I traveled to Oz because I knew there was a romance market here. Years ago, I’d been told one of my books was in the top five bestselling romances for that year—and perhaps that was when the idea took hold that I must visit Australia.

Or perhaps it was when Australian readers would show up at conferences celebrating the Romance genre in the States. They were, and are, always great fun and they dangle packages of Tim Tams in front of the writers, an encouragement for us to follow them anywhere.

Maybe I had to come here because we are two halves of the same coin. Years ago, American romance writers and readers started pushing back at those who would edit our reading by not stocking on bookshelves these books we love so much. Today, the delegates of the Australian Romance Readers Association (ARRA) are doing the same thing. This is no small feat. In their six years of existence, they have changed the face of Australian publishing and a thriving romance market.

So what is ARRA exactly? The organization’s membership boasts a number of bestselling Australian writers coupled with the most loyal, discerning fans of the romance genre. They host the conference I attended this past weekend in Brisbane along with a website and message boards where readers can talk about the books they are enjoying. They are forthright in their opinions. After all, why hold back? There is a joy amongst readers in sharing the love of a good book. A delight in discovering a new author.

Of course the conference is when everyone connected by internet can come together. Held every two years, there is a strong rumor the next get together will be in Canberra. I highly recommend the venture. I traveled here from the States by myself but found a ready made group of new friends. All I had to do was turn to the person to my left or right and ask, “So what are you reading?” The conversation took off from there.

Keynote speakers for this last conference were American writers Rachel Vincent and Kristin Higgins along with Australian bestseller Anne Gracie. Panels of readers and writers gathered to discuss favorite subgenres such as Paranormal and Contemporary. There was food, giveaways, and the best “Bling” contest in the world.

A highlight of the Brisbane conference was the first introduction outside of the US of Lady Jane’s Salon, a reading series started in New York. One of Lady Jane’s founders, author Hope Tarr, organized the event where writers read from their own work.

Of course, the major event of the conference is the awards banquet. ARRA gives awards annually for best books of the year. The award is unique in that, to my knowledge, it is the only one where readers nominate the books and then vote on the winners. Here is where ARRA’s growing influence is in full view. The nominees include books written by writers from any country, but this program also gives proper recognition to the talent of Australian writers. They are finally receiving their due.

I traveled to Oz because I knew there was a romance market here. Years ago, I’d been told one of my books was in the top five bestselling romances for that year—and perhaps that was when the idea took hold that I must visit Australia.

Or perhaps it was when Australian readers would show up at conferences celebrating the Romance genre in the States. They were, and are, always great fun and they dangle packages of Tim Tams in front of the writers, an encouragement for us to follow them anywhere.

Maybe I had to come here because we are two halves of the same coin. Years ago, American romance writers and readers started pushing back at those who would edit our reading by not stocking on bookshelves these books we love so much. Today, the delegates of the Australian Romance Readers Association (ARRA) are doing the same thing. This is no small feat. In their six years of existence, they have changed the face of Australian publishing and a thriving romance market.

So what is ARRA exactly? The organization’s membership boasts a number of bestselling Australian writers coupled with the most loyal, discerning fans of the romance genre. They host the conference I attended this past weekend in Brisbane along with a website and message boards where readers can talk about the books they are enjoying. They are forthright in their opinions. After all, why hold back? There is a joy amongst readers in sharing the love of a good book. A delight in discovering a new author.

Of course the conference is when everyone connected by internet can come together. Held every two years, there is a strong rumor the next get together will be in Canberra. I highly recommend the venture. I traveled here from the States by myself but found a ready made group of new friends. All I had to do was turn to the person to my left or right and ask, “So what are you reading?” The conversation took off from there.

Keynote speakers for this last conference were American writers Rachel Vincent and Kristin Higgins along with Australian bestseller Anne Gracie. Panels of readers and writers gathered to discuss favorite subgenres such as Paranormal and Contemporary. There was food, giveaways, and the best “Bling” contest in the world.

A highlight of the Brisbane conference was the first introduction outside of the US of Lady Jane’s Salon, a reading series started in New York. One of Lady Jane’s founders, author Hope Tarr, organized the event where writers read from their own work.

Of course, the major event of the conference is the awards banquet. ARRA gives awards annually for best books of the year. The award is unique in that, to my knowledge, it is the only one where readers nominate the books and then vote on the winners. Here is where ARRA’s growing influence is in full view. The nominees include books written by writers from any country, but this program also gives proper recognition to the talent of Australian writers. They are finally receiving their due.

Cathy Maxwell has been in publishing over twenty years. Over the course of those two decades, Cathy has written over twenty-five historical romances, hit the New York Times and USA Today lists, been nominated for or won some nice awards, made dynamite writing friends, and has had the time of her life.