Janet Gover - Globe-Trotting Author

Today we welcome the RNA’s own technical genius. I give you…Janet Gover.

A lot of people know me as the RNA’s resident geek – doing my ‘techie’ stuff at conference and also creating the big screen presentations at the Awards nights and parties.

Last year, I had the fabulous experience of attending the Romance Writers of Australia Conference – not as a worker, but as the finalist for their Romantic Book of The Year Award. The shortlisted book was Flight To Coorah Creek; the first novel of a series set in a remote Australian outback town. As an expat Aussie living in London, it was an amazing feeling to be nominated by readers back in my homeland. Of course, I immediately booked flights back to Australia for the RWA conference.

RWA presents the awards at its conference. Because of the vast distances involved, there is only one national event each year. It’s always held in a five star hotel – which is fabulous, but expensive, especially when combined with an airfare from the other side of the planet. But there was no way I was going to miss it. Even the delayed flight, lost luggage and an unexpected stop in an airport about 1700 miles from our destination was not enough to deter me.

Apart from the five star hotel, the RWA conference is much like the RNA conference – but bigger. I had a lovely couple of days meeting with authors and publishers and RWA members. There was the same community feel we all love about our RNA events – and the RWA welcomed me with open arms. The gala awards dinner was in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Hotel, which holds more than 1,000 people. And there I was, with my book, up on a big screen presentation not that very different to the one I do each year for the RNA awards. It was such a thrill. I didn’t win – but as a shortlisted author, I received a lovely silver pin.

I made my way home to London (my luggage came with me this time) to find that I had been shortlisted for another award – this time in the US. It was the Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award conducted by the Denver chapter of the Romance Writers of America. The American RWA, as we all know, has many thousand members, so a shortlisting for a chapter award is really an achievement- and for an English author writing books set in Australia… well, I was over the moon.

I couldn’t attend the ceremony… I was teaching that weekend at a tutor led writing retreat here in the UK (a double header with the brilliant Alison May). At the retreat, everyone raised a glass to wish me luck. Perhaps it worked. The day after I got home, I received an email to tell me I had won my category. I actually tied for the win with an author who has TWICE been on the RITA award shortlist. Wow! I was quite beside myself over that! A few days later, I received the award in the snail mail, and that plaque now hangs proudly in my office. We all know how hard the US market is to break, and an award like this for a writer from England is rare – even more so when the book is set in Australia. It just goes to show that readers cannot be so easily categorised or predicted … and are always happy to enjoy a the right book, whatever its origin.

That was the highlight of a hugely busy year for me… and here’s hoping 2016 will be just as much fun!

BTW… After the success of last year’s tutor led retreat (and I don’t just mean that I won the award that weekend), I’m joining forces with Alison May again for two retreats this year:  Developing Your Novel in May and Advanced Novel Writing in October. You can find out more about there on my website here : http://janetgover.com/?page_id=1891

And who knows – with luck maybe we’ll find another reason to celebrate that weekend too – if not for me, maybe for someone else.

Links:

Website: http://janetgover.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/janetgoverbooks/

Twitter : @janet_gover

Books : http://www.choc-lit.com/productcat/janet-gover/

What a wonderful year you’ve had, Janet. Here’s wishing you as much success in 2016 and into the future.

The RNA blog is brought to you by Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the blog in 2016 please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

But On The Other Hand...

Today Natalie Lloyd-Evans, writing as Natalie Meg Evans, compares the RNA with the Romance Writers of America.

In July, I attended RWA14, the conference of the Romance Writers of America which this year, took place in San Antonio.  

During the three packed days I spent shuttling between the Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk hotels in San An, it bore in on me that the RWA Nationals must be the busiest writers’ gathering anywhere. At signings, readers queue up in their hundreds to buy books by their favourite authors. There’s a bewildering array of workshops and retreats. Friendships are made and so are deals. I have an American agent because I sat in front of her for a few nerve-wracking minutes in a conference room in Anaheim Ca in 2012. Being an RWA member has not only got me through doors, it has opened my eyes to one of the largest potential markets for UK writers.

There are many differences between the RWA and our RNA and I’ve listed some that leap out at me. Please note, I do mean ‘differences.’ I’m not implying better or worse. 

Difference #1 - Successful authors Stateside are loud and proud. When I became a Golden Heart © finalist and travelled to Anaheim for the awards, I discovered that you get a special ribbon and brooch, and get congratulated and called ‘awesome’ by complete strangers. Dancing in corridors is encouraged and will be applauded. The attention fades if you don’t win (I didn’t) but while it lasts it’s lovely, particularly if you’ve been writing alone for a long time. 

Difference #2 - Career focus. It’s in the constitution and is one of the key driving forces. Where the RNA has probationary and full membership, the RWA has General, PRO and PAN. PRO authors are those submitting work and awaiting the call while PAN stands for ‘published author’s network’. To become PRO, you present evidence of action in the form of letters to agents and publishers.  PAN requires a published novel, an ISBN and proof of earnings over a certain limit – not that different from RNA requirements for full membership. However, to qualify for its tax status with the IRS, the RWA can only allow full status to members actively pursuing writing as a business. Those who write for fun or who are gently developing at their own rate should, in theory, opt for associate membership. The RWA is tightening up on this.

A Nationals veteran with several years' of awards behind her

Difference #3 - What is romance? Yes, that old conundrum. The RWA board has narrowed the definition of a romance novel, affecting members who write romantic suspense, or crime or inspirational books with romantic elements. Books submitted for the annual RITA and Golden Heart awards are judged on the following criteria: Is the love story the main focus of the book? Is the resolution of the romance emotionally satisfying and optimistic? Compare this rule with the existence of the ‘Epic’ category for the RONA awards.   

Difference #4 - Output. I attended six workshops and in all of them, the panel took it as a given that to be successful in the digital age, writers must produce at least two books a year, preferably four. I heard a woman behind me make a sound like a wounded beagle.

Difference #5 - Promo and branding. If you want to stock up on personalised nail files, mini torches, blister first aid kits, fridge magnets, hair slides . . . you get the picture. ‘Promote your brand’ was a constant refrain. Promotion and marketing should be 50% of your working week, I kept hearing. It isn’t 50% of mine, more like 15%.  I quote: ‘If you don’t enjoy the business side, get over yourself.’

Difference #6 - Get thee to an attorney. At one workshop, a smart literary attorney invited everyone to raise their hand if they’d used one of his profession to check their publisher’s contract. All hands but mine rose. ‘Because I don’t know any,’ was my answer to his obvious question. He walked over, presented a card, and said ‘You do now.’  

Difference #7 - Security. Can you imagine dodging a sex pest at an RNA summer conference? An unpleasant individual attempted to molest female guests in the main hotel. It dawned on me how vulnerable women-only conferences are when access to the building is public. Mace sprays fit in any handbag.

Difference #8 - Climate. San Antonio, Texas, is like sharing a blast furnace with mountains of wet washing. Do not go out without water, I was told.  Ever. However, once inside a hotel, the air con is severe. RWA Nationals visit a different city each year, and if you’re planning to go, take a woolly.  

Next year, the RWA is in New York City and I’m looking forward to being there. I’m hoping the tight definition of romance won’t edge me out. I like having a foot in both worlds. They are not the same, but vive la difference.

Natalie Meg Evans is author of The Dress Thief, a historical novel set against the background of Parisian haute-couture of the 1930s.   In 2012, Natalie won the Harry Bowling Prize and in 2013, was shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier Award. Natalie was a probationary member of the RNA throughout the 1990s, and rejoined this year as a full member.

The Dress Thief available in paperback and ebook from 29th May 2014 at www.quercusbooks.co.uk

Thank you, Natalie. A fascinating piece

This blog is brought to you by Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman. If you would like to write about the craft of writing or perhaps be interviewed about your writing life please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com