Congratulations also to other Australian Authors, Anne Gracie and Barbara Hannay for their shortlisting. They are both wonderful writers and it’s great to see them being recognised in this way.

Find the complete list of finalists here :  http://www.rwa.org/p/bl/et/blogid=20&blogaid=364

Photos to come once I’m home again!

Helene

Bronwyn Parry’s DEAD HEAT, Shannon Curtis’s GUARDING JESS, and BURNING LIES, the final book in my Border Watch series, have all made the final cut for Favourite Romantic Suspense. We’re delighted to be amongst such wonderful writers. Fingers crossed for the announcement at the ARRC13 Gala Dinner in Brisbane on Saturday 2nd March.

The complete list can be found on the ARRA Blog. Congratulations to all the other finalist. It’s wonderful to see such a celebration of Australia talent amongst the short list.

Bronwyn Parry is also in the running for the Booktopia Favourite Australian Novelist. We’d love her to win so please pop over to the Booktopia Blog and post your vote!

Happy reading:-)

Helene

Here’s the blurb:
Kaitlyn Scott is searching for the truth about her husband’s death, even if that means revisiting the most painful day of her life. But what she uncovers is a criminal willing to stop at nothing to keep his secret.

Ryan O’Donnell, an enigmatic undercover cop, is investigating arson attacks when he is drawn into Kaitlyn’s world. He tries to fight his attraction for her, hoping the case might put his own demons to rest, but it only threatens to push him over the edge.

With Kaitlyn and Ryan on a collision course, the arsonist seizes the chance to settle some old scores. As the Atherton Tableland burns, the three of them are caught in a fiery dance of danger and desire, and not everyone will come out alive.

Burning Lies should be available in all good bookstores in Australia, and the major ebook retailers. You can read the first chapter here.

Blurb for Fallout

   Risking their lives for others is second nature, but can they trust each other enough to risk their hearts?
Tully Chambers is no damsel in distress. An up and coming detective, she had her sights set on promotion   until   the day her partner was murdered and she ended up on the run from the mob.
Jake Holden has demons of his own. Having served his country for over twenty years, he’s found himself wounded, alone, and without a plan for his future. What starts as a simple diversion–trying to figure out the feisty little waitress next door—turns out to be his most dangerous mission yet.
From the tropics of Far North Queensland to the rugged isolation of the Northern Territory in Australia, two modern-day warriors discover their greatest fear isn’t that of a madman’s revenge–but of laying their hearts on the line for love.

I look forward to hearing from all our lovely readers and hope that Romantic Suspense in Australia continues to grow and gain its rightful place in the Australian market!

You find more titles by me over on my blog but keep an eye on this page as I hope to be posting more exciting news in the near future!

Here’s the back cover info:
National Parks Ranger Jo Lockwood is often alone in the wilderness, and she likes it that way – until she discovers the body of a man, brutally murdered.

Detective Nick Matheson’s new posting to the north-west of New South Wales is supposed to be an uneventful return to normal duties and a normal life. He knows organised crime from the inside out and suspects that the victim in the camping ground is not an isolated murder.

Jo is committed to helping the investigation but she has seen the killer’s face and now she’s at risk. Nick’s determined to protect her but as the body count starts mounting, his past and present collide, threatening the people he cares about most.

Trapped in rugged country in scorching summer heat, pursued by hunters who can’t afford to fail, Nick and Jo will need to trust each other completely, and use all their skills and knowledge in order to survive.

Dead Heat should be available in all good Australian bookstores, and is also available as an ebook form the main ebook sellers. You can download the first chapter (.pdf file) here.

We’re all excited and eagerly awaiting Helen’s new book, Burning Lies, which will be published by Penguin Australia in July. Isn’t this cover stunning?

Kaitlyn Scott is searching for the truth about her husband’s death, even if that means revisiting the most painful day of her life. But what she uncovers is a criminal willing to stop at nothing to keep his secret.

Ryan O’Donnell, an enigmatic undercover cop, is investigating arson attacks when he is drawn into Kaitlyn’s world. He tries to fight his attraction for her, hoping the case might put his own demons to rest, but it only threatens to push him over the edge.

With Kaitlyn and Ryan on a collision course, the arsonist seizes the chance to settle some old scores. As the Atherton Tableland burns, the three of them are caught in a fiery dance of danger and desire, and not everyone will come out alive.

Burning Lies will be available in all good bookstores in Australia in July, and the major ebook retailers. You can have a sneak peek and read the first chapter here.

Best wishes to all our readers and friends for a lovely Christmas season – may there be much romance and love for you, and the only suspense be the anticipation of gift-opening, and the moments just before you taste delicious food!

In conjunction with the wonderful Australian Romance Readers Association, we’re running a Christmas Giveaway for ARRA members. If you’re not a member of ARRA, we’re sorry that you’re not eligible for this contest – but do consider joining! ARRA is a great organisation, and the $20 membership fee comes with a heap of benefits, including an informative and entertaining newsletter every month.

The prize for the one lucky winner of our ARRA Christmas giveaway is:

• A signed copy of Fatal Flaw by Sandy Curtis; and
• A signed copy of Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry; and
• A signed copy of Shattered Sky by Helene Young

To enter, all you have to do is answer three easy questions. The answers can be found in our book excerpts which are on this website (click the book title links above) and our individual websites, or you can download the Australian Romantic Suspense Sampler, which contains excerpts from two books from each of us, as an .epub file, or a .mobi file (suitable for Kindles).

Once you have the answers to the questions, enter using the contact form below. (Can’t see the form? You may need to click on the title of this post to get the contact form to show.)

The competition closes at midnight 22nd December (Australian Eastern Summer Time) and the winner will be announced on the 23rd December.

Here are the questions. We hope you enjoy finding the answers!

In Bronwyn Parry’s book, DARK COUNTRY, Kris Matthews finds herself stranded on the side of the road, forced to accept the help of a surly stranger. What is she carrying in the back of her police patrol car that she needs to ensure stays dry?

In the opening scene of Sandy Curtis’s new release, FATAL FLAW, a child is in jeopardy, a knife pressed to his throat by a killer. What is the child’s name?

Helene Young’s book, SHATTERED SKY, opens with a Category Five Cyclone bearing down on the North Queensland coast. What is the name of the cyclone Lauren is forced to fly through to rescue a dismasted yacht?

(Note: although the entry form requires your email address, please note that we respect your privacy and will only use your email address to notify the outcome of the giveaway.)

It’s been a busy couple of months for all three of us here on Australian Romantic Suspense. Sandy has released her latest book Fatal Flaw through Clandestine Press. It’s also available as an e-book and has been getting rave reviews. I’m still waiting for my copy to arrive but I’m looking forward to reading it!

Bronwyn, as well as gaining a new black and white member of her household called Skye, has been hard at work finishing her latest novel, Dead Heat. It will be released by Hachette Australia in April, along with a re-release of Dark Country.

I’ve been working with my new editor from Penguin Australia to finish my third novel, Burning Lies. You’ll have to wait until July to read the last book in the loosely linked Border Watch series. Shattered Sky will also be re-released by Hachette as a mass market paperback early in 2012.

During December we’re running a giveaway competition for members of Australian Romance Readers of Australia. If you love reading romance and can’t get enough of the home grown Australian variety then this wonderful organisation will help you discover new authors as well as connect you with other passionate romance readers. Check out their December Newsletter for competition details.

Happy reading and writing to you all.  I’m off to find another form of procrastination Ciao for now!

Do go and visit the SheKilda website and see how much fun this ONCE IN A DECADE event will be. There will be nearly 70 women crime writers and specialists gathered together in one place just to entertain you – and it’s only the second-ever women’s crime writing convention in the world, so we encourage you to come and be part of something special!

The convention will involve all leading Australian women crime novelists and international guests together with true-crime writers, screen-writers, producers, booksellers, publishers, lawyers, judges, police, forensic specialists, librarians, academics, critics and (mostly) readers and viewers. It will discuss and analyse books, film and television shows, law and justice issues, new trends and critical issues of the genre.

There’s a great range of panels and workshops. Sandy, Helene and I will be on a panel on ‘crimance’ – as our Sisters in Crime refer to romantic suspense – and Sandy and I will be giving a workshop on crimance as well.

On Saturday night, the Davitt Awards will be announced for the best crime writing in Australia, and Helene’s Wings of Fear is one of the nominees.

If you’re planning on going to SheKilda, let us know!