romance writing workshop

If you live in the Melbourne area, on March 17th I am holding a Romance Writing Workshop

at the Montrose Library.

It only costs $10 - how reasonable is that to gain the wisdom of a been there done that author!!! - and runs from 12:30 to 4:30 with time for a quick lunch. I've been told there's a fabulous pastry shop across the road which got me hooked on the idea I can tell ya ;).

Bookings: 9728 4224.

Get in quick, places are limited!!!

aarc 09 wrap-up

Thanks to all the lovely, wonderful, enthusiastic readers who came up and said "hi" at the book signing at the Australian Romance Readers Convention in Melbourne today. It was so nice to see you all, and I hope you enjoy the shiny new books you went home with.

To those of you who attend the Romantic Comedy Panel I hosted alongside Amy Andrews, Jane Tara and the hilarious MaryJanice Davidson, thanks for being such champs. The laughter that rang through that room was infectious and made our job so much fun. By the time I left my cheeks literally hurt from laughing. It was a total crack up.

I hope we were able to give you some ideas of some new rom com authors to try, and that you might even find a new favourite from within the panel!

breaking news!

Oh my...

I just found out that my novel THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL has won the RomanticTimes BookClub's Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Presents of 2008! How super cool is that???

I am beyond thrilled, and so humbled that my little book was picked out from such a wonderful range of the msot intense, romantic, sexy, fabulous novels about. A big smoochy thanks to the reviewers at RT.

Here's what they had to say at the time:

41/2stars TOP PICK! "Ally Blake's The Magnate's Indecent Proposal starts with an amusing premise and quickly moves into an entertaining love-at-first-sight tale. It's full of humor, witty dialogue, a hero to die for and a heroine that's his match in every way."

The book's still available at eHarlequin.com if you'd like to have a read!

Browse this book

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romance vs real-life relationships

This month I was interviewed by Style Magazine in regards to "a recent study at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh which suggested that wathcing romantic comedy movies could give people unrealisitc and potentially unhealthy expectations when it comes to real-life relationships".

I can tell you, according to the journalist who interviewd me, the study sure had those working at the magazine chatting over their water coolers. Some were sure it must be the case, others thought it utter hogwash.

What do you think?

If you want to know what I had to say, you can head on over to the Style Magazine website to see the whole interview online here!

"TWILIGHT" by Stephenie Meyer

So have we all been reading the TWILIGHT books by Stephenie Meyer? Teenage vampire love with a bit of werewolf action thrown in to keep it interesting... how can you not?

I'm now about half way through BREAKING DAWN and can't put it down. Which is odd because even though I'm tearing through them, I can't actually say that I'm enjoying them all that much. Is that odd??? Perhaps not. I felt the same way with the Da Vinci Code. The story kept me riveted but I couldn't have cared if the two leads were killed off at any point in the book. Ditto here. And for someone who writes character based stories that amazes me.

But I think I've figured it out. Even though Bella and Edward frustrate the heck out of me most of the time - he's such a drama queen and a martyr to her every whim, while she started out so cool, so average, and goofy, and plucky and unsual and has become a blur - I adoooore Jacob Black. The other man. The one I think whose love feels so much more true. He's richly drawn, he's tragic, he's gorgeous. I am soooo happy Breaking Dawn is now is his POV. Please can he have his own happy ending!!!

Am I alone in this?

I have yet to see the first movie and am itching for it to come out on DVD, though I have the feeling with the characters so firmly imbedded in my head some of the casting will feel odd. not their fault at all! IT has to be the hardest thing, taking such a popular series adn casting it so that most readers will be happy.

I've always imagined that's why the Stephanie Plum books have yet to make it to the screen. Who could be as messed up and cool as Steph? Who could be as dark and sleek as Ranger? Who could be as supremely masculine as Joe? And don't even get me started on Grandma Mazur.

But that's a whole other story!

happy valentines day!

My publishers sent me a goooorgeous box of long-stemmed roses. How sweet is that??? To be honest I emitted a louder 'squee!' when I spotted the Lindt chocolate at the bottom of the box ;).

Today I'm giving a library talk at the Chelsea Library in Melbourne at 1pm. Come along if you have the time!!!

You can spend part of your day downloading a free eBook from www.ebooks.eharlequin.com as Harlequin have put togehter a collection of stories about love. For free!!! But for one day only. One of my tales might be in there, but like you I won't know unless I download the book today, and today only.

Hope you have a lovely day... each and every day!!! Today perhaps you might like to wash the dishes for the one you love. Or fix that leaking tap you've been promising to get to. Cook dinner maybe or rent a DVD they'd love to see. that's my idea of romance ;).

fire

My heart and thoughts go out to all of those affected by the bushfires raging across my beautiful home state of Victoria. Country Victorians are suffering through the greatest natural disaster to have hit our country in recent times and it's not at an end.

In the days since Saturday I've had my husband's Aunt on the phone as flames spread across the hills beyond her front door in Wallan. Dear family friends - thankfully - visiting my parents interstate at the exact time their entire town was burnt to the ground in Marysville. And another mate - again so thankfully - having moved out of his home near Healesville on Friday and not there as the house burnt to the ground on Saturday. He's now joined up as a volunteer fire fighter to do what he can to help.

All those I love are safe. So many have been not nearly so lucky.

My heart. My thoughts.

Anyone wishing to donate to help those poor devastated, broken famiiles affected can give to the Victorian Bushfires Appeal on 1800 811 700.