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:
Twitter : @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
8 comments:
What a great year and all set for another good one I'm sure!
What an exciting year, Janet. I absolutely loved Flight to Coorah Creek, and am not at all surprised it was nominated,
Now, I wonder what this year will bring . . .
Thanks Angela - fingers crossed.
So glad you liked it Margaret. I too am looking forward to the new year - you never know what's ahead. J X
Proud of you, Janet! Raising a glass here. Well done you! :) xx
Well done fellow Choc-Lit-eer! V proud! Will share on my Read it Write It Sell It blog this week on my website, good luck with the courses! X
Www.debbieflint.com
Brilliant read, like the books and what an amazing year, well done Janet! Talent and hard work, a winning combination in my opinion - oh, and she can really do the techie stuff too, thank goodness. X
Congratulations, Janet. How fantastic to know your work is loved all around the world! xx
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