiple entries are fine. By entering, you give us permission to quote your entry in future blog posts and articles. You also give us permission to send your email address to the author, who will be organising delivery of the book. Open to anyone as long as Book Depository offers free shipping to your address. The giveaway ends midnight on Sunday, December 11 AEST. Wandergurl, Decadence, Envyious and I will pick our favourite answer. The winner must provide a delivery address and pick a book in stock at Book Depository within one week after we announce the result on the blog.
Website: www.nicolamarsh.com
Social networks: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary romance
Latest release: Busted in Bollywood
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Source: www.heleneyoung.com
If you were at the ARRA convention this year, you may remember Helene Young from her fantastic book reading and launch of Shattered Sky. Her books, set in North Queensland, combine romantic suspense with the increasingly popular rural lit category. Her debut novel, Border Watch (rereleased as Wings of Fear), won the 2010 Australian Romance Readers Award for Favourite Romantic Suspense and is nominated for this year’s R*BY Award in the Romantic Elements category.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Helene is giving away a copy of her R*BY Award nominated novel, WINGS OF FEAR. For a chance to win, tell us why you love—or would love to try—Australian romantic suspense.
Some rules: Post your answer as a comment to this post. Multiple entries are fine. By entering, you give us permission to quote your entry in future blog posts and articles. You also give us permission to send your email address to the author, who will be organising delivery of the book. Open to international readers. The giveaway ends midnight on Monday, July 25 AEST. Wandergurl, Decadence and I will pick our favourite answer. The winner must provide a delivery address within one week after we announce the result on the blog.
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Source: Kelly Hunter
Mills and Boon author Kelly Hunter was a finalist in the 2011 RITA Awards for her Sexy release, Red-Hot Renegade, which features something not often seen in mainstream romance novels—an Asian heroine. I haven’t read this book yet (it’s on my list of books to read!) but based on Kate’s review I think I need to get to it soon.
Kelly’s latest Australian release was The Man She Loves to Hate (Sexy, 2-in-1). Her latest North American release was With This Fling (Presents), and her latest UK release was Taken By The Bad Boy (Paradise Nights anthology).
Photo: Robyn Hills
Anna Campbell is one of Australia’s most beloved romance authors. She has won the Australian Romance Readers awards for Favourite Australian Author two years in a row, and for Favourite Historical Romance three years in a row. Stephanie Laurens coined the term ‘Regency noir’ to describe Anna’s debut novel, Claiming The Courtesan, a book which generated quite a bit of controversy among readers. Her latest book, Midnight’s Wild Passion, was released in May.
Website: www.annacampbell.info
Social networks: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Genre: Regency historical romance
Latest release: Midnight’s Wild Passion
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Photo: www.phillipafioretti.com.au
Phillipa Fioretti’s debut novel, The Book of Love, centres around a rare book of ancient Roman erotica. It’s a book that makes good use of Fioretti’s background in the arts. Phillipa has studied archaeology, sculpture and museum studies, and has taught drawing and media studies. Her second book, The Fragment of Dreams, continues the story of Lily and William, the couple from The Book of Love.
If you’re wondering whether or not her books have a happy ending, you can take heart from a Courier Mail interview in which Phillipa says, ‘I don’t want to write things that depress me. I don’t want to be in a dark headspace all day. I like to have a laugh while I’m doing it.’
Photo: www.paularoe.com
If you’ve ever met Paula Roe, you’d remember it. She’s one of the bubbliest authors I’ve ever met and can talk a mile a minute. (Check out Decadence’s recap of a library talk that Paula did earlier this year.) She designs websites, and you may have seen some of her work without knowing it (such as websites for Anna Campbell, ARRA and Bronwyn Jameson).
She was a 2009 R*BY finalist and has won the Australian Romance Readers Award for Favourite Category Romance two years in a row. She writes for Mills and Boon (Desire), but I’m told she’s ‘also writing a bunch of other stuff—space opera/fantasy, romantic comedy, historical…’
Her latest book, Promoted To Wife? is set in Queensland, and has just been released in Australia as part of the 2011 Mother’s Day gift selection pack.
Website: www.paularoe.com
Social networks: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Genre: Category contemporary romance
Latest release: Promoted To Wife?
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Photo: www.christinedarcas.com
Christine Darcas is a freelance writer, novelist and Dancesport competitor. She is also the reigning Queen of Bling after blowing the competition away with her gorgeous ballroom dancing gown at the ARR Awards last month.
Christine has written two novels, Dancing Backwards in High Heels and Spinning Out, both of which draw on her experiences as a dancer.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Christine is giving away a copy each of DANCING BACKWARDS IN HEELS and SPINNING OUT. For a chance to win, tell us what style of dance you find most romantic and why.
Some rules: Post your answer as a comment to this post. Multiple entries are fine. By entering, you give us permission to quote your entry in future blog posts and articles. The winner will receive one each of the titles listed above. Overseas readers are welcome to join in. The giveaway ends midnight on Saturday, April 23 AEST. Wandergurl, Decadence and I will pick our favourite answer. The winner must confirm their email address within one week after we announce the result on the blog.
Website: www.christinedarcas.com
Social networks: Goodreads
Genre: Women’s commercial fiction (but often referred to as Chick lit)
Latest release: Spinning Out
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Photo: Karly Lane was a panellist at ARRC 2011, and Allen & Unwin has just released her latest Australian rural fiction novel, North Star. The book is also featured in the Get Reading! campaign’s list of 50 Books You Can’t Put Down.
Lane is the alter ego of romance author Karlene Blakemore-Mowle, whose romantic suspense books are published by The Wild Rose Press. She also has an Australian contemporary romance published by Eternal Press under this pseudonym.
Website: www.karlylane.com
Social networks: Blog
Genre: Romantic suspense, Rural lit
New release: North Star (16/4/2011)
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Jess Dee is a Sydney-based erotic romance author, whose work is published by Samhain and Aspen Mountain Press. She won the Australian Romance Readers Award for Favourite Erotic Romance in 2010 for Raising The Stakes, a novella from her Three Of A Kind series. The next book in the series, Full House, was released last week.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Jess is giving away two ebooks from her backlist (winner’s choice). For a chance to win, tell us which playing card is the sexiest and why.
Some rules: Post your answer as a comment to this post. Multiple entries are fine. By entering, you give us permission to quote your entry in future blog posts and articles. You also give us permission to disclose your email address to the author so she can email you the ebooks. Overseas readers are welcome to join in. The giveaway ends midnight on Thursday, April 21 AEST. Wandergurl, Decadence and I will pick our favourite answer. The winner must confirm their email address within one week after we announce the result on the blog.
Website: www. jessdee.com
Social networks: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Down Under Divas
Genre: Erotic romance
Latest release: Full House (Three Of A Kind, Book 3)
Where you do your best writing
In my office, in my house, when I’m all alone. I’m at my most creative in my own space.
Favourite thing in your writing space
My Mac. Hands down the best writing tool ever.
Best food and/or beverage to accompany a good read
A big mug of hot, strong, milky tea.
One thing you would never do in the name of research
LOL, I write erotic romance. There’s a whole heap of stuff I wouldn’t do in the name of research. Suffice it to say, as far as research goes, the internet is a wonderful place.
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