The next three days: Sydney meet up and the Australian Romance Readers Conference

I have a lovely few days planned, and it all starts tonight! Tonight is the meet up we have organised for the online book community! I get to meet some lovely people I've been talking too online, some times for years. I've met people in the real world through book clubs, signings and writing groups, but that isn’t quite the same as 30 odd bookish people chatting over cocktails at a bar LOL There is an impromptu book swap, so if you have any books you wish to offload, please feel free to bring them along! I was distracted by the internet last night and forgot that I was going to do a cull around the edges of my collection *blushes* Anyway, if you plan on coming, you will need to RSVP, and if you wish to watch for updates, please follow me on twitter on @obsidiantears83. I should be turning up some time between 6pm and 6:30pm, so I shall see you there! If in doubt, look for the people with books! (It takes a special breed to take a book or three into a bar LOL)

This weekend is ARRC, or the Australian Romance Readers Convention. I couldn’t afford to go for the entire weekend (it kicks off with drinks tomorrow night) but I will be attending for the Awards Dinner on Saturday night and the Sunday sessions. For all the goss, follow me on twitter, or follow the #ARRC2011 hashtag!

I really wanted to attend the morning session on Saturday. Lexxie Couper, Nalini Singh, Maggie Nash and Rhian Cahill talk about Paranormal Romance and why it is “so damn seductive”. It would have been interesting. Instead, I decided to attend the Sunday sessions (I could only afford the one day) and am really looking forward to the session with reader Kate Cuthbert (@katydidinoz) and writers Nalini Singh, Keri Arthur, Denise Rossetti, Erica Hayes and Karen Simpson Nikakis. It is entitled Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Futuristic Romance: Our world, otherworlds – romance in the realms of the imagination. Looks interesting!

I do have the problem of where to sit for the dinner. You get to choose your tables Saturday morning, but I won’t be there until the Awards Dinner later that night. I am at a friend’s Divorce High Tea (definitely worth celebrating!) most of the day, voting in the morning (why is the election the same weekend as ARRC?!), and live too far away to pop in to write my name on the seating plan *sigh* We talking about having a twitter table (two actually) but I am not sure if we are going ahead with that. My friend Maria is attending for the first time too, but she only knows our book club members attending There are four of us, so Maria and I wanted to sit together. I know a number of people in the community now, and will know more after tonight’s drinks, but that isn’t the same as a close friend to hang with. If we don’t have a twitter table, I am thinking of asking one of my other friends to pencil us down for the same table. But at the same time, I like the idea of bonding over books with a random set of people I would not have normally talked to. I don’t know. I guess I’ll bring it up at the meet up tonight.

Have you attended readers or writers conventions before? I don’t mean cons like Supernova or Dragon*Con, but more serious affairs where the focus is on the books, the authors and the writing rather than cosplay and actors? I haven’t! This should be interesting!!

If you are attending either our meet up tonight, or ARRC this weekend, I hope to see there. Come and introduce yourself if we haven’t already met! I’ll be the one wearing a lot of black and with a pink* stripe in my hair LOL






*Oh yes, the pink! The red faded, the lovely metallic magenta faded, and now it is a rose colour… I hate pink! But I guess this colour isn’t too bad LOL

Guest Post: Australian Romance Readers Convention 2011 and what it has to offer Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy readers

I have invited one of my friends to write about the ARRA conference I am attending in two weeks. I have not been to ARRC before, although last year I sat by my computer watching tweets and checking my text messages for the latest updates. If you are attending ARRC, please let me know, and we can grab a flute of champagne together at the dinner!

Decadence has been a romance reader for a decade, mainly paranormal, urban fantasy and Regency romance. Follow her on twitter (@my_lheage) or read her reviews at Book Thingo. As a member of the Australian Romance Readers Association, she wants to let other paranormal and urban fantasy readers know what's they can look forward to when love comes to town.

With some of the best local talent in attendance, paranormal romance readers are in for a real treat at the Australian Romance Readers Convention overlooking stunning Bondi Beach on 25-27 March. Keynote speaker Nalini Singh is an awesome addition to the mainly Australian line-up; her speech kept everyone well-entertained at last year's Australian Romance Reader Awards, where she revealed the title of her third Archangel book for the first time.

Panels

Lexxie Couper asks Nalini Singh, Keri Arthur, Maggie Nash and Rhian Cahill why we love creatures of the night and when they stopped being the monsters that scared us and became our darkest fantasy heroes. Urban fantasy readers are not left out either. Nalini Singh, Keri Arthur, Denise Rossetti, Erica Hayes and Karen Simpson Nikakis answer readers' questions in the Fantasy, Science Fiction and Futuristic Romance panel.

Some of these authors also appear in other panels to discuss the crazy side of being a published author (think crazed fans, how far they go to bring their books to life and what they do in their non-existent free time) and the sexy side of romance.

Awards Dinner

These awards are voted for by real Australian romance readers and the paranormal crowd can always be relied upon to bling it. It's just like the Oscars, only without the bad jokes.

Silent Auction

In the wake of the flood disaster in Queensland this year, the Australian Romance Readers Association is holding a silent auction with all proceeds going to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal. Generous authors from all over the globe have donated some amazing items to bid on including a signed House of Night set from PC Cast, a Kiss of Snow ARC from Nalini Singh, canvas prints of photographs taken by Keri Arthur. There are also book bundles and ARCs from authors including Charlaine Harris, Christine Feehan, MaryJanice Davidson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lynn Viehl, Tracey O'Hara, Rachel Caine and many more. The auction has so much on offer and supports such a worthy cause.

For a full list of items you can bid on, check out http://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/silent-auction/

Book Signing

We all know that personally signed books are amazing, but even better than that, the book signing session also offers a little face time with your favourite authors. Ask that burning question about their series or your favourite characters.

There is another highlight from the convention that we can't find the right place for in the program and that is the atmosphere. You can just feel something in the air when you're surrounded by other readers just like you, all celebrating the books you love, swapping recommendations and discussing your favourite authors with other people who share your love of paranormal romance and urban fantasy that you simply can't find anywhere else.

To register or find out more, please visit us at http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/2011.html

Membership has its perks. For discounts on entry and books from a number of independent bookshops, a monthly newsletter and access to our online romance reading community, join the Australian Romance Readers Association. With membership currently only $10 a year, you get real bang for your buck. Find out more at http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/join.html

BTT: Foreign

Booking Through Thursday asks:

Name a book from a country other than your own that you love. Or aren’t there any?

I read books regardless of the country they are written in. I love Australian authors, but I love a lot of authors who are not Australian. I pity anyone who only reads books written by their fellow country(wo)men because they are missing out on the richness and diversity that abounds in this big wide world of ours. If the last five books you have read were written in your own country, I recommend you pick the next one from another country, or even another continent. Each country has a different flavour to it's writing. This changes from author to author, but I have noticed that Australian authors have a different tone from New Zealand, English, American, Canadian, Chinese, Japanese or Lebanese authors. I will not list my favourite non-Australian authors here, there are too many. But I will mention some authors I recommend who aren't American or English that you may not have read and should give a chance:

• Randolph Stowe - Australia
• Isobelle Carmody - Australia
• Charles de Lint - Canada
• Nalini Singh - New Zealand
• Angelica Gorodischer - Argentina

Can you recommend others?

Funky Friday: Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (cover)

Welcome to Funky Fridays! 
It is time we do something different to celebrate TGIF. Instead of focusing on the content of what we are reading (writing reviews, finding teasers to share, etc.), I thought I would start a meme on the covers of the books we are reading. There are some really amazing covers out there, and they really are worth sharing.

The Book Bites "Funky Friday" meme works like this:

• Every Friday, have a look at the books you have read in the last week and choose the cover you loved the most. If you aren’t a big reader (some of us are freaks of nature) think about the last 5 books you read, and choose one from those).
• If you know the name of the artist (it should be listed other side of the title page and is also sometimes on the back cover), please include it, so people can look into their art.  
• Think about why you liked it. Was it because you loved the artist, the concept, the model? Or maybe it was really in keeping with the spirit of the story?
• Find a picture of your favourite cover (scanned or online – if in doubt try fantasticfiction.co.uk) and share it with us. I recommend a minimum size of 200x325 so you can see the cover clearly.
• Tell us why you like it, what draws you to it, and tell us if it affected how you approached the book.
• Enjoy all the pretty covers! There are so many amazing, creative, inspiring and meaningful designs floating around the traps. Friday seems like a good time to celebrate this.
• Feel free to continue this on your own blog and share the funky Friday cover love! <3

The Book:
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
The Artist: 
Tony Mauro (Here is an interview with him on Nalini's blog)
The Cover:

Why I like it:
The digital art on this is amazing! I love the design - the depth, contrast and balance is spot on! I love the wings as well.

Manic Monday: On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Each Monday (or the closest I can get to Monday) I will be posting a Past/Present/Future Reading Post called Manic Monday. Don't hate me if I post it on a Tuesday - it just indicates how "manic" my Monday really was! If you want to see more of what I have been reading, I try and update my Goodreads account with each book I am reading.


What I just finished reading
Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Stars: 4/5

Blurb from Goodreads:
Ashaya Aleine was separated from her son, forced to create a neural implant that will forever enslave her psychically gifted Psy race. After fighting a desperate battle to save her child and escape the PsyNet, she’s lead not to safety, but into the lethal danger of a sniper’s embrace

Why I picked it up: It was raining heavily on Sunday. I was meant to get up and head into Galaxy for Nalini's booksigning, but I didn't feel like walking in the rain. Instead I picked up one of her books and read it instead.
Why I finished it: Because Nalini is always an entertaining read!
I'd give it to: Anyone who likes paranormal romance

What I am reading now
On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Blurb from Goodreads:
On The Road, the most famous of Jack Kerouac's works, is not only the soul of the Beat movement and literature, but one of the most important novels of the century. Like nearly all of Kerouac's writing, On The Road is thinly fictionalized autobiography, filled with a cast made of Kerouac's real life friends, lovers, and fellow travelers. Narrated by Sal Paradise, one of Kerouac's alter-egos, On the Road is a cross-country bohemian odyssey that not only influenced writing in the years since its 1957 publication but penetrated into the deepest levels of American thought and culture.

What I am reading next




P.S. - Who do you think the best Paranormal Romance authors are?

Nalini Singh just announced the name for the third Guild Hunter's novel!

I mentioned yesterday on Twitter that Nalini Singh just finished the third Guild Hunter's novel. Well, as an Australian exclusive, she just announced that it will be called Archangel's Consort!!! She is - as we speak - presenting at the Australian Romance Readers Association Awards. Sofia just texted me, and one of the people I follow tweeted at the same time! I think this is the first blog announcing it LOL (it was, I googled it LOL)

^Kat from BookThingo just tweeted a photo of the announcement! Wandergurl from BookThingo is holding the banner! She has a better photo on flickr (Nalini is in blue).


I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED!!





FYI: the first pic is the cropped cover of Archangel's Kiss

I am on Nalini Singh's Website!!!

I just had the biggest freakiest browse through Nalini's website. She just uploaded details for the new book, so I went visiting to suss it out  and ended up looking a pretty pictures... Shock of my life when I realised I was in one of those pretty pictures!! My two friends from bookclub, Ms C and Ms T are in front of me. Ms C had just advised me to try Lora Leigh's novels, and apparently they are a guilty pleasure of Nalini's as well, as she jumped in on our conversation LOL Anyway, I am in the third photo, all in black.

Here is a screenshot of her website. I faded out a lot of photos so you could see the relevant stuff. You can go to her travel page to see all her photos.

Zoom in - can you see me? I'm the one all in black of course. Can you see the gorgeous Nalini? Okay, that's all you needed to see. I'm going off to brag to my mother now ;D

Review: Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh

I really love Nalini Singh, and I have to thank Ms S for raving about her in book club. I read the Psy-Changeling books and really enjoyed them. I always meant to read the Guild Hunter’s series (damn those preview chapters!) but hadn’t yet picked up Angel’s Blood. I heard Archangel’s Kiss was being released and bit the bullet and bought them in one fell swoop. It is lucky I did, because the second I finished book one, I had to start book two LOL I am doing a Global Challenge and need to read two books from Oceania – I decided to include one Aussie and one Kiwi. I decided that Nalini would be one of those authors, because Archangel’s Kiss has just been released and I was going to comment on it anyway. That, and the fact that Nalini is a New Zealander LOL

Rather than just writing a conventional book review, I thought I would break it up into sections that I thought were relevant:



The Guild Hunter Universe

The world that the Guild Hunter series is set in is very much like our own, except for the zero world* component – that is, that angels are a major playing force, and their minions are the vampires. These are not religious novels. The angels are a bit more like the titans. They aren’t particularly heavenly, but they are powerful. There are normal angels, and there are archangels. Archangels are the more ancient and powerful of the two, and they run the council, controlling territories. They rule the world with an iron fist and through deflection and subterfuge. You couldn’t call the angels kind saintly beings, but winged beings of grace, power and control. Think of the deities of old, and you are on the right path – most especially because some of those deities were actually angels. The angels create vampires (as a biological imperative) and they are their minions. They are the bodyguards, the enforcers, the housekeepers, the business mangers, the lovers - and depending on the angel - the slaves. The vampires do have to drink blood, they do go on killing sprees, and that is why the Guild Hunters exist. However, they are not creatures of an evil or demonic genesis, but created by the angels. The humans tend to go about their own business, unless they are groupies or wannabees. The are seen as weak beings with such a fleeting lifespan and aside from taking blood, they don't seem to have much place in the lives of the angels or vampires. The exception to this is the Guild Hunters. They are employed to hunt down vampires who escape their vampire masters – either on the run, or on a killing spree.



The Characters

[Spoiler Warning about wings if you haven't read Angel’s Blood]
The two main characters who met in the first book are Elena and Raphael (can you tell which one is the angel?). Elena was a Guild Hunter who was employed to hunt an archangel who had gone rouge. Raphael was the archangel in control of the territory. Its more of an urban fantasy than a paranormal romance, despite the romance between them. At the end of the first book, Elena is made into an angel, something which hasn’t happened for millennia, and Archangel’s Kiss is set just after she wakes up from the coma. I am not going to go into the plot in any detail, you can discover it yourself if you read the book. Basically Elena and Raphael are trying to understand their relationship, whilst their world is in chaos. People are being killed, a child is stolen and traumatised, there are plots against the archangels, as well as one archangel playing with things best left alone.



The Interesting Stuff

I have to say, I was absolutely fascinated by the WINGS! I've read fantasy/paranormal romance books about “angels” before, but they were either wingless or the wings were always described so clinically. In Archangel’s Kiss, they are such a fascinating part of the angels. They are described so beautifully, with such attachment. They are written about in a tactile fashion, as another limb, a part of the body. Other books I have read with winged beings have been described as human forms, and the wings are just an afterthought. Nalini Singh is brilliant for describing in a fashion that is realistic yet fascinating. Another thing I love about her angels. The wings aren’t all the same. The variety of colours are terrific! And when a wing is injured they grow back in a different form (colour or pattern etc). I am just truly fascinated by Nalini's wings!!! I can't wait for the next book!



I really loved this book. I was not quiet sure what I thought of her when I started her first Psy-Changeling novel, but I can say, 9 books later, that Nalini is amongst some of my favourite authors! Her concepts are so fresh, her characters engaging, and her style has flair. I cant wait for Book Three in the Guild Hunter Series (as well as Book 8 in the Psy-Changeling Series LOL).
5/5 Stars

---

*Zero World is a concept originally prominent in comics, but also quite common in fantasy and science fiction. This is when the story in fiction is set in a world nearly identical to our own (or the equivalent in an earlier time period), except for one important exception. In the comics of yore, it was things like the x-men mutation. In fantasy it tends to be the inclusion of magic, the other world/s or other beings. I studied “Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror in Popular Culture” a sociology subject offered by my university department, and this was one of the core concepts that is visible in a lot of F/SF/H, and now in PR as well.

Meeting Nalini Singh

Last week I met Nalini Singh! I've been busy, which is why I have taken so long to write about this. I am going away for the weekend to see my Nan (hopefully I wont meet any friendly wolves on the way to my grandmother’s house – then again, I guess that depends on what author you are reading LOL) and realised its now or never! So I chose now to quickly write up a blog… be prepared for me to ramble, because I don't have time to sit down and review my entry before posting ;-p

Nalini Singh is author of the “Psy” and “Guild Hunter” series (both of which are Paranormal Romance), as well as a romance author with Silhouette Desire. I haven't read her Rom, but I do read her PR. When Ms S (I really am shit at making up nicknames, so I won’t bother today. I can't call her Bob, it will just confuse you, and Boo Boo Kitty Fish is just too damn long!) first pointed to her books, I wasn’t sure what to think. The basis of the story tended to remind me of my days reading Anne McCaffrey – not for the tone, or the premise, but because of the use of psychic “gifts” in a not so distant, not so different future. When I stopped unconsciously trying to think of them in a particular genre I loved them! We all do it to some degree, we think in clichés, to the point that when something original comes along, we spend so much time trying to make connections (unconsciously or not) rather than lauding the originality. I hate clichés and books that follow the 1-2-3 plot sequence, but at the same time, my brain likes patterns and I spend too much time thinking about the originality that I don't get to appreciate the story as much the first time as I might have otherwise. Luckily, I am a chronic reader, so if I finish a story and can't form an opinion, I go back and read them again. Which I did with Nalini’s Psy series, and now I am hooked! I bought her latest Psy novel, “Blaze of Memory” about a week or two before the signing, and while it was dealing with a non-changeling coupling (I’d come to love the changelings – the twins are sooooo cute!), I really liked the story! I was trying to decide which book I wanted Nalini to sign, and I really had a hard time trying to make a decision. I ended up choosing “Branded by Fire” because I really like how strong both characters are, and the banter that goes on between them because of that. I love how the series keeps you guessing about who the “bad guys” really are, and the constant political byplay going on around and through the stories. And yes, I have my suspicions about The Ghost ;-p

The book signing was part of the Paranormal Book Club I attend at Galaxy Bookstore (because we are awesome!) – and Nalini is the second author we have had attend. The first was Tracey O’Hara, an Australian PR author, and Nalini Singh is a New Zealander – are you noticing a theme? Aside from them both being brilliant women, with a lot of talent, and being recognised in the global market, they are also local girls, relatively speaking. It’s terrific when we kick arse overseas, because there aren’t enough Australian or New Zealanders being recognised on a global scale – we seem to be dominated by Americans and to a lesser scale, the English. They are great authors, so who is complaining, but at the same time, its nice to see some girls from our part of the world kicking arse!

[yes, I got distracted again. Heading back on topic now, I swear!]


So anyway, book club and Nalini Singh. Thank god Ms S asked for people to RSVP because the store was over run by strangers! Book club was unofficially disbanded for the night – normally we sit around in a vaguely circle formation with the snacks making the rounds while we hold a multitude of conversations about paranormal romance, authors, characters, books in general, TV/movies/pop culture and life in general. Seeing as our usual formation is cosy at best, there was no way that many people could be accommodated… okay, maybe if we cleared out all the bookshelves from the first 2 rows! A reporter from the Daily Telegraph was there, photographer in tow – she was to have a chat to Charlaine Harris this Monday, however, she hadn’t read any Nalini Singh. I suspect an exposé on the “cult” that is paranormal romance… you know how people outside the genre think we are either into the dark arts, or desperate housewives? When realistically we are just ordinary citizens. They made a big deal about Beardman being there, because he doesn’t look the type to read romance, paranormal or otherwise, and they were really interested in getting my photo, probably because I wore all black and had demons on my necklace and skeleton earrings LOL anyway, enough about stereotypes (but keep an eye out for the story some time in February!). The line was a decent size, and luckily I was browsing at the front when I saw the line forming, so I jumped inline behind Ms T and Ms C. The line was slow going, but it was casual, so we were able to have a bit of a chat with Nalini before fading into the bookshelves. This is a lot better experience for the fans compared to when we saw Richelle Mead – her “people” kept going “bip bip bip bip” like Normal from Dark Angel. You know, where you quickly pass over your book, it gets some squiggles scrawlled and its out the door for you sunshine! I preferred meeting Nalini Singh and Sherrilyn Kenyon, as it was much more relaxed and friendly. I had my copy of “Branded By Fire” as well as FyreLili’s copy of the same book (we are best friends for a reason!) and Nalini was happy to sign both, as well as get a photo or three taken with me. I then walked over to some friends from the book club and we did what we do every night, not take over the world, but talk all things books and life in general. The topic of conversation we started with was clichéd words used a LOT in romance books that we detest hehe we progressed from there. At the end of the night, after all the uninitiated (we are a cult, don't you know?!) had left, Nalini joined our circle of conversation (Little Britain quotes and all!). She was intrigued by Irving D Cactus and agreed to a group photo with him present, before we started dispersing. I can't wait for the new books!

Nalini Sign Signing!! Yeay!

Nalini Singh will be at my Paranormal Romance Bookclub tonight! I swear the best thing I ever did was move to Sydney! Just got all the shenanigans involving Galaxy LOL So far I met Sherrilyn Kenyon (I swear I was ready to swoon.. hehe I got a hug! and she loved my jewellery and the fact that our outfits matched LOL) and Rachel Caine and Tracey O'Hara, and now, the first signing for the new year is Nalini Singh! I've read her Psy series, and dragged Lillian and Linda to bookclub the week we discussed her work, and got Lill hooked. ;-p I think it’s fantastic that authors from down under (New Zealand is still "down under" as far as I am concerned) like Nalini Singh and Tracey O’Hara are doing it big overseas – Australians & New Zealanders appear to mostly get recognition on their own soil. Anyway, I'm getting my copy of Branded by Fire signed! It was hard choosing which book, and - this is so bizarre - Lill sent down a book to see if I can get Nalini to sign it for her - out of all the books, guess which one she chose? You got it... Branded by Fire :D

Anyways all very excited!!

I also got my rewards voucher in the mail yesterday... so I have to find $100 worth of books to purchase... shudder to thing how much money I spent to get such a big reward! But I love it, so it’s worth it!!! *happy dance* I'm not sure what I am buying yet... I have Christine Feehan's Street Game on hold, and I think I am tempted to get Charles de Lint's Mystery of Grace... However, its in hardcover and $50, and the paperback is due out in a few months *le sigh* This is going to be HARD!! I have too many books I want, and I KNOW I will get to the store and not be able to choose any to buy. Oh, actually... I just got into Lilith Saintcrow, so I want to pick up a few of those. It will still be difficult to spend $100 - I know I will be either one book too short or too many!! :D joy!!!!!!!!!

I'll blog after I meet Nalini tonight!! *squeee*

Jacq's books of 2010 (Part I)

I'm not sure how updated I will be keeping this, as I didn't record my books last year, however I am curious to see if I will surpass my 2008 count.. new entries will be highlighted in updated versions.

1. Night Shift - Lillith Saintcrow
2. Branded By Fire - Nalini Singh
3. If Angels Burn - Lynn Viehl
4. Trader - Charles de Lint
5. One Man's Art - Nora Roberts
6. Magic In The Shadows - Devon Monk
7. Branded By Fire - Nalini Singh
8. Night Shift - Lillith Saintcrow

The list so far...