Two weeks ago...

Time is not measured by the passing of the years (or in my case, two weeks) but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves. ~ Jawaharlal Nehru

Beautifully said. Two weeks ago I was at the Australian Romance Readers Association convention at the QT Canberra. I learned so much and enjoyed myself enormously, professionally and personally. Mixing with people who love books, writing and romance is the best. Evah. I also can't believe what I've achieved in the two weeks since I got home to Perth, tired but happy (more on what I've doing the last two weeks in another post). But to remind me of the fun I had, here are a few scrapbook photographs of the weekend.

I adore listening to authors talk about their writing journey and their lives. We had tremendous keynote speakers at ARRC, each one teaching me something important. The amazing Helene Young (tomboy and Joanna Lumley fan) opened the conference by inspiring us with tales of her youth, her career, and kick-ass woman who inspired her.

From the many panels on offer (all with regard to writing fiction, reading fiction, the genres and the choices), one I chose to attend was Dangerous Liaisons with authors Cathryn Hein, Shannon Curtis, Helene Young and Bronwyn Parry.

Other panels I attended were Red Dust Heroes and Small Town Seduction (being keen to hear other authors talk about subjects close to my heart and my Swallow's Fall series).

Keynote speakers Kelley Armstrong, Sylvia Day and Victoria Dahl each gave me something to think deeply about. I can't say often enough how much I love hearing authors talk.

Here, from the Small Town Seduction panel - author Victoria Dahl, moderator and my amazing editor, Kate Cuthbert from Escape Publishing, and authors Cheryl Adnams, Barbara Hannay and Margareta Osborn.

(Check out more authors of small-town, rural fiction over on Australian Rural Romance webpage which is a portal for Aussie authors writing contemporary and historical fiction set in Australian and of which I'm proud to say I had a hand in setting up.)

Then came the Saturday book signing - what fun, what an amazing feeling on the spacious floor with around 90 authors 
and a lot more readers. 

Above, left to right: 
Margareta Osborn and Bronwyn Parry have a quick chat between signing.
Lisa Ireland (a new and fabulous writing buddy) all set and ready to sign (and give away lollies/sweeties/sugary stuff).
Barbara Hannay ready to sign her amazing books.
Readers taking their time and chatting to authors.
Cathryn Hein with Chocolate - the blow up horse she found in Canberra and couldn't resist putting on her table.

With Rachael Johns who I met in 2013 just after I was published with The House on Burra Burra Lane. A generous author and really good fun to sit next to at the signing table. Between signings, we swapped jelly babies and pocket mirrors (our giveaway swag for readers).

I also had the most fabulous  time catching up in person with:

Photo on the left: Catherine Evans and Lisa Ireland with whom I have writen a rural romance anthology. They are the best writing buddies. So lovely to work with.

Photo on the right: awards night dinner, and another favourite friend and generous author, Alissa Callen, and I was so happy to meet the excellent Allison Butler in person too. My dinner partner on the other side and not in this photo was the wonderful and amusing writer, reader, publicist and tennis tragic,  Laura Boon Russell. (Thanks, Laura, for swapping your lamb for my chicken. I owe you.)

And then the awards night dinner where we were invited to dress up in 1920s finery - and there were some glamorous writers and readers around that night. Thanks to author Tina Marie Clark's hero for taking this unofficial photo of the authors. (You can see the official photo in the blog post below this one.) I'm standing back row, sixth from the left.

My only regret is that my dearest writing buddies and #DirtyDrafters, Juanita Kees and Lily Malone were not there. 
2017 convention, you two - let's make it a date.

My thanks to ARRA and to all the authors and readers who participated for making it a very special weekend for me.

Jennie x
PS - I also added to my own collection of autographed books by some of these authors. 
My book shelf is looking pretty swanky.