On Saturday night, Sarah, Anna and I got all glammed up to go to the 2011 Australian Romance Readers Association Awards at the Castlereagh Hotel in Sydney.

The night started off with a bookish bang when Sarah and I both won lucky door prizes (romance novels, surprise surprise). Poor Anna’s ticket number was read out in error. After jumping up with excitement she then had to sit back down again awkwardly, and empty-handed. Her door prize karma evened out at the end of the night when she finally scored her own stack of tantalizing tales. Hurrah! More books, just what every publisher needs!

The awards were presented between each of the delicious courses and a few lucky ARRA members got to accept awards on behalf of their favourite authors. Queensland author Helene Young was there in person to accept the award for Favourite Romantic Suspense – she was definitely a crowd pleaser.

Thank you to all the members of the ARRA who nominated their favourite books and authors for 2011. Avon was lucky enough to have three authors nominated: Anna Campbell, Stephanie Laurens and Julie Anne Long. Congratulations to all three authors, particularly Anna Campbell who won the coveted Favourite Historical Romance award for Midnight’s Wild Passion and Favourite Australian Romance Author for the third year in a row. Even though she was slightly terrified, our Avon publisher, Anna, proudly accepted Anna Campbell’s awards on her behalf.

Congratulations to all the winners of the night.
Favourite Paranormal Romance – Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance – Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh
Favourite Short Category Romance – With This Fling by Kelly Hunter
Favourite Historical Romance – Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell
Favourite Contemporary Romance – A Lot Like Love by Julie James
Favourite Erotic Romance – The Lone Warrior by Denise Rosetti
Favourite Romantic Suspense – Shattered Sky by Helene Young
Favourite Continuing Romance Series – Psy/Changeling Series by Nalini Singh
Favourite Australian Romance Author – Anna Campbell

The night finished with a ‘Bling Off’ – and I must admit that I got in there myself and had a little boogie. Everyone’s sparkles were so blinding that it proved so hard to pick a winner. This year’s Queen of Bling title was shared by the spectacular Tracey O’Hara and Mel Haffner.

The special guest speaker of the night was the fabulous Paula Roe who entertained us all of with the tale of becoming a romance reader at the tender age of twelve, taking us on a hilarious journey through the classic novels she used to read aloud to her friends at school, complete with big-haired, big shoulder-padded 1980s covers, and ultimately how her love of reading turned into a dream-come-true of writing romance.

Check out the ARRA blog for a blow-by-blow account of the evening
Romance Awards Night Part 1
Romance Awards Night Part 2
Romance Awards Night Part 3

Sunday Feb 12 – 11am Pyrmont Bridge, Romance Readers Flash Mob

Twas a bright and sunny morning, and fellow publisher Anna and I could not think of anything more pleasant than joining our fellow romance buffs on the Pyrmont Bridge for a good old romance reading flash mob. Armed with our trusty romance novels, some keen friends and even a couple of man folk, we found a shady spot and enjoyed the fresh air and romance. It didn’t matter that we almost got trampled by tourists, or that the ground was slightly harder than, say, a cosy couch – the day was all about togetherness, solidarity and reading sex scenes in a public place.

Thank you Australian Romance Readers Association, we had a lovely (and lascivious) time!