BBAW Day 4: Romance by the Sea

Today's BBAW prompt:

One of the best parts about book blogging is the exposure to books and authors you might never have heard of before. Pimp the book you think needs more recognition on this day. Get creative! Maybe share snippets from other bloggers who have reviewed it or make some fun art to get your message across.

I am, however, going to be a bit naughty creative and instead of spotlighting a book, I am going to spotlight a group of authors! 

Last weekend I attended an event called Romance by the Sea. It was held in Queenscliff which is a town about an hour and a half away from me, and it was a fund raiser for a charity called A Cottage by the Sea which is a not for profit organisation which provides disadvantaged kids with opportunities they might otherwise might not have had.

The event was held at the gorgeous Queenscliff Hotel - amazing inside and out!

There were approximately 40 people all up at the event and it lasted all day, including lunch (amazing, amazing food at the lunch!) and a dinner if you wanted to stay, which means that there was lots of opportunities to get to chat to the authors who are around.

Among the authors in attendance there were bestselling authors like Stephanie Laurens and Keri Arthur, favourite authors like Sarah Mayberry, authors who I have read and enjoyed and wanted to read more of like Anne Gracie, Marion Lennox, Fiona Lowe and Jennifer Kloester plus some other authors who I either own books which I need to read still or who I need to discover like MJ Scott, Lilian Darcy and Carol Marinelli.

For me, one of the definite thrills was getting to have a chat with Sarah Mayberry, who writes fantastic contemporary category romance. As soon as there is a new book out by her, I grab it and inhale it and then have to wait for the next one!

The program was really interesting with Stephanie Laurens kicking off talking about the Books We Love to Read and why we should read the book we love to read - basically a discussion of literary fiction vs general fiction vs genre fiction and why it is okay to love reading genre fiction!

Other topics include Anne Gracie talking about the universal romance hero, Jennifer Kloester talking about the ongoing appeal of Georgette Heyer and more. There were panels talking about how Mills and Boon is anything but the same old story and formula written to order, asking the question what makes a great romance.

We were given a short time to wander around the town when there were readings that were held in the local bookstore which is in a converted church and the local art gallery, where there was some amazing art, and back at the hotel

Anne Gracie about to read

Inside the Barwon Bookseller store which has been converted from an old church.

Stephanie Laurens

Keri Arthur having just finished her reading

M J Scott reading

Sarah Mayberry - I managed not to squee too much when I chatted to her!

Fiona Lowe and Marion Lennox

The final sessions were asking the eternal question - where do you get your ideas from and then closing with what makes a good sex scene. I did take notes for all the sessions, but this post would be humongous if I actually included all of those as well!

Over all, this was such a fabulous day and special kudos should go to the organisers. I will definitely be buying a ticket if they have this event again next year, especially seeing as we were able to raise quite a large sum for this good cause.

So you may wonder how I am going to link this to the post topic today? Me too.. actually, no, I do know how.

All of these fabulous authors devoted their time and energy to a fantastic day at a gorgeous venue. So if you happen to be thinking about reading any one of their books, or if you fancy taking a chance on some fabulous Australian romance authors, then please do take some time to choose and enjoy one or more of their books! No matter whether you love contemporary romance, paranormal romance or historical romance there is an author here for you!