The Australian Romance Reader Association Awards

by Anna Campbell

Do you know about the Australian Romance Readers Association? They're a great bunch of girls (and the occasional guy) who have united to lift the profile and prestige of romance fiction in Australia and also to have a great time together as romance fans. It's a reader association and I'd highly recommend joining - it's great value and you'll hook up with some lovely people and get together for lunches and conventions and awards dinners. Their website, including joining information is: http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/about.html

It's specifically the awards I'd like to talk about today. On Saturday, 11th February, ARRA held its annual awards night at Cello's restaurant in Sydney. The list of nominees this year was amazing - ARRA members vote for their favorite books each year, not just Australian, although it's always wonderful to see how many Aussie and New Zealand authors make the list. You can see the finalists for 2011 here: http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/awards.html

Sadly, I couldn't be there, but I watched the Twitter updates like you wouldn't believe. Or perhaps you would, LOL!

I'd been nominated in two categories, favorite historical romance of 2011 for MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION and for favorite Australian romance writer of 2011. And I'm delighted to say that I won both awards. Huzzah. I'm completely beside myself by these honors. It's my fourth year in a row for favorite historical and my third year in a row for fave Aussie author. Needless to say there were shrieks of joy from my office whenI saw the announcements!

Here's a shot of my lovely editor Anna Valdinger from HarperCollins Australia accepting an award on my behalf. It's wonderful how the local publishers support the ARRA Awards too.

Congratulations to all the other winners:

Nalini Singh collected three awards, Favourite Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy or Futuristic Romance of 2011 for ARCHANGEL'S BLADE, Favorite Paranormal Romance for KISS OF SNOW and Favourite Continuing Romance Series of 2011 for the Psy/Changeling series.

Kelly Hunter collected the award for Favorite Short Category Romance for WITH THIS FLING...

Denise Rossetti won Favorite Erotic Romance with THE LONE WARRIOR.

Helene Young, who collected Romance Writers of Australia's Australian Romantic Book of the Year last August, won Favorite Romantic Suspense for SHATTERED SKY.

Julie James collected Favorite Contemporary Romance for A LOT LIKE LOVE.

So let's have a mini awards night now. What were your three favorite romantic reads from last year, no particular genre? Off the top of my head, I think my list would have to include SOULLESS by Gail Carriger, THE DOUKAKIS APPRENTICE by Sarah Morgan and TEMPTED BY TROUBLE by Liz Fielding. But if you asked me tomorrow, I'd probably give you a different three!